‘DEVASTATING ISSUE’
State tribes call for the Legislature to address missing and murdered Indigenous people
On Tuesday, tribal representatives whose homelands ranged from near the Mexican border to California’s rural north gathered in Sacramento to call upon the state government to combat the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous people.
Several tribal leaders spoke in front of the state capital, including Yurok Tribe Chairman Joseph James, who asked the state Legislature to support several initiatives meant to address the disproportionate rates Indigenous people, especially women, experience violence.
“We got some work to do and again, that’s why we’re here today. It’s us and we are moving this forward as tribes, as a state, as advocates, as organizations coming together, ringing that bell,” James said.
The event was hosted by Assemblymember James Ramos (D-Highland) who proposed two bills meant to increase public safety on tribal lands.
Assembly Bill 44 would allow tribal police officers to enforce state laws and allow tribal courts to access the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, a network containing FBI and DMV databases, including criminal histories.
Assembly Bill 273 would require counties and courts to tell tribes, family members and lawyers when a child or non-minor dependent is missing from a foster care placement, triggering a judicial hearing.
“The devastating issue of MMIP (missing and murdered Indigenous people) has caused untold tragedy that often becomes long lingering ripples of grief and further tragedy,” Ramos said in a release. “We can reduce the number of cases through greater collaboration by law enforcement, tribal communities, mental health and other service providers to ensure that victims and their loved ones receive the support and attention they need to overcome these acts of violence.”
The tribal leaders who gathered in Sacramento also urged the state to spend $200 million for programs meant to reduce the rate by which Indigenous women become missing or murdered.
Jesus Tarango, chairman of the Wilton Rancheria in the Sacramento area, noted that every native person is impacted by missing and murdered Indigenous people.
“To those who are still missing, please know that we will never rest in our search that we promised to keep fighting for change,” Tarango said.
The full event may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/live/iKpkq31cSUI?feature=share.