Why I Created This Toolkit

I created this because I’ve spent years walking alongside families who are living through the worst days of their lives—days filled with fear, confusion, silence from authorities, and a heartbreaking lack of guidance.

Over and over, I watched the same thing happen:

Families didn’t know where to start.
They didn’t know who to call.
And they had no idea where their loved one’s information actually lived—or if it lived anywhere at all.

Some were fighting to get a name into the national systems.
Others were fighting just as hard to get a name out after a case was resolved, mishandled, or misclassified.

I’ve seen cases listed with the wrong tribal affiliation.
I’ve seen Indigenous names missing from federal databases entirely.
I’ve seen loved ones still listed as “missing” online even years after they were found.
I’ve seen families discover that their case was never entered in the first place.

Most importantly:

I’ve seen parents, siblings, and children forced to navigate broken systems alone.

That’s why this exists—so no family has to start from zero.
So no one has to fight blindfolded.
And so Indigenous people are not lost in the very systems that claim to protect them.

This is the guide I wish every family had on day one.

Where MMIP Data Actually Lives

1. Sovereign Bodies Institute (SBI) – MMIP Database

An Indigenous-led, community-driven record of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Often more accurate than official sources.

Use it for:

• Adding a loved one when law enforcement refuses
• Correcting tribal affiliation or details
• Ensuring community visibility
• Advocacy campaigns and media outreach

2. NamUs (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System)

A federal database that should contain every missing person case—but often doesn’t.

Use it for:

• Searching for cases
• Seeing if a case was entered by law enforcement
• Uploading DNA or family reference samples
• Adding photos and updated information
• Removing outdated or resolved cases

3. Tribal & Regional MMIP Lists

These include:

• Tribal police lists
• State task force lists
• Unsolved Indian Country case pages

Use them for:

• Tribal awareness
• Local support networks
• Ensuring cases are not overlooked in the community

MMIP System Checklist

Print this. Screenshot it. Save it. Share it.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

⬜ Missing persons report filed
⬜ NCIC entry confirmed (ask for the NCIC number!)
⬜ Investigator name and contact info received
⬜ Case number documented

DATABASES

⬜ NamUs listing created
⬜ SBI submission completed
⬜ Tribal/regional lists updated
⬜ Accuracy checked (photo, age, tribe, date missing, circumstances)

COMMUNICATION

⬜ Family spokesperson designated
⬜ Current photo saved
⬜ Last known location documented

ADVOCACY

⬜ Case summary written
⬜ NamUs/SBI links shared with advocates
⬜ Submitted to supportive journalists and podcasters

How to Add, Update, or Correct Information

A. Updating or Correcting a NamUs Case

You can request changes to:

• Name
• Age
• Tribal identity
• Description
• Photos
• Circumstances
• Contacts
• Timeline

How to request:

Email the NamUs Regional Program Specialist listed on the case with:

• Case number
• Requested corrections
• Your relationship to the individual
• Any available documentation

Template:

Hello,
I am requesting corrections to the NamUs case for [Name], case # [#].
The following information needs to be updated:
– [List corrections]




I am [relationship], and the family supports these updates.
Thank you.

B. Removing a Name From NamUs

Families can request removal if:

• The person has been found
• The case is closed
• The entry is inaccurate
• The listing is causing harm

How to request removal:

Email the Regional Program Specialist with:

• Name
• Case number
• Reason for removal
• Confirmation from law enforcement (helpful, but not required)

Template:

Hello,
I am requesting removal of the NamUs entry for [Name], case # [#].
The case is resolved and the family no longer wishes for the information to remain public.
Thank you.

C. Updating or Removing a Case From Sovereign Bodies Institute

SBI allows:

• Corrections
• Updates
• Removals
• Additions of cultural or contextual information

Template:

Hello,
I am requesting an update/removal for the listing of [Name].
I am [relationship] and the family approves this request.



Updates needed:
– [List]


Thank you for the care you provide Indigenous families.

D. Updating Tribal or State MMIP Lists

Most tribal and state lists will update records upon request.
You simply need to:

• Contact tribal LE or the MMIP coordinator
• Provide relationship and evidence if available
• Request corrections or removal

E. Updating Incorrect News Articles

Incorrect online media can cause lasting harm.

Families can request updates from:

• Local news outlets
• National media
• Online archives
• Podcasts

Template:

Hello,
I’m contacting you regarding your coverage of [Name], published on [date].
These details require correction/removal:
– [List errors]




I am [relationship], and these corrections reflect accurate, family-approved information.
Thank you.

Scripts You Can Use Right Now

Request NCIC Confirmation

Could you please confirm the NCIC entry number for the missing person report for [Name]? Thank you.

Request NamUs Entry

Please enter [Name] into NamUs and provide the link once complete. Thank you.

Request SBI Submission/Update

I’d like to add or update the record for [Name]. Thank you.

Media Safety Script

Please include accurate details (name, date missing, tribal identity) and link the NamUs/SBI record so readers have verified information.

CALL TO ACTION

This toolkit is only as powerful as the community standing behind it.

If you believe—like I do—that every missing and murdered Indigenous person deserves to be seen, counted, and fought for, then:

📌 Share this toolkit
📌 Subscribe to support this work
📌 Send it to someone who might need it
📌 Use it in your own advocacy

One share could place a missing loved one into the system.
One subscription helps build more tools like this.
One moment of your time could change the course of a case.

Let’s not let another name fall through the cracks.