SENS. OSTEN & BERTHEL RAISE AWARENESS OF MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PERSONS AT STATE CAPITOL EVENT

HARTFORD – State Senators Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) and Eric Berthel (R-Watertown) today led a commemoration of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Day (MMIP) as part of Connecticut’s annual event at the State Capitol to recognize the high rates of assault, abduction, and murder of Native American tribal members.

MMIP is observed annually on May 5 to honor victims, support families, and raise awareness of the high rates of violence against Indigenous people. Established in 2017, this day of advocacy addresses the crisis of Native women and girls who are missing or being murdered at disproportionate rates.

“We’ve come a long way in raising awareness about missing and murdered indigenous people, but we have an even longer way to go to solve this problem. No one should be satisfied until we’ve reversed this shameful history of assault and murder of Native Americans,” said Sen. Osten, whose Senate District includes the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribal nations. “MMIP Day is a day that keeps us focused and on track to achieve that.” 

“Each year, we reserve this solemn day to raise awareness for missing and murdered indigenous persons and learn about this social and civil rights tragedy that must be addressed,” said Sen. Berthel, whose Senate District is home to the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington. “Connecticut has joined the national day of awareness to honor victims and extend support for the families impacted by these tragedies. Our state has benefitted so much from our Tribal Nations and it’s important that we continue to recognize the injustices happening to indigenous persons and take action.”

Sens. Osten and Berthel were joined by several members of the Eastern Pequots, Golden Hill Paugussetts,  Mashantucket Pequots, Mohegan, and Schaghticoke tribal nations. The day began with a Flute Honoring Song, concluded with a Red Dress Song, and included a “Red Dress” display, which is a series of empty red dresses that honor and symbolize the lost lives of indigenous women at the hands of violence.

Native American and Alaska Native rates of murder, rape, and violent crime are all higher than the national averages, and Native American and Alaska Native women make up a significant portion of missing and murdered individuals.
For decades, Native American and Alaska Native communities have struggled with high rates of assault, abduction, and murder of tribal members. Community advocates describe the crisis as a legacy of generations of government policies of forced removal, land seizures and violence inflicted on Native peoples.

A 2016 study by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) found that more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3 percent) have experienced violence in their lifetime, including more than half who have experienced sexual violence. Overall, it’s estimated more than 1.5 million American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in

Congress responded in part in 2020 with the “Not Invisible Act,” which brought together law enforcement, tribal authorities, federal partners, and others to study solutions to the crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous women and to establish better systems of coordination. The Act created a new position within the Interior Department dealing specifically with murder, trafficking, and missing Native Americans, and it appointed the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs to coordinate prevention efforts, grants, and programs relating to murder of, trafficking of, and missing Native Americans, across various federal agencies.
 

**NEWS ADVISORY **

TOMORROW: SENATORS OSTEN & BERTHEL HONOR MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN

HARTFORD – State Senators Carthy Osten (D-Sprague) and Eric Berthel (R-Watertown) will host Connecticut’s annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day – also known as “Red Dress Day” – at the State Capitol tomorrow, Friday, May 1, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day is observed annually on May 5 to honor victims, support families, and raise awareness of the high rates of violence against Indigenous people. Established in 2017, this day of advocacy addresses the crisis of Native women and girls who are missing or being murdered at disproportionate rates.

Schedule:

9:30 a.m.- Capitol, South Lobby
Opening Ceremony – Flute Honoring Song – Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Member
                        Rashad Young Director of the MPTN Language Department
 

9:40 a.m.  – Capitol, South Lobby
Opening Prayer –  Herbert “Half-Crow” Boyd, Vice Chairman, Mashantucket Pequot   
                                    
Opening Remarks – Senators Osten & Berthel   

 

Tribal Nation Guest Speakers:

• Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation – Secretary Dawnrae Rocha
• Golden Hill Paugussett Tribal Nation – Clan Mother Shoran Waupatukuay Piper
• Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Vice Chairwoman Latoya Cluff
• Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Mashantucket Royalty, Jr Miss Mashantucket Chloe Cox
• Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Mashantucket Royalty, Tiny Tot Miss Mashantucket Izarra Eleazer
• Mohegan Tribe Nation Chairwoman Council of Elders Beth Regan; Vice Chairwoman of Strong Wolves Speak Loudly MMIP Committee-Teri McHale
• Schaghticoke Tribal Nation – Member Darlene Kascak

Outside South Lobby
Closing Ceremony – Red Sand Project activation
Mohegan Tribal Nation – Elder Two Dogs Bruce Bozsum and Strong Wolves Speak Loudly MMIP Committee—Red Dress Song played during the Red Sand portion outside
Schaghticoke Tribal Nation – Member Darlene Kascak
 

###

**NEWS ADVISORY **

FRIDAY: SENATORS OSTEN & BERTHEL HONOR MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN
 

HARTFORD – State Senators Carthy Osten (D-Sprague) and Eric Berthel (R-Watertown) will host Connecticut’s annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day – also known as  “Red Dress Day” – at the State Capitol this Friday May 1, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
 
National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day is observed annually on May 5 to honor victims, support families, and raise awareness of the high rates of violence against Indigenous people. Established in 2017, this day of advocacy addresses the crisis of Native women and girls who are missing or being murdered at disproportionate rates.
 
Schedule:
 
9:30 a.m.- Capitol, South Lobby
Opening Ceremony – Flute Honoring Song – Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Member
                                    Rashad Young Director of the MPTN Language Department
                                   
9:40 a.m.  – Capitol, South Lobby
Opening Prayer –   Herbert “Half-Crow” Boyd, Vice Chairman, Mashantucket Pequot   
                                   Tribal Elders Council
 
Opening Remarks – Senators Osten & Berthel   
 
Tribal Nation Guest Speakers:
 

• Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation – Secretary Dawnrae Rocha
• Golden Hill Paugussett Tribal Nation – Clan Mother Shoran Waupatukuay Piper
• Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Vice Chairwoman Latoya Cluff
• Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Mashantucket Royalty, Jr Miss Mashantucket Chloe Cox
• Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Mashantucket Royalty, Tiny Tot Miss Mashantucket Izarra Eleazer
• Mohegan Tribe Nation Chairwoman Council of Elders Beth Regan; Vice Chairwoman of Strong Wolves Speak Loudly MMIP Committee-Teri McHale
• Schaghticoke Tribal Nation – Member Darlene Kascak

 
Outside South Lobby
Closing Ceremony – Red Sand Project activation
Mohegan Tribal Nation – Elder Two Dogs Bruce Bozsum and Strong Wolves Speak Loudly MMIP Committee—Red Dress Song played during the Red Sand portion outside
Schaghticoke Tribal Nation – Member Darlene Kascak
 
###

SENATOR OSTEN APPROVES FY ‘27 STATE BUDGET WITH NEW EDUCATION AID FOR
19TH SENATE DISTRICT RESIDENTS

HARTFORD –State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) today voted for changes to the second year of Connecticut’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget that delivers $190 million more in education aid to Connecticut’s cities and towns, another $100 million to cities and towns, $300 million for early childcare, and $30 million more for low-income health care –  all while remaining balanced and under the state spending cap. 

Senate Bill 1 was passed on a 30-6 bipartisan vote and immediately sent to the House of Representatives for final approval.

Sen. Osten welcomed the second-year budget adjustments, which will result in $135.85 million in total state aid this year – an increase of $18.6 million over last year – for Columbia, Franklin, Hebron, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Marlborough, Montville, Norwich, and Sprague, including $7.79 million in new education aid.

“In this budget, every town is receiving an increase in education and municipal aid. It’s important that we return dollars to our communities,” said Sen. Osten, who is Senate Chair of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee.

Major, positive changes in the second year of the adjusted budget include:

• $152 million in increased aid for local boards of education in the form of an additional ECS grant. This $152 million increase will also be built into the ECS grant in FY 28, which begins on July 1, 2027.
• $20 million in additional funding to ensure that all school districts receive a minimum of a 2% increase in their ECS grant this year, regardless of student enrollment.
• $18 million in additional aid for magnet schools, the Open Choice program, charter schools, and vocational-technical schools. 
• $100 million for state grants to cities and towns.
• A $30 million increase to the state’s HUSKY health care program on top of the $45 million already budgeted, resulting in a total $75 million increase. HUSKY Health provides comprehensive, no-cost or low-cost medical coverage to eligible low-income residents, children, seniors, and people with disabilities.
• A $300 million transfer of ‘volatile’ state revenue to the Early Childhood Endowment which helps families access childcare, supports higher wages for educators, and improves childcare facilities.

###