Resolve Ep. 4: E.O. 13898

Coffee & Quaq

Resolve is part of an ongoing series about Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women in Alaska created in partnership with Affinity Films, a non-profit media organization based in Anchorage, Alaska. This episode features Tara Katuk Sweeney, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Department of the Interior, designee for the Secretary of the Interior and Jean (Jeannie) Hovland, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Native American Affairs and Commissioner, Administration for Native Americans, Department of Health and Human Services. On November 26, 2019, President Trump signed Executive Order 13898, forming the Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Task Force aims to enhance the operation of the criminal justice system and address the legitimate concerns of American Indian and Alaska Native communities regarding missing and murdered people — particularly missing and murdered women and girls. On August 26, 2020 The Operation Lady Justice task force opened up a cold case office here in Anchorage, Alaska adding to previously opened up offices in Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, New Mexico and Arizona since July 27. We sat down with Tara and Jeannie over maktak and quaq to hear more about the effort.