A bill to notify the public and enlist assistance when Indigenous people, especially women and girls, go missing was approved on Monday in a key Assembly committee after amendments and approval in the Senate.
The “Feather Alert” bill, AB 1314, was introduced by Assemblymember James C. Ramos, the first and only California Native American serving in the state’s legislature.
“My bill, AB 1314, would help us get the word out sooner when an individual is missing or endangered, by asking the public for tips and leads as soon as possible when quick action is critical,” Ramos said. “Creating an alert or advisory system was a top recommendation from tribal leaders at a May 4 hearing to highlight this issue.”
Ramos also noted that California, the state with the greatest population of Native Americans in the nation, is also among the states with the highest rates of reported cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people.
Various studies found there are more than 5,700 cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, or MMIW, but only 116 of the women in the cases were placed on the United States Department of Justice missing persons list.
In 2020, the Sovereign Bodies Institute found only 165 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit, or MMIWG2, were reported across California.
The report was funded and co-authored by the Yurok Tribe.
AB 1314 creates a state Endangered Missing Advisory, or EMA, system when Native Americans are at risk.
Currently, law enforcement agencies use the EMA to investigate suspicious disappearances of at-risk missing children or other threatened persons.
The California Highway Patrol’s website states, “EMAs provide immediate information to the public to aid in the swift recovery of at-risk persons.”
In April, Washington state approved similar legislation, and Colorado is considering implementing an alert program.
Ramos added, “The Legislature and administration are listening to those in the trenches fighting these crimes. These violent acts affect not only victims, but also families — and in too many instances, the lives of children who are left without a parent. We have much more work to do, but this is one step that can help now.”
“Assemblymember James Ramos has repeatedly worked to remind us that California’s indigenous peoples are still here, and their needs must be recognized,” said Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon stated. “Establishing the Feather Alert to help stem the high rate of disappearances and violence against native Californians is another important way to do that.”
AB 1314 is sponsored by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the Tachi Santa Rosa Rancheria.
Also supporting the bill are the Yurok Tribe, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, California State Sheriff’s Association, California Tribal Families Coalition, Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla Cupeno Indians, Torrez Martinez Band of Desert Cahuilla Indians and Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, California Consortium for Urban Indian Health and California Tribal Business Alliance.
Assemblymembers Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) and Devon Mathis (R-Visalia) are joint authors and co-authors are Assemblymembers Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier), Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles), Sabrina Cervantes (D-Corona), Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella), Mike Gipson (D-Carson), Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-South Los Angeles), Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando), Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield), and Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). Senators Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara), Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Redlands) and Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) are also authors.
Assembly committee approves new ‘Feather Alert’ tool to garner public’s help in cases of missing Indigenous people
- OFFICE OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER JAMES C. RAMOS
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