For decades, our American Indian and Alaska Native brothers and sisters have dealt with high rates of violence in their communities. Homicide is the number three leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native females between the ages of 10 and 24 and the number five leading cause of death for 25 to 34-year-olds. Additionally, 40 percent of all victims of sex trafficking are identified as American Indian and Alaska Native women.  In 2023 alone, over 5,800 American Indian and Alaska Native females were missing—and 74 percent were children.