Wednesday, October 21, 2026 — Alaska Native advocates cite shortcomings in addressing MMIP crisis

Hundreds of Native people from across the state will discuss issues such as declining salmon populations, voting rights, and education funding at this year’s Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Anchorage. For some, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis remains a top priority. In recent years, law enforcement agencies in Alaska have worked to improve protocols for handling missing persons cases and even established a MMIP Review Commission. But some Indigenous advocates say critical issues, like how cases are classified, how homicide cases are investigated, and how jurisdiction is determined, persist in creating obstacles for justice. We’ll hear from Native MMIP advocates about new and longstanding challenges. GUESTS Charlene Aqpik Apok (Iñupiaq), executive director of Data For Indigenous Justice Michael Livingston (Unangax̂), retired Alaska Native police officer Deilah Johnson (Iñupiaq), tribal resources director and council member for the Village of Solomon Shaun Griswold (Laguna, Jemez, and Zuni Pueblo), reporter with Buffalo’s Fire