Today on the steps of the Capitol building in Sacramento, Assemblyman James Ramos will be hosting the annual MMIP Awareness Day event. 

California faces a severe, underreported crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), with over 10,000 cases in the US in 2024, of which a high percentage are linked to California. Native Americans, particularly women, face significantly higher rates of violence. California has implemented the “Feather Alert” system to aid in locating missing people and is initiating tribal grants. 

Key Aspects of the Crisis in California

* High Vulnerability: 84% of Indigenous women on reservations experience violence, and they are 10 times more likely to be murdered.

* Unsolved Cases: Only 9% of murders of Indigenous women in California are solved.

* Data Gaps: Many cases go unreported, undercounted, or are misclassified due to jurisdictional issues between tribal, federal, and local law enforcement.

Trafficking Link: About 40% of victims exploited in sx trafficking are Indigenous. 

Legislative and Community Responses

* Feather Alert: Implemented in 2023, this system, under Assembly Bill 1314, which was authored by Native Assemblyman James Ramos, is used for rapid public notification of missing Indigenous persons.

* MMIP Grant Program: Established by the 2022 Budget Act to fund tribal efforts in investigating and solving cases.

* Events and Awareness: Community members and organizations, such as those mentioned on 916 Times, hold vigils to raise awareness.

* Resource Coordination: The California Department of Justice Missing in California Indian Country events, often held in conjunction with partners as shown on their official website, help families report cases and provide DNA samples.

* Tribal Court Action: The Yurok Tribal Court operates a dedicated Missing & Murdered program, including a drone project for searches. 

Factors Contributing to the Crisis

* Public Law 280: This law gives state law enforcement authority on tribal lands, which has caused confusion and diminished the role of tribal police in investigations.

* Historical Trauma: Ongoing effects of colonization, including violence and systemic neglect.

* Jurisdictional Complexity: Challenges in coordinating between tribal, local, and federal agencies.