3/9/2023 Gaagige - Mikwendaagoziwag Updates & Press Release

3/9/2023 Gaagige - Mikwendaagoziwag UpdatesPress Release Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag Committee Members, Duluth Indigenous Commissioners, MN State Representative, MN MMIR Office, Testimony: STATE OF MINNESOTA, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Public Safety Finance and Policy Members of the Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag MMIWg2S Reward Fund Committee , State Representative, Duluth Indigenous Commissioners, Director of the Minnesota MMIR Office collaboratively testify to create a state reward fund account and urge Representatives and committee members to support:  HF 1376 (2023) A bill for an act relating to public safety; establishing a statewide reward fund for information on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls,2 spirit people. The name of the reward fund is Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag “They will be Remembered Forever” 

Testifying today to create a reward fund account in a special revenue fund  appropriated to the commissioner of public safety, expand the MN MMIR office with a reward account advisory board and money appropriated to the reward account.   “The director of the Office for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives, in consultation with the Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag reward advisory group: shall determine the eligibility criteria,... procedures for granting rewards… and is authorized to pay a reward to any person who provides relevant information relating to a missing and murdered Indigenous woman, child, and Two-Spirit relative investigation and supporting community-based efforts through funding community-led searches and search kits,...community-led communications, …and other justice-related expenses.”(https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/52/laws.5.24.0#laws.5.24.0) HF 1376 (Kozlowski) Reward fund established for information on missing and murdered Indigenous relatives, and money appropriated.Authored by MN State Representative Alicia Kozlowski and sponsored by Minnesota Representatives Heather Keeler, JamieBecker-Finn, MariaPérez-Vega, LeighFinke, AishaGomez, Jessica Hanson, Liz Olson, Samantha Sencer-Mura, Kaela Berg, Athena Hollins

STATE OF MINNESOTA, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-THIRD SESSION - Public Safety Finance and Policy ______________________________________________________________________________ Thursday, March 9, 2023 Hearing 

HF 1376 (Kozlowski) Reward fund established for information on missing and murdered Indigenous relatives, and money appropriated.

https://www.house.mn.gov/committees/minutes/93020/90279Video: https://www.house.mn.gov/hjvid/93/896537The full bill can be found here: House File 1376 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/52/laws.5.24.0#laws.5.24.0

Testimony by: MN State Representative, Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag Committee Members, Duluth Indigenous Commissioners, Director of the MN MMIR Office, MMIWR family Advocates|MN State Representative Alicia  Kozlowski (DFL) District: 08B Rene Ann Goodrich, Native Lives Matter Coalition, Duluth Indigenous Commissioner

Phoebe Davis, Member, Duluth Indigenous Commissioner

Juliette Rudie, Director, MN Missing and Murdered Relatives Office

“Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag reward fund is the first of its kind in the state of Minnesota established in Duluth 1/10/2022. It is a collaborative effort between the city of Duluth, grassroots advocates with MMIWg2S families, and community non-profit organizations, Native Lives Matter Coalition and Mending the Sacred Hoop. An Indigenous led community response to the MMIWg2S epidemic which serves as an inspiration and model for others. Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag anticipates and encourages the growth of the program to include relatives, BIPOC, multiple jurisdictions, tribal and state level legislation.”-Rene Ann Goodrich, Native Lives Matter Coalition 2022

Gaagige - Mikwendaagoziwag Reward Fund Committee PartnersNative Lives Matter Coalition, MMIWg2S, MMIWR Family AdvocatesDuluth Indigenous Commissioners

Phoebe Davis reading for the committee the City of Duluth Announcement Establishing Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag 1/10/2022 http://rb.gy/y0sz5f

Press Conference Link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1233581460500702

Resource Links:

STATE OF MINNESOTA, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-THIRD SESSION - Public Safety Finance and Policy Thursday, March 9, 2023

HF 1376 (Kozlowski) Reward fund established for information on missing and murdered Indigenous relatives, and money appropriated.

https://www.house.mn.gov/committees/minutes/93020/90279

Rep. Kozlowski presented HF 1376 based on the H1376A23-0059 amendment

Testifiers on HF 1376:

• Rene Ann Goodrich, Tribal Leader, Native Lives Matter Coalition

• Phoebe Davis, Member, Indigenous Commission of Duluth, Minnesota

• Juliette Rudie, Director, Missing and Murdered Relatives Office

Video: https://www.house.mn.gov/hjvid/93/896537

Chair Moller renewed the motion to lay over HF 1376. The bill was laid over to be included into the Omnibus bill 2022-2023 legislative session. (SF 2909)