Carolyn DeFord Eden

Carolyn DeFord Eden, Trafficking Project Coordinator/MMIP Advocate, Community Domestic Violence Advocacy Program, Puyallup Tribe of Indians — Ms. DeFord is a member of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. She works under the Puyallup Tribe’s Community Domestic Violence Advocacy Program as the Human Trafficking Coordinator. Her journey with missing and murdered Indigenous women began in 1999 when her mother, Leona LeClair Kinsey of La Grande, Oregon went missing. Her personal experiences have inspired her to create Missing and Murdered Native Americans, a grassroots, survivor-led, volunteer organization focused on supporting families and advocating for change. She believes that healing and culture combined with domestic violence and human trafficking advocacy, are steps to MMIWP prevention. Carolyn, and Missing and Murdered Native American’s goal is to relieve some of the helplessness families feel when a loved one goes missing, collaborate with service providers to bridge the gaps, leverage the resources needed in search effort, and hopefully reunite families with their missing loved ones. Working through her tragedy, Carolyn, has found personal healing and a sense of purpose through helping others. She believes that everyone has a gift to contribute or a role to play in becoming a part of the solution.