Not Invisible Act Commission Holds Public Hearing In Tulsa

The Not Invisible Act Commission was in Tulsa Tuesday, holding one of its first public hearings.

The commission was appointed by the Department of the Interior to guide federal agencies on how to help the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people.

Members of the community shared their concerns and ideas in a panel discussion with the Not Invisible Act Commission.

"Violence in Indian Country needs to be addressed, it's a huge concern, especially in the state of Oklahoma," said Melody Ybarra.

Ybarra is with the Citizens of Potawatomi Nation House of Hope Program.

She said in 2021 in Oklahoma, there were 138 domestic violence related deaths, with 86 of those being indigenous people.

She said they need someone in law enforcement and the courts who can advocate for them.

"Having somebody who can go in and help maneuver these families on the process of filing a police report, investigation, all the way up to charges. That's really important, somebody who can walk families through it," she said.

Olivia Gray started the nonprofit NOISE and works with families every day. She said there is a major need for help in the state.

"I look at my grandchildren and I think, 'so 84 percent of us are physically abused in our lifetime,' I look at my granddaughters and think, 'so 56 percent of us our sexually assaulted in our lifetime,'" she said.

She said she sees what trauma like this does to people every day and wants to put a stop to it for future generations.

"We do this work because it needs to get done, and nobody is doing it, and I'm glad a few people have been assigned to take care of this. But one BIA special agent for the state of Oklahoma is not sufficient, it's actually insulting," she said.

The commission will now share its recommendations from the hearing to Congress and the Biden administration.