In Michigan and across much of the country, Indigenous people vanish, and often, their cases vanish with them.

Wrapped up in those unsolved cases are incomplete stories, transformed communities, and grieving families.

When those families seek answers, they are frequently left with more questions. Tribal police, state cops, and federal agencies are often all involved to some degree, and this jurisdictional maze is one reason many cases remain unsolved.

But rising awareness at the state level could spell change.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently proclaimed May 5 “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day” to coincide with the national day of remembrance. It is a push for collaboration between state and tribal governments to address the failures of law enforcement and government.

A new state task force is also centered on bringing together tribal, federal, state, and local officials and advocates to make a dent in the roughly 4,000 unsolved cases in the state. 

The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, a tribe based in southwestern Michigan, has been at the forefront of this kind of work through marches, advocacy, and community healing. The tribe has emerged as a leader in the fight for Indigenous visibility and justice.

Robyn Elkins, the tribe’s vice-chairperson, joined The Metro to discuss what it’s like to advocate for an issue that has deeply affected her community.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has expanded its support for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. 

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The National Institute of Justice reports that four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced domestic violence.  

Lorna Elliott-Egan is the director of tribal government services and policy at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. She says there are about 4,000 open cases in Michigan of MMIPs. 

“When we look at Native American data, we generally know that the impact is much more than the data reflects, because it’s not always easy to collect those numbers,” she said. “You can’t look at your neighbor and know whether they’re Native American or not, unless they tell you and are they enrolled in a tribe.”

Elliott-Egan says there is grant funding for domestic violence and crime victim programs for members of the 12 federally recognized tribes in Michigan. 

“They have their own domestic violence programs, human services programs, health clinics, their own tribal police, and so each one of those tribes is working sort of off of a federal template to create a murdered and missing indigenous persons plan for When these things occur,” she said.

Elliot-Egan says the state is working on a resource hub for Native American residents to find information in one place. 

Other headlines for Thursday, May 8, 2025:

• The TRUE Community Credit Union is providing $75,000 over five years to the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) to set up a recovery center for substance use disorders.   
• The Hamtramck Drug Free Community Coalition is hosting its 16th Annual Hamtramck Health Hike from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 17. The first 400 people will receive freebies. Register at tinyurl.com/HealthHike. 
• The city of Warren is hosting its second annual Asian American & Pacific Islander Celebration from 12-3 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at the Warren Community Center, 5460 Arden Ave. The event will feature music, food and vendors.
• The supermarket La Jalisciense is expanding to Taylor, Michigan. The supermarket offers Mexican cafeteria style foods and groceries. The new store, La Jali, is an expansion of its Southwest Detroit store that’s been family run for over a decade. The new store is located at 9411 Telegraph Rd.  

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.