Victims Assistance Program MMIP Symposium afternoon presentations
Carrying the Message MMIP group at the May 26 event.
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — The Carrying the Message Murdered, Missing Indigenous People group is about being there for the families making sure they are okay and doing what they can to help.
They also assist in bringing awareness and justice said Willeena George, CTM organizer. “This work isn’t about who gets the best attention or recognition. As we walk and do events we call upon our community members for support,” she continued adding it takes a lot of work to put together an event and that is why the group at times call upon tribal council/programs/departments for donations to put an event together, “We as a grass roots organization aren’t rich but we put our families first.”
George, along with Cynder Metz, mother of Matt Broncho who has been missing since March 2019, spoke during the afternoon session of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Victim Assistance Program MMIP event May 26 at Timbee Hall. In addition, Fort Hall Police Chief Pat Teton and Leslie St. Clair, deputy tribal prosecutor, addressed the attendees.
The CTM MMIP group has been doing the work since 2019 — it’s 24 hours a day, seven days a week and it’s to help the families through the process of finding their loved ones, and justice for their murdered family member. It’s not an 8 to 5 desk job, it’s being that shoulder they can cry on, being that venting board when things get tough, being in that courtroom when justice is being served so they know they have support and don’t have to feel alone or relive what has happened to their family member, she explained.
George said families everyday have to endure the pain of their missing family member and those who seek justice for a murdered family member — It is the families who are the experts on the missing and murdered. She said they’ve been doing the work on their own since they started, “We all pitch in to keep the awareness going in which we have been doing events every holiday because that is when the emotions run high for families of the missing and murdered.”
She said they participate in parades in surrounding towns as sometimes the awareness they bring is new to them. They run into jurisdictional issues. They’ve recently attended conferences or joined in Zoom meetings so they can have a better understanding of where to turn or get guidance on what to do. She does call on law enforcement in all areas because when someone is missing, information is critical – time wasted or information given can be lost. “To us any little detail of information regardless if it is second hand information or hearsay must be documented because even if it is not important to you it is important to the family.”
George said the group brain storms together and reviews things that may be questionable. The information they gather is important and the group won’t just hand it over to just anyone. They recently attended a MMIP conference in north Idaho and found out they need more involvement from the Tribes. “I stand strong as a native woman fighting for our community in all areas we know the addictions of alcohol/drugs, domestic violence, sexual assaults, can play a major part in the missing and murdered pandemic. We as “Carrying the Message” are a Recovery Group also and work hard to help those still suffering from addiction.”
She has 12 years of sobriety – when in treatment she vowed to return and give back to her community. She said the group speaks from their hearts because they love everyone in the community. She’s a survivor noting our tribal people need us and we need each other – they will not put judgement on anyone. The work is hard and tough but they will continue to bring awareness of the missing and murdered. She encouraged people to become involved in the group, attend meetings and join in the marches or walks. They intend to be the voice and stand strong behind what they do. “Always remember this is not about us this is about our MMIP/MMIW families,” George concluded.
Cynder Metz talked about her son Matt Broncho who has been missing since March 20, 2019. He graduated from Sherman Indian School in Riverside, Calif. He also attended college in Durango, Colo. and graduated in 2011 from Idaho State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a minor in Economics. While attending school he worked for FH-BIA-Irrigation and while in college worked at the SB Tribal ARM Program later becoming the ARM Manager. He later worked at Tribal Transportation, State Dept. of Agriculture and Tribal Commodity Program. He also participated in various community functions, district committee meetings and was a member of the Shoshone-Bannock School Board.
She last seen him March 20, 2019. She was able to locate his phone in Snowville, Utah through a GIS phone App. That evening they traveled to Utah locating the Toyota pickup truck on the I-84 off ramp at the Snowville, Utah exit. They spent most of that evening checking some of the roads and asking convenience store workers if they had seen him or his dog. Just before midnight, she contacted the Box Elder Sheriff’s office and was told that it would take an hour and a half before they could come out. In her mind she figured he probably was already home.
Metz further explained the following day he still was not home, “I then filed a missing person report with the Fort Hall Police Department and also contacted Box Elder Sheriff’s office.” The following day she hadn’t heard anything from the police, that is when family and friends organized their own search for Matt. She said the Box Elder Sheriffs Dept. did very little in searching the area for Matt, however when Matt’s dog was found walking along I-86 almost a week later, Box Elder Sheriffs Dept. and Utah Search & rescue initiated their search.
She said all efforts were unsuccessful and to date he remains unfound. The Fort Hall Police Department at that time, assisted with his case following up with those he had last contact with here at home but to date there has been no follow up and they have no leads.
Metz said currently Box Elder County C.I. Division in Utah have a 3rd, C.I. assigned to Matt’s case and the Fort Hall C.I. Division also has another C.I. assigned they also seem to be overwhelmed because of staff shortages and an increase in active criminal investigations.
She noted jurisdiction in her son’s case is also an obstacle because of jurisdictional constraints between agencies. “The past 3 years have been agonizing for myself and family, there is not a day that goes by that we don’t think about my son, often wondering what could have happened to him and praying he is safe somewhere,” Metz continued. “When I think about Matt’s case I get frustrated wondering why nothing more is done to help find my son.”
She said she felt alone in her search for Matt. In May 2019 she was invited to attend a Carrying the Message (MMIP) meeting, “there I was able to share my story and gain the knowledge needed to get assistance and attention for Matt’s case. I also had heard other cases in our community from local family members of our Missing and Murdered.”
“Through the Carrying the Message MMIP group we support each other and the community, the goal is to save lives, honor those who have suffered, those we have lost, and their families,” she said. “The more we address what is happening, we collectively will be able to advocate for policy change, and share resources for our community, and hold accountable those who contribute harm to our people.”
She thanked all those individuals and groups that have supported her (Metz/Broncho) families in the past three years through awareness, searches, financial support for transportation, gas, food, hotel, and just being there for emotional support.
Tribal Prosecutor Leslie St. Clair speaks at the presentation.
Fort Hall Police Chief Pat Teton said if someone is missing it needs to be reported to the FHPD and complete paperwork. Once it’s completed the dispatch office enters it into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). Recent photos are needed of the missing person. Janet Galindo, dispatch sergeant, said it doesn’t matter how old the person is, report it, once the information is in the system, they may get a hit.
Teton said local law enforcement have their own processes with investigations. A coroner is called when there’s an unattended death and the coroner is the one to call the person deceased. Officers will look over the scene to determine if anything suspicious is found so a determination is made if an autopsy should be done. The coroner may call for an autopsy if there is health problems.
Nancy Eschief Murillo asked why the FBI wasn’t brought in on Samantha Bear’s death since she was found on trust property? Chief Teton said when he spoke with Chubbuck Police Chief Bill Guiberson the FBI was informed and the special agent in charge said they were involved in the case. He said because of the 93-638 contract, they are required to cooperate with outside agencies.
Chief Teton said if a death occurs within exterior boundaries of the Fort Hall reservation, the FHPD respond but they also contact the FBI to they will know what they are responding to for example all major crimes, felony assaults, arson, child abuse and any unattended death. If it’s a felony then it will go into the federal system. If a death is a suicide, the FHPD involvement is minimal. If something happens off the reservation then the FHPD is notified and they help notify the family.
Concerning complaints against law enforcement, Teton said the Citizens Review Board is who reviews them.
Zelphia Towersap said there was a death in her family that is questionable. She believes the coroner didn’t do the right thing. It was investigated further as the subject had bruises on the body and the people who did it were never charged. Chief Teton is aware of the case, they gave the information to the U.S. Attorney and it’s up to them to make the determination. “We’ve done our part,” he said.
A question was asked whether tort claims could be filed and Teton said it is possible – they would pull reports, send to BIA any videos to make a determination. He said civil rights complains go to the FBI office in Salt Lake City.
Chief Teton said they can only do so much if tribal members leave the reservation but do try to assist if something happens. They’re trying to hire more people but backgrounds can be an issue. In addition when some go to the academy for training, they might get homesick and return home. He also said some tribal member officers may not get treated well by our people and they quit. “We do care, we go to fairs, we’re your department, we serve you. We try to get out to the districts,” Teton said.
Leslie St. Clair, Tribal Prosecutor’s Office, said she’s worked in both the Tribal Court and Police Department for nine years. She’s also taken the Tribal Bar Exam. One of the big hurdles is the jurisdictional issue and it ends at the reservation line. The Tribes jurisdiction is over tribal members and Native people from other tribes. She said a lot of stuff happens with non-Indians coming onto the reservation and they can’t prosecute them so they have to call county, “It’s a conundrum, frustrating somedays.” Concerning the FBI involvement it involves the Major Crimes Act.
She said the Tribes Law and Order Code needs to be updated with laws that are updated for our generation. When cases are filed they need to make sure they can prosecute the crime that includes victims and witnesses coming forward. “We have a great community, tight knit, at the same time we all have our problems — need to work together. We need to value each other as community and family members, not just ourselves.” She said we need to stand with our tribal laws to make sure they are respected and adhered to as best as we can.
