Lawmakers have put forth a bipartisan bill to create a task force that would examine missing and murdered tribal women in Wisconsin.

The bill was introduced by state Reps. Beth Meyers, D-Bayfield, and Jeff Mursau, R-Crivitz, along with Democratic state Sen. Janet Bewley of Mason.

The task force would convene representatives of law enforcement, the judicial system, advocates for victims of abuse and Wisconsin tribes or organizations.

"We’ve got to actively look at what the circumstances are for native women and why so many of them, to a larger proportion than non-native populations, are being abused, abducted or exploited," Bewley said.

The National Crime Information Center [1] found 5,712 reports of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls in 2016. Only a fraction of those cases were logged on the missing persons database operated by the U.S. Department of Justice. A 2018 report [2] by the Urban Indian Health Institute found six reported cases of missing and murdered tribal women and girls in Wisconsin, adding figures were likely an underestimate.

"It’s really important to understand that crisis and create the response needed because it’s not a Native American issue. It’s an everybody issue because it’s enjoined at every level," said Shannon Holsey, president of the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council. "It requires solicitation of law enforcement for purposes of protection and oversight and even adjudication and justice with authorities."

The two highlighted the difficulty in assessing the incidence of missing tribal women and girls due to lacking data. Holsey noted barriers in collecting information and addressing offenses across jurisdictions.

"There’s lack of tribal jurisdiction over non-Indian offenders on Indian lands," said Holsey. "That continues to be a key reason for the perpetuation of disproportionate violence against women — specific to American Indian and Alaska Native women."

The task force would aim to identify the needs and unique challenges of tribes and work collaboratively with local, state and federal partners to address the issue.

"Earlier this year the state Assembly passed a joint resolution raising awareness about the alarming number of missing and murdered American Native women in our country. This bill is the necessary next step," said Mursau in a statement. "I am hopeful that this taskforce will bring a coalition of people together who will identify effective strategies to stop the violence targeted at American Native women."

If the legislation is approved, the task force could begin its work as early as next year.