ELCA Advocates for Justice in Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Crisis
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is amplifying its support for the Bridging Agency Data Gaps and Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act, H.R. 1010, as a response to the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Relatives (MMIWRGR). This crisis affects Indigenous communities across the United States and Canada, with these communities experiencing disproportionately high rates of violence and disappearance. The ELCA has recognized the historical roots of this issue in colonization and structural violence and is calling for increased efforts in reconciliation and justice. The BADGES Act aims to establish grant funding for investigations, promote collaborative responses to missing person cases, and provide culturally appropriate resources and training for Tribal law enforcement officers. The ELCA is urging individuals to engage with their representatives to support this legislation. 
