Native Missing Persons Cases Will Not be Solved by Police Alone: The Case for "Missing Persons Advocates".

This study examines the potential role of victim advocacy in addressing missing person cases involving Native Americans, a population disproportionately affected by missingness due to factors such as poverty, isolation, historical trauma, and jurisdictional complexities on tribal lands. Through interviews with 25 tribal and non-tribal victim and social service providers in Nebraska, the research identifies barriers to reporting and investigating missing Native persons, including law enforcement mistrust, stereotyping, lack of communication among agencies, and limited culturally informed resources and training. Respondents highlighted the need for enhanced collaboration, increased funding, specialized training, and expanded victim service policies to better support the families of missing Native persons. The findings suggest that culturally centered victim advocacy could play a critical role in improving responses to Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) cases, complementing law enforcement efforts amid systemic challenges.