Golden State Today

California has awarded $19.58 million in grants to support 18 Native American tribes in their efforts to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). Governor Gavin Newsom announced the initiative, which aims to provide resources for tribal governments to help families find peace and combat this tragic epidemic.

Governor Newsom stated, "Too many Native people, many of them women and girls, are missing with no answer. Behind each Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person case is a family and community grieving a loved one. These grants will support tribal governments in helping those families find peace – and in stemming this tragic epidemic."

The California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) approved a second round of awards under the MMIP Grant Program, established in the 2022 budget. The grants focus on developing culturally-based prevention strategies, strengthening responses to human trafficking, providing culturally appropriate support services to affected families and communities, and improving cooperation between state, local, federal, and tribal law enforcement agencies.

Specific projects funded by these grants include:

- The Pit River Tribe will develop MMIP projects through their Tribal Victim Witness department to provide culturally-based support for family members whose loved ones are missing.

- The Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians will establish a small home village for the unhoused, offering a safe living environment for vulnerable tribe members.

- The Pechanga Band of Indians plans to hire specialized personnel including a trained law enforcement investigator, a human trafficking coordinator, and a master’s-level social worker with expertise in commercial sexual exploitation.

The MMIP crisis is recognized globally in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the U.S., 84 percent of Native women and 82 percent of Native men experience violence during their lifetimes. MMIP cases are seven times less likely to be solved than other cases, with Native women being murdered at rates more than ten times the national average.

California has worked closely with tribes across the state to develop strategies supporting tribal investigations into these cases. Several bills have been signed into law by Governor Newsom addressing the MMIP crisis:

- AB 3099 (2020) by Assemblymember James Ramos directed increased collaboration among law enforcement agencies related to MMIP cases.

- AB 1314 (2022) by Assemblymember Ramos established the Feather Alert system similar to Amber or Silver Alerts.

- AB 44 (2023) by Assemblymember Ramos granted tribal governments access to the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System for updating missing persons' information.

The state's 2024-2025 budget provides an additional $13.25 million for MMIP grants. The BSCC anticipates releasing another Request for Proposals later this year.

For more information about the MMIP Grant Program, please visit its official page.