In 2025, Alaska ranked in the top 10 states with the highest rates of Indigenous missing person cases.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons is an issue with wide-ranging impact on indigenous communities. The Native Village of Dot Lake’s MMIP program is designed to:
- Increase awareness of this critical, underreported issue.
- Educate communities in our region on how to prevent and respond to MMIP incidents.
There is no mandatory waiting period to report a missing person to law enforcement.
Reports can be filed immediately, regardless of the person’s age or circumstances. If you believe someone is missing, early reporting is critical to locating individuals and advancing related criminal investigations.
Alaska has a data problem.
State reports of missing Alaska Native/American Indian persons include data for people of unknown race and does not encompass every possible data source. The 2021 Data for Indigenous Justice report described its 229 Alaska cases as “baseline numbers,” not a complete count of every case.
The current Alaska Department of Public Safety quarterly report includes only cases investigated by DPS and police departments in:
- Anchorage
- Fairbanks
- Seward
- Homer
- Soldotna
- Wasilla
- Kenai
DPS directly states that the information is “dynamic” and “subject to change.”
More information:
ProPublica: Alaska Vowed to Resolve Murders of Indigenous People. Now It Refuses to Provide Their Names.
Alaska Department of Public Safety: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons
229?
An accurate number of missing Indigenous persons in Alaska is unknown.
75%
Proportion of Alaska’s missing Indigenous persons cases hindered by environmental factors
Environmental extremes can complicate investigations.
Alaska’s environment plays a significant role in resolving missing persons cases, according to Alaska DPS. In rural Alaska especially, waterways, extreme weather, remote locations, limited transportation and delayed access to search -and-rescue or law enforcement can hinder investigations.
Actions You Can Take to Advocate and Support
- Participate in the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), recognized annually on May 5.
- Become active and informed with Cultural Survival’s 9 Actions to Take for National Day of Awareness for #MMIWG #MMIP #MMIR.
- Read We R Native’s tips for getting involved as an advocate.
What to Do if Someone Is Missing
To report a missing or murdered Indigenous person, call 911 or contact your local authorities.
There is no mandatory waiting period. Reports can be filed immediately.
To share information or tips, contact:
- Alaska State Troopers at 907-451-5100
- Fairbanks Police Department at 907-450-6500
- TCC Public Safety Manager at 907-452-8251 ext.2068
You can also submit anonymous tips at https://dps.alaska.gov/ast/tips
Take notes when you speak with law enforcement or other authorities, as a reminder. Write down who you spoke with, the date and time you spoke with them, and what you talked about.
If local authorities do not seem willing to assist or seem confused about the jurisdiction responsible for investigating, file a complaint with the supervisor or supervising entity:
- The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) police: the supervising entity is the local BIA superintendent.
- Tribal police: The supervising entity is the police chief or the Tribal judicial committee.
- County police: The supervising entity is the sheriff.
- City police officers: The supervising entity is the police chief.
When reporting a missing person, provide as much information as you can, including:
- Full name, nickname, and aliases
- Last known location
- Date and time of disappearance
- Description of clothing or accessories worn at the time of disappearance
- Who they were last seen with
- Places they like to go
- Friends or family who might have been in contact with them
- Recent photo
- Tribal affiliation(s)
- Home address
- Date of birth and age at the time of disappearance
- Gender and biological sex (include both if they are different)
- Height and weight; hair and eye color; unique scars, marks, and tattoos
- Any previous missing episodes and how those were resolved
- Medical conditions or behavioral health information
- Disability (physical or mental)
- Bank, credit card, or other financial statements
- Vehicle registration number, make, model, or other modes of transportation
- Personal items left behind such as their purse, wallet, phone, or keys
- Social media usernames/handles; email addresses; cellphone numbers
Resources
When a Loved One Goes Missing (PDF) — Information and resources to help family and friends with the search for a missing loved one.
Alaska Missing Persons Clearinghouse — State list of reported missing persons, updated daily at 6 a.m.
Alaska Department of Public Safety MMIP Program — Quarterly reports, MMIP information, victim resources and reporting information.
U.S. Department of Justice – District of Alaska MMIP Program —Alaska-specific resources and the “Guide to Developing an Alaska Tribal Community Response Plan for Missing Person Cases.”
Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center / NIWRC — Alaska Native-focused MMIP/MMIW information and discussion of the statewide MMIWG2S Alaska Working Group.