11/23/2025
It was a relief to see Indigenous women in CA Department of Justice leadership and it’s no wonder progress is finally made on the MIIP crisis here in California. Chief Justice Janet K. Bill who serves as the Tribal Council Chair for the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukansi Indians is also the Director of Native American Affairs for the Office of the Attorney General of California. This November she was making opening statements in the first ever training for police officers to educate about new legislation to end the . This training was organized by SICG supporting indigenous communities group, chaired by Sand City Mayor, Mary Ann Carbone, our local native Chumash woman in office. Special recognition goes to Ismana Carney who organized the first of many events in Monterey to create awareness about .
Missing and murdered Indigenous persons who only make up 2% of the population and account for 40% of missing and murdered people in this country.
How can this be true?
The reasons are political; police and highway patrol don’t take action to support the families of victims because the laws don’t give jurisdiction and yes funding to support indigenous people who are “sovereign” under minimal treaty obligations.
Despite President Trumps erasure of MMIP on the federal level the issue is gaining traction in the wonderful state of California where Native tribes are collaborating with the DOJ to clean up the gaps in Criminal jurisdictions created by AB 280 in 1953 when the state abandoned its responsibility to tribal nations and passed them on to the state without any support, creating the environment for the MMIP crisis.
Full story and Podcast coming soon!
