Please help with the funding for Native American cases that are occurring in Colorado. Native Americans are not discussed enough when it comes to how underfunded they are in cases relating to them. For generations, the Indigenous community has faced injustice here in Colorado, and of course across the United States. Families continue to question where their loved ones have gone, what they can do to bring them home, and how to seek justice for them. Therefore, I would very much like to bring their issues to light and contribute to their help, as I would like to ask for yours.      

Colorado has made contributing efforts in recent years, including legislation to the Office of the Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR Office). In 2023, lawmakers passed a bill expanding the authority and responsibilities of the MMIR Office, which allowed better data-sharing, more community partnerships, and improved response capacity (Horvath et al., 2023). This response has allowed the MMIR office to help spread more awareness of the alarming rise of Native Americans who are missing and murdered in Colorado. This also allows the public to gain more access to this knowledge and see the concerns that the tribal community is facing.    

Although there has been some progress, data shows that, according to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR), potentially more than 130 cases as of 2025 of Native Americans go unsolved. These cases include missing indigenous children, missing indigenous relatives, unsolved homicides, murdered indigenous relatives, indigenous relatives murdered by law enforcement, and unidentified potential indigenous relatives. The MMIR is an organization that helps bring awareness and aid in these types of cases to bring more action necessary such as policy development, advocacy, and as well as data compilation. According to the 2024 MMIR Community Volunteer Advisory Board Report, gaps in staffing, funding, and joint coordination continue to slow the response to MMIR cases. Community members who participated in the report described ongoing challenges such as lack of culturally informed investigative practices, insufficient victim services, and inadequate data collection (OMMIR Community Volunteer Advisory Committee, 2024). It demonstrates a better view of how much duress is ongoing at the current moment for native communities. 

With an attempt to help, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded over $300,000 to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, to strengthen crime victim services within the community (U.S. Attorney’s Office, 2019). While this funding is resourceful, it also shows that there are, in fact, still some issues that need to be talked about.  Native American tribes are still forced to rely on grants instead of actual state support. Long-term, reliable funding is essential if tribes and state agencies are to cooperate effectively on their ongoing issues. Programs like the Preventing Identity-Based Violence (PIBV) Grant and Justice Department consultation processes emphasize the national priority of protecting Native communities (Colorado Indian Affairs Commission, n.d.; U.S. Department of Justice Office of Tribal Justice, 2025). However, although there is, as I have mentioned, some progress occurring, there is still ongoing underfunding and not enough support. Colorado must commit to fully funding the MMIR Office, expanding its outreach, and ensuring that tribal nations are true partners in decision-making. Despite these challenges that Native American tribes are facing, they are still pushing for a better justice with their perseverance and strength. Hence, we should come together and help the indigenous community by signing this petition for a better justice system.  

Thank you for your time reading and for your support in signing this petition. 

Kiara A. Magadan 


You may also contact the governors of office and as well the MMIR directly to show your support: 

Constituent Services Help Line: (303) 866-2885
Governor's Office, Front Desk: (303) 866-2471

State Capitol Building
200 E. Colfax Ave., Rm. 136
Denver, CO 80203

MMIR : Phone Number:  833-900-6647

https://mmirtaskforceco.com/

Resources: 

Horvath, A., Author, Horvath, A., News, C., McCrimmon, C., & McCleary, C. (2023, May 11). Rocky Mountain PBS. New bill bolstering Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives office signed into law. https://www.rmpbs.org/blogs/news/new-bill-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-relatives-office

 Justice Department awards over $300,000 to the southern ute Indian tribe to support Native American crime victims. District of Colorado | Justice Department Awards Over $300,000 To The Southern Ute Indian Tribe To Support Native American Crime Victims | United States Department of Justice. (2019, March 18). https://www.justice.gov/usao-co/pr/justice-department-awards-over-300000-southern-ute-indian-tribe-support-native-american

 Legislation. Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs. (n.d.). https://ccia.colorado.gov/legislation/legislation

 MMIR Task Force of Colorado. (n.d.). Mmir Task Force of Colorado. https://mmirtaskforceco.com/

 OMMIR Community Volunteer Advisory Board Subcommittee, Delmar, M., Lunn, M. M., & Hilkey, S. (2024). Office of the Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Community Volunteer Advisory Board: 2024 Report.

 The preventing identity-based violence (PIBV) grant program. PTV Grants. (n.d.). https://ciacco.org/default.aspx?menuitemid=440&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OFFICE OF TRIBAL JUSTICE. (2025). Tribal Public Safety and Criminal Justice Systems Funding Consultation Report. https://www.justice.gov/tribal/media/1385416/dl?inline=