The Activation of the Missing and Endangered Persons Event Code in 2025

by Kyler Edsitty

Photo courtesy of Tribal Tech

The celebration of Indigenous Heritage Month this November also presents Tribal communities with an urgent opportunity to amplify their collective voice in support of Native American missing and murdered relatives. The forthcoming activation of the Missing and Endangered Persons (MEP) Event Code in the fall of 2025 will mark a pivotal moment in addressing this ongoing crisis across the United States. The MEP event code, adopted by the Federal Communications Commission, is deeply rooted in advocacy and offers a beacon of hope for families and communities that have long been grappling with these heartbreaking tragedies.

"I would like the MEP alert to serve as a catalyst in facilitating a national discourse about an ecosystem that will prioritize solutions. We need solutions to address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relative cases, justice, rescue and recovery, inter-jurisdictional collaboration, and data with the recognition that no single approach will work for all Tribal communities," states Loris Taylor, Native Public Media President and CEO.

In 2023, Native Public Media championed a comprehensive strategy to address this crisis, which led to the Federal Communications Commission adopting the MEP Event Code on August 7, 2024. The activation of the MEP Event Code will utilize the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) and revolutionize how authorities handle missing and endangered person cases. Set to launch in 2025, the MEP event code symbolizes more than just improved communication tools; it stands for a more focused response to the very real human stories of loss and pain, with technology acting as critical support in those efforts.

The statistics surrounding missing Indigenous persons highlight the magnitude of this crisis:

• In 2021 alone, approximately 4,200 Indigenous women were reported missing.

• Only 30% of cases involving Indigenous women are reported to the FBI.

• Over 1,500 Indigenous persons remain missing, with many cases classified as cold.

• Indigenous people represent 1.3% of the U.S. population but make up a disproportionately high percentage of missing person cases.

These numbers reflect a stark reality, but the human impact goes beyond statistics. Every case represents a family searching for answers. Activating the MEP Event Code will provide these families with better tools, powered by people and technology, to pursue justice and closure.

Taylor agrees, stating, "At this moment, we emphasize the human lives impacted while recognizing technology's essential role in enhancing efforts for justice. By leveraging the combined strengths of human advocates and technological solutions, we can address the neglected needs that have hindered progress for too long."

Native Public Media staff Brian Wadsworth will join a panel at the upcoming MMIR Conference in Las Vegas on October 24, 2024, at the UNLV Student Union to share information about the MEP event code. Taylor will also speak about the MEP Event Code at Northern Arizona University on November 6, 2024.

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