News Release
24th Navajo Nation Council
24th Navajo Nation Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty was joined by Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and First Lady Phefelia Nez for a meeting with U.S. Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ) to discuss the growing number of cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) across Indian Country.
The meeting focused on the increased need for public safety officers, an Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls database to track cases, and bridging communication between federal and state agencies to resolve missing and murdered cases on the Navajo Nation.
“The Navajo people appreciate Representative Greg Stanton for his outspoken advocacy for our tribal communities and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement. It is clear to us that Indigenous women and girls are plagued by high rates of violence and often are never found across the United States. This is a growing epidemic that has been silent too long and we are here to tell the stories of our missing and murdered Indigenous relatives. Criminal cases must fully be prosecuted so families can heal and we have to support our Navajo public safety officials to get the job done. This means increasing the number of law enforcement from 200 to 700 police officers on the Navajo Nation,” said Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty (Cove, Toadlena/Two Grey Hills, Red Valley, Tsé’ałnáoozt’i’í, Sheep Springs, Beclabito, Gad’ii’áhí/Tó Kǫ’í).
In March 2019, the Navajo Nation Council established the Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives (MMDR) task force that is developing a framework for a proposed MMDR data institute and the development of a missing persons community action toolkit to empower communities.
“We applaud the leadership of Honorable Amber Kanazbah Crotty for being an outspoken advocate for our women, children, elders, and the LGBTQ+ community. Our families in some way have been affected by domestic violence, substance abuse, or some form of injustice. Delegate Crotty is the chairwoman of the Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives task force that is working to increase resources for reporting and identifying cases and to improve the reporting and investigation of MMDR cases. It is important that we support our Navajo law enforcement and provide them the tools to search and find our missing relatives. In order for families to heal from trauma, we have to do everything we can to hold perpetrators accountable under federal law,” said Speaker Seth Damon (Bááháálí, Chichiltah, Manuelito, Tsé Łichíí’, Rock Springs, Tsayatoh).
Representative Stanton extended an invitation to Delegate Crotty to participate in a panel discussion following a special film screening of the documentaries ‘Somebody’s Daughter’ and ‘Say Her Name’. Both films have drawn national and international attention to the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls crisis.
A special screening of the ‘Say Her Name’ documentary will be hosted by the Navajo Nation Council and acclaimed Film Director Rain next year in May 2022.
