Attorney General Mark Vargo Announces Formation of MMIP Advisory Board
For immediate release: January 4, 2023
contact: Stewart Huntington, 605-773-6878
Pierre, SD – Attorney General Mark Virgo today announced the formation of the Attorney General’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Advisory Board. This group advises the Attorney General on establishing goals, protocols and parameters for the AG’s new Her MMIP office.
“The issue of missing or murdered indigenous women needs attention,” said Tatewin Means, former Attorney General of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and co-chair of the MMIP Advisory Board. I’m here. “I look forward to working with MMIP Coordinator Alison Morrisette, the Council and the Attorney General to make the MMIP Coordinator’s efforts a success.”
The Council is made up of various stakeholders with the goal of representing all voters.
“The MMIP initiative in the Attorney General’s Office is very important to the state,” said Attorney General Virgo, who co-chairs the commission in returning to his position as state attorney for Pennington County this month. When we established the MMIP’s position, we left it up to the Attorney General to fill in the details, a job best done with input from all appropriate corners.”
The Council will hold its first meeting on February 14th. On June 30, the council will submit to the Attorney General a list of her MMIP coordinator’s goals and objectives. The council then meets at least once a year to receive a report from the MMIP coordinator.
“The Office of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples will do important work in this state under the guidance of this advisory board,” said Attorney-General-Elect Marty Jackley. “This is an opportunity to help those looking for answers to the fate of their families and loved ones.”
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