In April 2024, Melody Delmar, a member of the Navajo Nation, was appointed as the Director of the Office of the Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (OMMIR) within the Division of Criminal Justice in Colorado.
“I am honored to be selected as the next director for the state of Colorado’s first OMMIR office,” said Delmar. “This role is more than a career goal; it is my personal mission and life-long passion. I am ready to continue raising awareness for my community, strengthening partnerships across Colorado and our neighboring states, and closing the gap between agencies and families.”
Delmar brings over 15 years of experience working with Indigenous communities in various roles across the nation, including economic development, public health, and social work in states like New Mexico, Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Prior to joining OMMIR, she led the state of New Mexico’s Indian Affairs Department’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) initiatives as the Special Projects Coordinator and Constituent Services Liaison.
“We value the importance this role contributes to our state,” said Matthew Lunn, director of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Melody brings a wealth of work, education, and knowledge to the Office of Murdered and Missing Relatives. We are looking forward to making strides and raising awareness.”
Delmar’s extensive experience includes implementing statewide cultural education and programming for Native American Heritage in Missouri and partnering with the National Institutes of Health Tribal Health Research Office to support the public health response in American Indian/Alaskan Native communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, she received the 2023 US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland award for “Outstanding Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety” for her work with MMIP on tribal, state, and national levels.
As a Kathryn M. Buder Scholar, Delmar earned a Master’s in Social Work from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, focusing on policy and research on Violence Against Women and Children in AI/AN communities. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northern Arizona University.
Established in 2022 through Senate Bill 22-150, the Office of the Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives serves as a liaison on behalf of the Indigenous community, helping connect families with resources, providing information on reporting missing or murdered loved ones, and increasing awareness regarding missing and murdered Indigenous people. The office also works to develop and enhance partnerships with Tribal Law Enforcement and communities, collaborate with state and local partners to develop training, and support the Community Volunteer Advisory Board.
In her short time as director, Delmar has proactively engaged with various agencies, stakeholders, and Tribes, and hosted OMMIR’s Community Volunteer Advisory Board quarterly meeting. Looking ahead, she aims to continue meeting with the community, raising awareness, and closing the gap between families, community members, organizations, law enforcement, and federal partners.
For more information or to collaborate with the office, contact Director Delmar at melody.delmar@state.co.us. Visit OMMIR’s website for the latest updates: https://dcj.colorado.gov/dcj-offices/ommir.