BIA’s Missing and Murdered Unit Tackles Crisis with Operation Spirit Return
The BIA’s new initiative aims to identify and return unidentified Indigenous remains to their families
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has launched a new initiative called Operation Spirit Return to help solve missing and unidentified person cases involving American Indians and Alaska Natives. The operation, led by the BIA’s Missing and Murdered Unit, focuses on identifying unknown human remains found within or near Indian Country, which are believed to belong to Indigenous people.
The initiative aims to reunite these remains with their families and return them to their tribal communities. The BIA is currently investigating 15 cases of unidentified persons in multiple regions, including Alaska.
The Missing and Murdered Unit is collaborating with federal law enforcement agencies, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), and the forensic genetics company Othram to help solve these cases.
Bryan Mercier, director of the BIA, said the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous persons is longstanding, and the government is committed to finding solutions. “We are dedicated to ending this crisis and ensuring that families have answers about their missing loved ones,” he said in a press release.
The BIA’s Missing and Murdered Unit began as the Cold Case task force in 2019 under President Trump’s administration as part of Operation Lady Justice, an effort to address the high rates of missing and murdered Indigenous persons. The operation builds on previous efforts to support tribal communities in the fight for justice and accountability.
For more information or to learn how to get involved, visit the BIA’s Missing and Murdered Unit website at www.bia.gov/mmu.
Sharing Is Caring
This article is not included in our Story Share & Care selection.
The content may only be reproduced with permission from the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance. Please see our content sharing guidelines.
© Buffalo's Fire. All rights reserved.
Help us keep the fire burning, make a donation to Buffalo’s Fire
For everyone who cares about transparency in Native affairs: We exist to illuminate tribal government. Our work bridges the gap left by tribal-controlled media and non-Native, extractive journalism, providing the insights necessary for truly informed decision-making and a better quality of life. Because the consequences of restricted press freedom affect our communities every day, our trauma-informed reporting is rooted in a deep, firsthand expertise.
Every gift helps keep the fire burning. A monthly contribution makes the biggest impact. Cancel anytime.
Respect The Fire
At Buffalo's Fire, we value constructive dialogue that builds an informed Indian Country. To keep this space healthy, moderators will remove:
- Personal attacks, harassment, or hate speech
- Spam, misinformation, or unsolicited promotion
- Off-topic rants and excessive shouting (All Caps)
Let’s keep the fire burning with respect.