MINUTES OF THE
MURDERED AND MISSING INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS TASK FORCE
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 • 5:00 p.m. • 30 House Building


Members Present:
Rep. Angela Romero, Chair
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Moroni Benally
Kristina Groves
Dustin Jansen
Brian Redd
Tami B. Slayton
Daniel Strong
Ann S. Williamson

Staff Present:
Sarah J. Balland, Policy Analyst
Patricia Owen, Associate General Counsel
Amy L. West, Associate General Counsel
Finn Andrew Rose, Administrative Assistant

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

Chair Hinkins called the meeting to order.
1.Task Force Business
Chair Hinkins announced that Brent Platt, Utah Department of Human Services, would be standing in as Member Ann Williamson's designee until Member Williamson was able to join the meeting.
MOTION:Rep. Romero moved to approve the minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-0.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 0
M. Benally
K. Groves
Sen. D. Hinkins
D. Jansen
B. Redd
Rep. A. Romero
T. Slayton
D. Strong
A. Williamson
1 - MMIWG TF Crisis Resources and Safety Protocols
Member Kristina Groves reviewed the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Task Force safety protocols and crisis resources for members of the public.
Sarah J. Balland, policy analyst, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, reviewed the live public comment protocols.
2.Task Force Data Management Plan
2 - State MMIP Data Management Study
Sarah J. Balland presented to the Task Force research findings from a survey of states' data management practices pertaining to state-level Murdered and Missing Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Initiatives.
Chair Hinkins announced that Member Ann Williamson joined the meeting and relieved Brent Platt of Task Force duties.
3.Listening Session
3a - MMIWGTF Listening Session Flier November 2020
Chair Hinkins opened the meeting to members of the public.
Wade Moon, public commenter, Skull Valley Goshute and Southern Paiute, shared their story on how they and their family have been impacted by the MMIP crisis.
Rep. Romero asked if whether any Task Force members wanted to share how they've been impacted by the MMIP crisis at this time. Rep. Romero also stated that the Task Force would be holding more listening sessions in future meetings.
Member Daniel Strong asked if it would be possible to have members of the task force with connections to the individual Tribal communities help set-up designated areas within the Tribal communities where people could gather to listen and participate in the Task Force meetings.
Denae Shanidiin, Restoring Ancestral Winds, shared their experience with the MMIP crisis. Denae also commented on the factors escalating the MMIP crisis, sovereign data access points, and considerations for the Task Force regarding strategy, logistics, and community outreach, and thanked the Task Force for the efforts being put forward to address the MMIP crisis.
Chair Hinkins shared his hope for the Task Force to create awareness within the public and law enforcement regarding the MMIP crisis and continued taking public comment.
Member Kristina Groves discussed the significance of effective outreach to the Task Force's success.
Member Daniel Strong asked how often the listening sessions would take place in future meetings.
Rep. Romero addressed Member Strong's question and outlined the goals of the Task Force moving forward.
Denae Shanidiin raised concerns about potential logistical and accessibility barriers for the public in using the chosen Task Force platform and pointed to recent work by the Soverign Bodies Instiute that may be of interest to the Task Force.
Eddie Smart, Chief of Police, Bureau of Indian Affairs, shared their experience with the MMIP crisis and provided more input on outreach to and understanding of those effected by the crisis.
Chair Hinkins asked Eddie Smart about the relationship between Tribal police and other local law enforcement agencies.
James Toledo, Utah Division of Indian Affairs (UDIA), reminded the Task Force that the UDIA is willing to help disseminate information for future meetings.
4.Other Items/Adjourn
Rep. Romero explained that her goal is to see the legislation reinstating the Task Force passed during the beginning of the 2021 General Session so that Task Force appointments quickly follow.
MOTION:Member Strong moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-0.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 0
M. Benally
K. Groves
Sen. D. Hinkins
D. Jansen
B. Redd
Rep. A. Romero
T. Slayton
D. Strong
A. Williamson