May is Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness of the alarming number of Indigenous women, girls, and people who have either gone missing or have been murdered in the United States.
'This is a very important issue, especially when you consider that Oklahoma has the second-densest population of Native People in the entire United States,' said Lori Gonzalez, Vice President of Advocacy Services for Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS).
According to KOCO-5 News, as of May 2026, Oklahoma ranked second in the nation for cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). The state is considered one of the hardest hit in the country, often ranking behind only Alaska or New Mexico.
In addition, murder is a leading cause of death for indigenous women, who often face violence at rates far higher than the national average.
'The statistics are alarming,' said Gonzalez. 'This issue is not just vastly under-reported, it is one that the general public is not aware of.'
The most recent number from the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) reports 87 - 90-plus Native Americans missing, in Oklahoma. There are currently two (2) specialized OSBI agents assigned to lead MMIP efforts within the agency's Cold Case Unit.
Oklahoma also passed legislation called Ida's law. Ida's Law is intended to improve coordination between law enforcement entities working on cases involving missing or murdered Indigenous people in Oklahoma, while also assigning a point person to work closely with the family members of victims.
'There are many things we can do to help,' said Gonzalez. 'The first step is education, then using your voice, and of course, offering support, not shame, to those affected. People who have a missing or murdered family member need to take care of themselves; leave room to grieve and try to identify coping mechanisms and skills to manage their mental health,' she said.
Trained counselors are available by texting the word NATIVE to 741741 ; or by contacting the StrongHearts Native Helpline - 1-844-7NATIVE (1-844-762-8483). DVIS can be reached at 918/743-5763 and 918/224-9290 (Creek County).