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Better data, more leads: State patrol effort on missing Native people starts to yield results

After working for the Spokane Tribe of Indians for more than 20 years, Dawn Pullin has a new job. Pullin began her role Tuesday as Eastern Washington tribal liaison for the Washington State Patrol. She has been working closely with Patti Gosch, who was hired in November 2019 as the first full-time tribal liaison in the history of the State Patrol. Like Gosch, Pullin’s role is new.

The positions were created to help address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people in Washington. Their work has already yielded more collaboration and information about cold cases.

Pullin has experience working for the Indian Health Services, Spokane Tribal Enterprises and its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, making a positive impact on her tribal nation, which is important to her. She sought the role with the WSP for more personal reasons. “Patti and I received notification regarding a missing, now 8-year-old female, along with her picture. When I saw it, I couldn’t help but think about my young granddaughter,” Pullin said. “This is my why.”

Native American women and girls have disappeared and have suffered sexual and physical violence at disproportionate levels for decades. A report from the National Institute of Justice found that more than four out of five Native women have experienced violence in their lives. The Department of Justice has said Native women are 10 times more likely to be murdered than other Americans.

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https://www.yakimaherald.com/special_projects/vanished/better-data-more-leads-state-patrol-effort-on-missing-native-people-starts-to-yield-results/article_b915ad62-35b6-5792-8d83-0b3c8d079152.html
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