Big Sky Times

GREAT FALLS – Attorney General Austin Knudsen today announced appointments to the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force. The task force aims to break down jurisdictional barriers and identify causes contributing to missing and murdered Indigenous persons.

During the 2023 legislative session, Attorney General Knudsen supported Rep. Tyson Running Wolf’s House Bill, which extended the task force for 10 years and provided for a full-time program coordinator. The extension will help set and achieve long-term goals to address the crisis of missing Indigenous persons in Montana.

“I’m looking forward to working with this task force to find a solution to end the missing Indigenous persons crisis in Montana,” Attorney General Knudsen said. “Today’s meeting was productive and I’m confident the members are ready to take on this challenge. Together, we can find the missing and bring them home.”

The following individuals were appointed or reappointed to the task force:

- Alan Doane, representing the Montana Attorney General’s Office

- Yolanda Fraser, representing the Northern Cheyenne Tribe

- Brian Frost, representing the Montana Department of Justice

- Stacie FourStar, representing the Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes

- Chrystal Hickman, representing the Montana Office of Public Instruction

- Cheryl Horn, representing Fort Belknap Indian Community

- Iris Kill Eagle, representing the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe

- Danielle Matt, representing the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes

- Amanda Myers, representing the United States Attorney’s Office

- Haley Omeasoo, At-large member

- Dr. Alan Ostby, representing Indian Health Services

- Derek Werner, representing Montana Highway Patrol

- Jonathan Windy Boy, representing Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy’s Reservation

- Sarah Wolftail, representing Blackfeet Nation

Indigenous persons go missing at a higher rate than other races in Montana. Last year, Indigenous persons accounted for 31 percent of 1,386 total missing persons cases reported by law enforcement. However, thanks to efforts by Montana law enforcement agencies, the 2023 clearance rate for missing Indigenous persons is currently 99 percent. Of the 693 Indigenous persons reported missing last year, five remain actively missing.

Attorney General Knudsen also supported Rep. Running Wolf’s House Bill 18 during the 2023 legislative session. This bill established a training grant program for a missing persons response team aimed at bolstering responses across Montana.

In 2021, Attorney General Knudsen launched an online database to assist law enforcement agencies and the public in locating all missing persons. The enhanced database provides accurate and timely information from agencies statewide as they submit updates to the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.

For a complete list of missing persons in Montana, visit https://dojmt.gov/missing-persons/.