ST. PAUL, Minn. – Senator Mary Kunesh (DFL – New Brighton) today highlighted the official launch of the Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag Reward Fund Tip Program, a critical new initiative that is part of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Office. The program offers up to $10,000 for tips that meaningfully advance eligible MMIR cases and represents a major step forward in delivering long overdue justice and closure to Indigenous families across Minnesota.
“In Ojibwe, Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag means ‘They will be remembered forever.’ That name not only honors those we have lost, but the families who carry their memory, fight for answers, and refuse to be forgotten,” said Senator Kunesh. “Today is a step toward justice for those we have lost and their families.”
Senator Kunesh authored the legislation that established the Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag Reward Fund during the 2022 legislative session, with a one-time allocation of $250,000. The fund is designed to support law enforcement investigations, search and recovery efforts, and community-based prevention and awareness activities.
To ensure the fund would continue, Senator Kunesh championed a specialty MMIR license plate in 2023 that became law. MMIR specialty plate fees generate ongoing contributions to the fund. Minnesotans have shown overwhelming support with over 4,458 plates registered to date, making the MMIR plate the third most popular specialty plate in Minnesota. Currently, the Reward Fund holds approximately $350,000, with over $100,000 contributed through plate purchases alone.
“The community’s support for the MMIR plate has been extraordinary. Every license plate is a statement that we will not look away—that these cases matter,” said Senator Kunesh. “I am proud to see this program fully launched. It is a powerful tool in helping to solve cases and prevent further violence.”
For more information on how to submit a tip or contribute to the fund, visit the Department of Public Safety’s MMIR Office page: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ojp/offices-missing-murdered/mmir-office
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