Federal, state, local and tribal officials are convening in northeastern Oklahoma this week to talk about new ways to reduce crime in Indian Country.
The talks are the work of the U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee on Native American Issues. U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma Trent Shores is the committee chair and says there are four areas of focus.
"Violent crime, drug trafficking to include the opioid epidemic and methamphetamine trafficking, law enforcement resources — we know that Indian Country needs more law enforcement resources — and four, white-collar crime," Shores said.
The group's main goal is reducing violent crime in Indian Country.
"When I started at the Department of Justice in 2003, one of the first statistics I learned was that Native Americans are victims of violent crime at a rate more than double of any other racial or ethnic group in the United States," Shores said. "I am sad to report that we can still use that same statistic today."
The talks, hosted by the Muscogee (Creek) and Cherokee nations may create new steps DOJ can take to assist tribes. Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James Floyd said he's most interested in ways to reduce violent crime.
A youth group is trying to bring awareness to murdered and missing Indian children, and the tribe has several of the latter right now.
"They’re just as valuable in life as anybody else, yet we have to fight to get any recognition from even media about their absence," Floyd said.
Shores said Indian Country’s needs match U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ priorities: violent crime and the drug epidemic.
