This presentation will provide insight into the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) in Alaska, and the initiatives being taken—particularly through data sovereignty strategies and the healing-centered work of Alaska Native leadership. 

Objectives:

• Describe the scope and impact of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) crisis in Alaska and explain how data sovereignty strategies are being used to address gaps in understanding and response.

• Examine healing-centered, Alaska Native-led initiatives that promote community resilience, and identify at least two ways nurses and other health professionals can support MMIP efforts aligned with Indigenous leadership and priorities.

PRESENTER(S) 

Charlene Aqpik Apok, PhD, MA Executive Director, Data for Indigenous Justice Aqpik is Iñupiaq; her family is from White Mountain and Golovin, Alaska. She is mother to Evan Lukluan. Aqpik has served in many spaces as an advocate for Indigenous womxn, Indigenous sovereignty, climate justice, and Indigenous rights to health and wellbeing. Aqpik is a lifelong learner in both her cultural traditions and decolonizing academia. She earned her BA in American Ethnic Studies with a minor in Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies, an MA in Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development, and PhD in Indigenous Studies. Concurrent to her role at DIJ, she is also a co-founder the Alaska Native Birthworkers Community and owns a small business, Cloudberry Consulting. Before these she worked in tribal health as a researcher serving Alaska Native and American Indian peoples. Aqpik gratefully resides in Anchorage on the territories of the Dena'ina peoples. Here she has taught the Iñupiaq language and continues to learn cultural traditions with her son.

Enduring Modules - This module originated on 3/25/2026 and will remain available for CE credit through 03/30/2026

Criteria for Successful Completion:

Live attendees must join the zoom link via the LMS site, be logged in for a minimum of 90% of the session, and successfully complete the attestation and evaluation. Upon completion, a CE certificate for 1.25 contact hours will be awarded. 

Recordings of the live session will be made available within one week of the live date. 

Asynchronous attendees must utilize the LMS to obtain resource information (if available), view 100% of recording(s), complete all modules, and successfully complete the attestation and evaluation. Upon completion, a CE certificate for 1.25 contact hours will be awarded.

No relevant financial relationships exist for any individuals in a position to control content of this educational activity.

NOTE:

The Academy of Forensic Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.