Forensic DNA and Indigenous Justice: A New Era for MMIP Cold Cases

Haley Omeasoo of the Hopi Tribe is pioneering MMIP Forensic Data

Apr 19, 2025

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In the sweeping plains of Montana, where stories are passed down through generations and the land remembers, a new chapter is unfolding in the fight for justice. 🪶⚖️

The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) has plagued Native communities for decades. But now, thanks to groundbreaking forensic DNA work led by Indigenous scientists, hope is being reborn. 🌄🧬

At the heart of this transformation is Haley Omeasoo, a citizen of the Hopi Tribe and a descendant of the Blackfeet Nation. With brilliance, heart, and cultural reverence, she’s leading an initiative that could bring answers to thousands of Native families who have waited far too long. 👩🏽‍🔬🌺

🌱 A Calling Rooted in Loss

Haley’s journey into forensic science started in a place that might unsettle many: a room full of cadavers during a high school trip to the University of Montana. While others fainted, Haley stood curious and inspired. 💀➡️👩🏽‍⚕️

What cemented her path wasn’t just fascination with anatomy — it was personal. In 2017, her friend and classmate Ashley Loring Heavy Runner vanished from the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana. 😢🕯️

Ashley’s disappearance became more than just a tragedy — it became Haley’s mission.

🔍 Forensics Meets Tradition: Ohkomi Forensics

In 2024, at just 27 years old, Haley founded Ohkomi Forensics — a nonprofit aiming to create the first Indigenous-controlled DNA database for the Blackfeet people. 🧬🧡

“Ohkomi” means “to use one’s voice” in Blackfeet. And that’s exactly what Haley is doing — not just for herself, but for her entire community. 🎤💬

Her goal? To ensure that cases like Ashley’s are no longer lost in the cracks of jurisdictional chaos, institutional apathy, and historical injustice. ❌💔

🧪 The Science of Hope

DNA technology has already proven its power. From ancestry testing 🧬 to solving 40-year-old murder cases 🕵️‍♂️, genetic genealogy is rewriting how we understand crime, identity, and justice.

But for Indigenous communities, the relationship with genetic science is complicated. 🤔⚖️

🛑 Historically, researchers have exploited Native DNA without consent. In one infamous case, Arizona State University paid $700,000 to members of the Havasupai tribe after using their DNA for purposes they never agreed to. 🚫🔬

This is why tribal sovereignty over genetic data is crucial. Native people must control how their DNA is collected, stored, and used. 🔒🧬

🌐 Indigenous Data Sovereignty: A Sacred Responsibility

Haley’s work embodies "DataBack," a movement championed by Indigenous scientist Krystal Tsosie (Diné), advocating for the return of control over Native DNA. 🌀🔄

Rather than being passive subjects in a lab, tribes are now active stewards of their genetic legacy. 🌾🛡️

In this model:

🧬 DNA is collected with cultural sensitivity and full consent.
📂 Data is stored within tribal governance systems.
🧠 Decisions are made by elders, leaders, and the people, not corporations or universities.

💔 A Crisis Measured in Silence: MMIP Statistics

The Bureau of Indian Affairs estimates over 4,000 unsolved cases of missing and murdered Native people. 😔

Advocates argue the real number is much higher due to:

🏛️ Jurisdictional overlap between federal, state, and tribal authorities
🚫 Lack of coordinated reporting systems
🕳️ Disregard from law enforcement agencies

Meanwhile, NamUS (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System) reports 11,000+ unidentified human remains currently held by coroners and medical examiners across the U.S. 🧍‍♀️🧍

Every set of remains is a family waiting, a soul unburied, a story untold. 🕯️

🛠️ Tools of Change: Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG)

The new weapon against this silence is forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) — a tool that combines DNA with genealogical databases to identify victims and suspects. 🧬🧓👶

FGG has solved cases across the country — from Golden State Killer to long-lost John Does. And now, it’s coming to Indian Country. 🚔🕵️‍♀️

In February 2025, the BIA’s Missing and Murdered Unit announced a partnership with Othram, a Texas-based DNA forensics company. Their joint effort, called Operation Spirit Return, uses FGG to help tribes identify remains and solve cold cases. 🛡️🔍

⚖️ Justice Through Culture: Navigating Ethical Ground

Haley’s academic research connects forensic anthropology with violence against Native women — an often-overlooked epidemic. 💔👩🏽

Through skull fracture patterns and trauma analysis, she revealed that Native women aged 25–44 disproportionately show signs of intimate partner violence. 💢🧠

This work links MMIP not just to missing reports but to patterns of abuse, colonization, and structural neglect. 📉🔗

Haley’s PhD work dives into:

⚠️ The ethics of DNA collection
📜 Indigenous consent protocols
🔍 How science can support — not exploit — Native communities

🛑 What Makes This Different?

Mainstream DNA testing (like 23andMe or Ancestry) often lacks transparency and can be accessed by law enforcement without permission. 🚓🕵️

Haley’s model puts trust and tribal decision-making first.

She works directly with:

🧓 Tribal elders
👥 Community members
🪶 Cultural leaders

Together, they determine:

🧬 Which DNA to collect
🗃️ Where it’s stored
🔐 How it’s used
✋ Who can access it

💖 More Than Science: A Spiritual Responsibility

For many Native cultures, bones are not just evidence — they are sacred. 🦴💫

Returning human remains is not just justice — it’s healing, ceremony, and connection to ancestors. 🌌🪶

Haley’s mission is to bring relatives home — both in body and spirit. 🏞️🌺

🎓 The Future of Ohkomi Forensics

With Ohkomi Forensics, Haley hopes to:

🔬 Train Native youth in forensics
🛠️ Build community labs on reservations
🌐 Collaborate with other Indigenous scientists worldwide
📈 Expand DNA collection ethically and respectfully

She envisions a world where Indigenous communities use the best of science without compromising their values. 🌍🧬💖

🗣️ Voices from the Movement

Many are watching this movement with hope:

💬 “This is the first time we’re seeing forensic tools used by Native people, for Native people.” – Tribal advocate

💬 “We’ve waited too long for justice. Now, we are building it ourselves.” – MMIP family member

💬 “Our DNA carries stories — and now, those stories will speak.” – Blackfeet elder

🌟 Why It Matters to All of Us

This isn’t just a Native issue — it’s a human rights issue. 🌎⚖️

When Indigenous communities lead their own investigations, the ripple effect touches:

🧑🏽‍⚖️ Justice systems
📚 Scientific communities
💬 National conversations on race and equity

Every case solved through Ohkomi Forensics is a step toward sovereignty, reconciliation, and truth. 🕊️

🕯️ Ashley’s Light Still Burns

As of today, Ashley Loring Heavy Runner has not been found. But her name ignited a movement — one that continues to grow, adapt, and fight for answers. 🕊️🌹

Through Haley’s work, Ashley’s story is no longer a tragic footnote — it’s a call to action that echoes in labs, communities, and hearts. ❤️‍🔥

🚀 The Road Ahead

There is still much to do:

Funding for Indigenous-led forensic initiatives 💵
Policy reform around DNA privacy 🧾
Public support for ethical science 📢
Education about MMIP issues in schools and media 📚📰

But with leaders like Haley Omeasoo, the future is not just possible — it’s already happening. ✨

🙏 Final Thoughts

This movement isn’t about just science. It’s about identity, ancestry, resilience, and truth. 🧬🫶

Indigenous communities have waited too long for justice. But now, with DNA in one hand and culture in the other, they are writing their own future — and bringing their loved ones home. 🏡🕊️

Let us support them, amplify them, and never look away again. 🌍🎙️

Credit:

MPRNews reported this story originally.