Governor Kotek marks May 5 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day and urges action

Governor Kotek released a brief statement urging Oregonians to observe May 5 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day and to support efforts to better respond to cases involving Indigenous people. "May 5 is missing and murdered indigenous persons awareness day," the governor said, calling attention to what she described as a persistent and under-recognized crisis.

Kotek emphasized the scale of the problem, saying, "Across The United States, indigenous people, especially women and girls, experience some of the highest rates of violence in the country." She added that too often, when someone goes missing or is killed, "those cases are not reported, not prioritized, or not fully investigated," which leaves "families...without answers" and "communities...without justice."

The governor outlined actions Oregon is taking to address the problem, saying: "This includes strengthening coordination between law enforcement and tribal governments, improving how cases are tracked, and making sure families have the support they need during what is a devastating time." She framed the work as centered on people and historical context, urging a commitment to change: "It's about recognizing the history and the harm that indigenous communities have faced, and it's about committing to doing things differently moving forward."

Kotek thanked tribal leaders, advocates and families "who continue to push for accountability and change," and encouraged residents of the state to "take a moment to learn more, to listen, and to stand with indigenous communities across our state." She closed the brief statement with, "Thanks for listening."