ST. PAUL — The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) office in Minnesota has a new director. Guadalupe Lopez, a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, assumed leadership of the office in July 2023. Established in 2021, the MMIR office aims to address the significant number of Indigenous individuals who are reported missing or have been murdered.
Lopez’s Vision and Background
Lopez describes her new role as a “natural fit,” drawing on her extensive experience in addressing gender-based violence. She has a personal connection to the issue, stating, “I personally had people lose their life to violence, and I have blood relatives that are on some of those posters that we share.” This deep-rooted motivation drives her commitment to be a voice for change.
Her career has focused on advocacy work surrounding violence against women, particularly in the realm of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Prior to joining the MMIR office, Lopez worked with Violence Free Minnesota, where she documented domestic violence-related homicides, further shaping her understanding of the intersection between these issues and the plight of missing and murdered Indigenous individuals.
Immediate Goals and Priorities
Although she has only been in the role for a month, Lopez has already identified key priorities. “Top of my priorities is to continue to work with the families that this office has established relationships with,” she noted. Strengthening collaboration with the office’s advisory council and community partners is also crucial to her vision.
Lopez aims to build on the foundation laid in the past three years, enhancing pathways for families affected by these tragedies. She emphasized the importance of maintaining strong community ties and fostering relationships that can support those impacted by the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives.
In addition to her immediate focus, Lopez is overseeing the implementation of a strategic plan recently developed by the MMIR office. This plan outlines pathways to meet the mandates established for the office, allowing for a structured approach to tackle these pressing issues.
Lopez also addressed the broader community, conveying an important message about reporting missing persons. “There is no [24-hour] waiting period to file a missing person’s report,” she stated, referencing Brandon’s Law, which emphasizes the urgency of action within the first 48 hours of a disappearance. “Just please call. Make a police report.”
As she embarks on this new journey, Lopez remains committed to supporting families and collaborating with tribal leaders, legislators, and community advocates to create lasting change for Indigenous communities in Minnesota.
This article was originally published on MPRNews.org.