ALL. WE'RE ABOUT READY TO GET
STARTED. UM SOME OF THE MEMBERS.
THERE'S OTHER COMMITTEES THAT
ARE GOING ON. SO YOU'LL SEE
MEMBERS COME IN. AND NOW DURING
THE HEARING BUT WE DO WANNA
START THIS MEETING OF THE NATIVE
AMERICAN SELECT COMMITTEE
MEETING. TODAY WE'RE HERE TO,
UM, TALK ABOUT ISSUES AND
COMBAT. THE WORK WITH THE CRISIS
OF MISSING EMERGENCE, PEOPLE WE
HAVE PANELS ASSEMBLED. UM WE
ACTUALLY HAVE A PANEL ONE THAT
WOULD BE SUPPORTING TRIBES IN A
PUBLIC LAW 20 STATE. THE SECOND
PANEL DEALS WITH TRIBAL LEADERS
. CONCERNS ON M M I P AND THE
THIRD PANEL DEALS WITH THE
CALIFORNIA STATE EFFORTS AND
ADVOCACY WORK ON THE MM. I P
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS
PERSONS IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. AT THIS TIME. WE
WANT TO DO A LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
WITHIN OUR OPENING STATEMENT AND
ACKNOWLEDGED THE TRADITIONAL
TERRITORIES THAT WERE IN OF THE
MILA THIS AND ON PEOPLE FROM
THIS AREA. I JUST WANT TO
WELCOME EVERYBODY TO OUR NATIVE
AMERICAN SELECT COMMITTEE
HEARING ON MISSING AND MURDERED
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. I WANT TO
THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR JOINING
US HERE TODAY AND AT THE PRESS
CONFERENCE AS WELL AS OUR
PARTICIPATING TRIBAL LEADERS,
COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND
ADVOCATES. LAST YEAR AT A
SIMILAR HEARING. THE EUROPE
TRIBE HAD DECLARED A STATE OF
EMERGENCY, WHICH IS STILL IN
EFFECT. THIS YEAR ROUND VALLEY
INDIAN TRIBES, BOTH OF WHICH ARE
HERE WITH US TODAY ALSO DECLARED
A STATE OF EMERGENCY JUST TWO
WEEKS AGO. THIS IS NOT THE
EVIDENCE OF IMPROVEMENT AND
PROGRESS IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. IN FACT, IT'S GOING
THE OTHER WAY AS CALIFORNIA NOW
IS IN THE TOP FIVE OF ALL THE
STATES IN THE NATION ARE NOT
BRINGING RESOLVED TO MISSING AND
MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
INDIGENOUS WOMEN. IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. MORE PRODUCT.
MORE TRIBES DO NOT HAVE TO
ENDURE THIS FATE BEFORE THE
PROPER PREVENTIVE MEASURES ARE
PUT INTO PLACE IN THE GAPS
BRIDGED. TODAY WE WILL HEAR FROM
TRIBAL LEADERS, COMMUNITY
LEADERS AND ADVOCATES WHO
CONTINUE TO LIVE THIS AS THEIR
REALITY. AS WE ALL KNOW,
REPRESENTATION IS IMPORTANT. SO
THE VOICE THAT WE BRING FORWARD
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE
HEARINGS IS A VOICE THAT'S
ELEVATING THE TRIBAL PEOPLES
VOICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. AND WE WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK. ON THESE ISSUES IN THE
STATE LEGISLATURE, WITH
COLLEAGUES MOVING FORWARD FOR
EXAMPLE, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
CALIFORNIA HISTORY, THE CAPITOL
DOME WILL BE LIT RED STARTING
TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY, MAY 5TH
TO COMMEMORATE AND TO BRING
AWARENESS TO THE UNSOLVED
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS
PERSON CASES THAT IS PLACED
CALIFORNIA IN THE TOP FIVE OF
ALL STATES. IT'S TIME THAT WE
COME TOGETHER WITH ALLIES AND
FRIENDS TO BRING AWARENESS TO
THE SITUATION THAT'S BEEN
PLAGUING CALIFORNIA INDIAN
PEOPLE. THIS EFFORT IS
CONTINUING TO BRING AWARENESS TO
THE MISSING AND MURDERED
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE EPIDEMIC RIGHT
HERE IN CALIFORNIA. LAST YEAR.
ABOUT THIS TIME WE DISCUSSED
THIS VERY ISSUE. AND TRIBAL
RECOMMENDATIONS OUT OF THE
DIFFERENT HEARINGS THAT WE HAD
LED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
FEATHER ALERT THAT CAME STRAIGHT
FROM A HEARING JUST LIKE THIS
THAT THEN MOVED THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE AND GOT SIGNED BY
THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. A B 13 14 NOW IS A
TOOL THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN
USE. UM WHEN ABDUCTION TAKES
PLACE, SO IT'S A PREVENTIVE
MEASURE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
BRINGING PEOPLE BACK HOME SAFE
AND SOUND. TODAY WE CONTINUE TO
WORK ON BILLS A B 44 THAT WILL
WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO
ALLOW TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE
KLUTZ. INFORMATION IS ABOUT TIME
THAT WE SHARE THAT INFORMATION,
SO WE TRULY KNOW WHO'S COMING
ONTO INDIAN LANDS IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. AND A B 2 73 THAT
DEALS WITH NOTIFICATION TO
PARENTS WHEN SOMEONE GOES
MISSING FROM FOSTER CARE THAT
WAY PEOPLE ARE BEING NOTIFIED,
AND THAT INCLUDES NATIVE
AMERICAN FAMILIES TO BE NOTIFIED
WHEN SOMEONE GOES MISSING. MAYBE
13 14 CREATED A PUBLIC
NOTIFICATION SYSTEM WHEN A
NATIVE AMERICAN PERSON IS
MISSING AND MOVES FORWARD FOR
IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH THE
FEDERAL ALERT. NATIVE AMERICAN
CHILDREN ENTER THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM AT A RATE THAT IS 2.7
TIMES, ALMOST THREE TIMES MORE
THAN THE REPRESENTATION IN THE
POPULATION. IN 2019, THE
NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND
EXPLOITED CHILDREN REPORTED THAT
85% OF ALL MISSING INDIGENOUS
CHILDREN OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD
OF TIME WERE ENDANGERED RUNAWAYS
, A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER ARE
IN FOSTER CARE, AND IT MAKES
THEM EVEN MORE VULNERABLE TO
EXPLOITATION. AND VIOLENCE. MANY
TRIBAL FOSTER YOUTH HAVE PARENTS
WHO ARE MISSING OR MURDERED AND
WHO WERE ALSO FOSTER YOUTH
THEMSELVES. WE MUST END THIS
SPIRAL OF INTERGENERATIONAL
TRAUMA AND VIOLENCE. LIKE
FEATHER ALERT. MAYBE 13 14. IT
IS A RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
INVESTIGATING THE SUSPICIOUS OR
UNEXPLAINABLE DISAPPEARANCE OF
INDIGENOUS WOMEN OR INDIGENOUS
PERSONS FROM INDIAN RESERVATIONS
AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. TIMELY
NOTIFICATION IS CRITICAL WHEN
PERSONS NO MATTER THE AGE ARE
MISSING. EVEN THOUGH WE MAY HAVE
INCREASED AWARENESS AND ARE
MAKING PROGRESS THROUGH
EDUCATION, WE STILL HAVE A LONG
WAY TO GO AS A STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. WHEN WE FIRST
STARTED HAVING HEARINGS IN THE
LEGISLATURE IN 2019, CALIFORNIA
WAS NUMBER SEVEN ON THE LIST OF
ALL STATES IN THE NATION. TODAY
CALIFORNIA IS NOW IN THE TOP
FIVE. WE'RE GOING IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION. SO THESE HEARINGS
VERY MUCH AS A CALLING TO THE
LEGISLATURE, THE STATE TO BE
ABLE TO BRING RESOURCES. SO WE
START TO SEE US NOW, BRINGING
RESOLVED TO THIS ISSUE AND
ALLIANCE AND COMING TOGETHER TO
TACKLE THESE ISSUES. MY
COLLEAGUES THAT ARE HERE WITH ME
TODAY. UM SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR
THE CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS AND FOR THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON NATIVE
AMERICAN AFFAIRS. I WILL OPEN UP
NOW TO SEE IF ANY MEMBERS WOULD
LIKE TO SAY ANY WORDS.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RODRIGUEZ.
THANKS VERY MUCH. CHAIRMAN
REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL
THE HARD WORK YOU'VE DONE IN AND
AROUND THIS AREA AND LOOK
FORWARD TO A VERY ROBUST
DISCUSSION AND HOW WE WORK FOR
MOVE FORWARD AND CONTINUING TO
SOLVE THESE ISSUES FACING OUR
PEOPLE. SO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN
FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER ON
THIS. THANKS THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SOMETHING ROUTINE. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. AGAIN ALSO JUST WANT TO
ECHO. MR RODRIGUEZ'S COMMENTS
AND JUST THANK YOU FOR RAISING
THIS ISSUE. I KNOW IT'S A AN
ISSUE THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS GET
THE PUBLICITY DESERVES, BUT
DEFINITELY IS A VERY SERIOUS
ISSUE. WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO
GO MISSING WOMEN WHO GO MISSING
UNDER THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE IS
VERY, VERY CONCERNING REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS TO
THE FOREFRONT. SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU REMEMBER SOME OF THE
MEMBERS OF ART? YES THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR, REALLY APPRECIATE THIS
AND ALSO WANT TO APPRECIATE ALL
THE MEMBERS OF THE PANEL HAVE
LOOKED AT THE PANELS. THIS
TODAY. VERY IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF
PEOPLE AND VERY INTERESTED IN
LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS REALLY
IMPORTANT TOPIC. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND WE HAVE OUR PANELISTS AND
OUR FIRST PANEL WILL BE AROUND
THE TOPIC OF SUPPORTING TRIBES
IN A PUBLIC LAW 2 80 STATE. WE
HAVE ON THE PANEL. WE HAVE LEGAL
DIRECTOR FOR CALIFORNIA LEGAL
SERVICES DOROTHY AUTHOR. UM WHO
WILL BE SPEAKING, WE ALSO HAVE
EUROPE TRIBAL CHIEF JUDGE, UM
ABBY. JOINING US BY VIRTUAL
TESTIMONY, SO WE'LL TEST THE
TECHNOLOGY. AND WE HAVE YOUR
TRIBAL LIEUTENANT JACOB MORRIS.
AND EUROPE TRIBAL CHAIRMAN JO
JAMES AND JUSTICE POLICY. LEAD
FOR EUROPE. JUDGE DEVIN LOME IV.
YES PA. A MEMBER OF THE EFI
NATION, CENTER, ISABEL. AND AS
WE START TO MOVE FORWARD, A
LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE
PRESENTERS, UM DOROTHY. OTHER AS
A MEMBER OF THE GALLUS SIOUX
TRIBE IS ACTIVE IN ENSURING CLS
IS INVOLVED IN STATE AND FEDERAL
ISSUES IMPACTING TRIBES TRIBAL
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. THIS
INCLUDES PROVIDING COMMENTS ON
BEHALF OF TRIBAL CLIENTS TO
PENDING STATE AND FEDERAL RULES
OR LEGISLATION PARTNERING WITH
OTHERS AND TRIBAL COALITIONS TO
ADVANCE LEGISLATION OR
REGULATION. ALL OTHER HAS BEEN A
TRAINER ON PUBLIC LAW. 2 80, THE
INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT.
HOUSING LAW AND TRIBAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, BUILDING, TRAVEL
COURTS AND TRIBAL LAW AND ORDER.
AT THIS TIME WE LIKE TO TURN THE
PODIUM OVER TO DIRECTOR. AUTHOR.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. IT'S AN
HONOR TO BE HERE, AND I
APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY. UM
WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO COME
UP HERE FROM SAN DIEGO TO DO
THIS PRESENTATION, MY DAUGHTER
ASKED ME. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING
ABOUT, MOM? AND I SAID PUBLIC
LAW, 2 80. SHE ROLLED HER EYES
AND SAID, DON'T OVER. EXPLAIN
IT, OKAY? UM PUBLIC LAW. 2 80
CAN BE VERY COMPLICATED. UM BUT
I NEED TO, I THINK, GO BACK A
LITTLE BIT IN ORDER TO REALLY
GIVE THE FULL HISTORY OF WHAT
PUBLIC LAW 2 80 DID IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. PRIOR TO 1953.
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAD
VIRTUALLY LITTLE TO NO
JURISDICTION IN INDIAN COUNTRY.
OKAY THE ONLY TIME THE STATE UM
WOULD BE INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF
PROSECUTION WOULD BE WHERE BOTH
OF THE INDIVIDUAL DEFENDANT AND
VICTIM WERE NON INDIANS.
ALRIGHT, SO THE STATE REALLY HAD
NO ROLE. UM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND THE TRIBES WERE
RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT IN IN IN COUNTRY
PRIOR TO 1953. AND THAT'S REALLY
THE STATE OF JURISDICTION IN NON
PL 2 80 STATES, UM AGAIN, THE
STATES USUALLY HAVE VERY LITTLE
TO NO JURISDICTION. WELL. AFTER
UM PUBLIC LAW, 2 80 WAS PASSED,
UH, IN 1953. THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT BASICALLY STEPPED
OUT. INDIAN COUNTRY. AND REPEAL
THE APPLICATION OF TWO OF THE
PRIMARY MAJOR FEDERAL CRIMINAL
STATUTES THAT ARE USED THE MAJOR
CRIMES ACT AND THE INDIAN
COUNTRY CRIMES ACT, SO THEY WERE
STEPPING OUT OF INDIAN COUNTRY.
AND WHAT THEY DID. IS THEY
GRANTED THAT JURISDICTION
CONCURRENTLY. WITH THE STATE AND
THE TRIBES. SO, UM WHAT WE HAVE
TODAY IS THAT THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA THE UM, LAW
ENFORCEMENT. DOES HAVE THE
JURISDICTION TO COME ONTO THE
RESERVATION AND BASICALLY ARREST
AND PROSECUTE INDIVIDUALS,
REGARDLESS OF THEIR NATIVE
AMERICAN OR NOT NATIVE AMERICAN
IN INDIAN COUNTRY. NOW I REALLY
WANT TO STRESS THOUGH, THAT
PUBLIC LAW 2 80 DIDN'T TAKE ANY
JURISDICTION AWAY FROM THE
TRIBES. ALRIGHT THE TRIBES HAVE
ALWAYS MAINTAINED THEIR
CONCURRENT JURISDICTION AND
THERE'S TWO PIECES APPEAL TO 80
ALRIGHT THEIR CIVIL AND THERE'S
CRIMINAL. THIS IS WHERE IT GETS
CONFUSING AND FOR PURPOSES OF
TODAY, THIS PRESENTATION USUALLY
TAKES ME THREE HOURS, SO I'M
GOING TO BREAK IT DOWN TO 12
MINUTES. OKAY WE'RE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT CRIMINAL JURISDICTION
, AND ACTUALLY, THAT'S KIND OF
THE EASIER PART APPEAL TO 80.
OKAY BECAUSE THE STATE DOES HAVE
CRIMINAL CONCURRENT JURISDICTION
ON THE RESERVATION. UM NOW.
ALTHOUGH THE TRIBES HAVE THIS
CONCURRENT JURISDICTION IT IS
VERY SLOWLY EVOLVED. I'VE DONE
THIS FOR, UM GOING ON OVER 33
YEARS AT CLS. AND DURING THAT
TIME I HAVE SEEN VIRTUALLY NO
TRIBAL COURTS. NO TRIBAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT. TO NOW WHERE WE
HAVE VIBRANT TRIBAL COURTS AND
OUTSTANDING TRIBAL POLICE
DEPARTMENT. SO IT HAS BEEN A
VERY SLOW EVOLUTION. AND YOU MAY
ASK WHY, AND SO I COULDN'T DO
THIS PRESENTATION WITHOUT
PUTTING SOME BLAME ON THE BUREAU
OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, WHICH IS THAT
THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
TOOK UP POSITION THAT THE TRIBES
HAD NO CRIMINAL JURY.
SO THAT HAS TAKEN A LONG TIME
FOR US TO AT LEAST CONVINCED OUR
TRUSTY THAT WE HAVE THIS
JURISDICTION. THE OTHER IS, UM,
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA UP UNTIL
ABOUT 1994 95. ALSO TOOK THE
VIEW THAT THEY HAD EXCLUSIVE
CRIMINAL JURISDICTION IN INDIAN
COUNTRY. SO THIS CAUSED A LOT OF
CONFUSION, ESPECIALLY WHEN
TRIBES ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH
TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. YOU CAN
IMAGINE. A SHERIFF COMING ONTO
THE RESERVATION, SAYING, NO, YOU
DON'T HAVE JURISDICTION. THE
TRIBES CLAIMING YES, WE DO SO IT
CREATED A REAL STATE OF
CONFUSION. AND IN SOMETIMES SORT
OF, UM, A LESS THAN FAVORABLE
RELATIONSHIP. BUT WE NOW TODAY,
UM, ALTHOUGH TRIBES ARE
ADVANCING COURTS AND TRIBAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT UM, I DO HAVE TO SAY
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES
NOT FUND TRIBAL COURTS OR TRIBAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. BECAUSE WE ARE UNDER
PUBLIC LAW 2 80. I'VE LITIGATED
THAT AND UNFORTUNATELY I LOST.
BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS ANOTHER
ASPECT OF WHY TRIBES HAVE HAVE
REALLY STRUGGLED TO ESTABLISH
THEIR OWN COURTS AND THEIR OWN
LAW ENFORCEMENT. UM BUT. SO
THAT'S PUBLIC LAW 2 80 WHEN IT
COMES TO CRIMINAL JURISDICTION.
THE STATE AND THE TRIBE HAS
CONCURRENT JURISDICTION. THE
STATE HAS GENERALLY ON JUST
ABOUT MOST OF THE RESERVATIONS
IN THE STATE. THEY ARE THE
PRIMARY LAW ENFORCEMENT. MOST
TRIBES IN CALIFORNIA DO NOT HAVE
LAW ENFORCEMENT. THEY RELY ON
THE SHERIFF. UM. NOW I DO WANT
TO POINT OUT THAT LIKE MANY
MINORITY COMMUNITIES, THEY
TRIBAL COMMUNITY IS ALSO VERY
VULNERABLE TO ACTS OF POLICE
BRUTALITY. AND EXCESSIVE USE OF
FORCE, SOMETIMES RESULTING IN IN
DEPTH. UM NATIVE AMERICANS, LIKE
I SAID, ARE NOT IMMUNE FROM
THIS. AND FOR TRIBAL PEOPLE,
THERE'S A HUGE MISTRUST. WHEN
SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES COME ONTO
THAT RESERVATION. UM AND A LOT
OF TIMES CRIME IS UNDER
REPORTED. WHY BOTHER? THE
SHERIFF EITHER WON'T COME AT
ALL. OR BY THE TIME THEY GET
THERE. THE CRIME IS OVER, AND
THE PERPETRATOR IS GONE. AND
IT'S REALLY UNDER THOSE
CIRCUMSTANCES. THAT I HAVE
WORKED WITH TRIBES WHO SAID IF
WE WANT LAW ENFORCEMENT WE WANT
SAFETY AND PROTECTION FOR OUR
COMMUNITY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO DO IT OURSELVES. WE CANNOT
JUST RELY ON THE SHERIFF AND I'M
NOT DISK IN THE SHERIFF. DON'T
KNOW IF THERE'S ANYONE IN THE
ROOM. UM BUT YOU KNOW, A LOT OF
THESE TRIBES ARE IN VERY REMOTE
RURAL AREAS. THEY DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES THEY CAN'T YOU KNOW,
I'M DOWN IN SAN DIEGO, YOU KNOW,
TRYING TO GET UP TO SOME OF
THESE RESERVATIONS. IT'S VERY,
VERY DIFFICULT. SO LACK OF
RESOURCES SOMETIMES JUST LACK OF
WILL. BUT A LOT OF CRIMES HAVING
ON RESERVATIONS THAT THAT GO
UNREPORTED AND UNRESOLVED, AND
TRIBES HAVE STEPPED UP. AND THEY
HAVE SAID, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO DO THIS ON OUR OWN. WE HAVE
CONCURRENT CRIMINAL
JURISDICTION. WE CAN DO THIS. SO
UM, I JUST REALLY WANT TO STRESS
THAT THAT YOU KNOW, TRIBES HAVE
REALLY, I THINK. IN MY
EXPERIENCE IN THIS DAY AND AGE,
I CAN LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM AT
THE TRIBAL LEADERS AND THEIR
TRIBES DO HAVE TRIBAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND FUNCTIONING
COURTS. AND THEY DO BRING A LOT
OF ACCOUNTABILITY. TO THOSE WHO
COME ONTO THE RESERVATION AND
COMMIT CRIMES. UM I WAS RECENTLY
READING, UM NATIONALS,
STATISTICS STATISTICS THAT SHOW
THAT NEEDLE AMERICANS. ARE
KILLED BY POLICE AT A HIGHER
RATE. ABOUT 2.9 ANNUAL AVERAGE
DEATHS PER ONE MILLION
POPULATION THAN ANY OTHER RACIAL
OR ETHNIC GROUP IN THE UNITED
STATES. AND I THINK THAT THAT
SOMETIMES IT'S VERY SHOCKING TO
PEOPLE. BECAUSE YOU DON'T
NECESSARILY SEE THOSE THOSE
INCIDENTS OF, UM STATE POLICE
KILLING NATIVE AMERICANS. UM. MY
EXPERIENCE WITH THE SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENTS. IS THAT, UM. THEIR
PRESENCE ON THE RESERVATION.
BASELITZ FROM NON EXISTENT, TOO
OVERZEALOUS. AND I REALLY DON'T
LIKE I SAID, I WORK WITH TRIBAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT. I WORK WITH
EVERY TRIBAL POLICE DEPARTMENT
IN THIS STATE. THERE ARE GREAT
COUNTY SHERIFFS WHO WORK REALLY
WELL. WITH TRIBAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT. BUT IT ALSO GOT TO
ADD THERE ARE A LOT OF COUNTIES
WHERE THE SHERIFF DOES NOT SHARE
A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
TRIBE OR TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UM. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IN MY
WORK WITH TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
UM, WHICH I ALWAYS FIND AMUSING
, UM, GIVEN MY BACKGROUND, BUT
ANYWAY, I WORK A LOT WITH TRIBAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WHAT I HAVE
LEARNED. IS THAT WITH ALL OF THE
POLICE REFORM, ALL OF WHAT I'M
HEARING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED
TO HAVE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY.
TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN MY
OPINION. IS THE GOLD STANDARD.
ALRIGHT. IF YOU WANT TO DEFINE
COMMUNITY POLICING, YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT TRIBAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT. THESE ARE PEOPLE.
WHO KNOW THEIR COMMUNITY. MANY
OF THEM LIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
THEY ENGAGE IN INTERACT WITH
THEIR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THEY
CAN DEESCALATE A VERY. DEPUTY
WERE CALLED TO THAT SAME
INCIDENTS. SOMETHING TERRIBLE
COULD HAPPEN. AND YOU KNOW, I
SOMETIMES WONDER ABOUT YOU KNOW
THE CONCERN ABOUT
ACCOUNTABILITY. I CAN TELL YOU
THAT IN MY EXPERIENCE AGAIN, IS
THAT NO TRIBAL OFFICER THAT
SCREWS UP DOES SOMETHING THAT
ISN'T ACCEPTABLE. THEY GO. THEY
GO BEFORE THE WHOLE TRIBE. I
MEAN, ACCOUNTABILITY IS
SOMETHING EVERY TRIBAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT KNOWS AND
UNDERSTANDS THEIR THEIR
RESPONSIVE TO THAT COMMUNITY,
AND THEY'LL BE FIRED. I YOU
KNOW, I'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN. UM
WE HAD INITIALLY INTRODUCED A
BILL A B 44 UNDER ITS ORIGINAL
VERSION, WHAT WE WERE ATTEMPTING
TO TRY AND DO IS ASSIST OUR
TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN
ENFORCING STATE LAW ON THE
RESERVATION. NOW, IF YOU
REMEMBER WHEN I WAS TALKING
ABOUT PL 2 80 UM AND HOW IT
OPERATES WHEN IT COMES TO NON
INDIANS. IS THAT THE SUPREME
COURT OF THE UNITED STATES SAID
THAT TRIBES CANNOT TRY OR PUNISH
A NON INDIAN. THERE'S A FEW
EXCEPTIONS NOW COMING OUT AROUND
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. GO WITH THAT
MEANS IS THAT OUR TRIBAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHEN THEY
ENCOUNTER A NON INDIAN ON THEIR
RESERVATION, COMMITTING A CRIME.
THEY HAVE TO STAND BACK. OKAY,
THEY CAN STOP THEM. WELL, I'LL
LET TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TALK
ABOUT WHAT THEY WHAT THEIR
LIMITED AUTHORITY IS. BUT THEY
HAVE TO WAIT FOR THAT SHERIFF TO
COME AND TAKE CUSTODY OF THAT
INDIVIDUALS. SO ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO HELP
OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT IS THE
ABILITY TO ENFORCE. STATE LAWS
ON THE RESERVATION. AND NOT
CREATE ALL KINDS OF NEW, YOU
KNOW, POLICE OFFICERS, BASICALLY
JUST GIVING THEM ONE OR TWO MORE
TOOLS. AND I'LL TELL YOU I SAT
THROUGH THE FENTANYL HEARING
THAT WAS UP HERE, UM, LAST
MONTH. FENNEL IS A HUGE ISSUE IN
INDIAN COUNTRY. AND YOU KNOW A
LOT OF TIMES TRIBAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT KNOWS WHO'S BRINGING
IT IN. WHERE IT'S BEING
POSSESSED AND DISTRIBUTED. BUT
IF THEY'RE NON INDIAN OUR TRIBAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT'S HANDS ARE
TIED. UNTIL WE CAN BRING THAT
SHERIFF IN UM. I WOULD JUST LIKE
TO END AND I'LL BE AVAILABLE
QUESTIONS. IS JUST THAT. TRIBAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT. LIKE I SAID TO
ME IS WHAT POLICE REFORM IS
ABOUT. IT IS ABOUT HAVING
OFFICERS IN THAT COMMUNITY.
THAT? NO, THAT COMMUNITY. THAT
WORKS. IT LIVES IN THAT
COMMUNITY. AND OR ACCOUNTABLE TO
THAT COMMUNITY. AND I BELIEVE
THAT THE MORE TOOLS THAT WE CAN
GIVE THEM TO FIGHT FENTANYL TO
DO AN INVESTIGATION AND ON MY P
AND NOT HAVE TO RELY ON THE
CHAIR OR WAIT FOR THE SHERIFF. I
THINK WE'RE CREATING SAFER
COMMUNITIES. AND WITH THAT, I'LL
CLOSE AND, UM I WILL ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU A WHOLE
QUESTIONS TILL THE END OF THE
PANEL. UM OUR NEXT SPEAKER, UM,
WE'RE GOING TO TEST OUR
TECHNOLOGY IS YOUR TRIBAL CHIEF
JUDGE? UM, ABBY. JOINING US BY
VIRTUAL TESTIMONY. SHE'S AN
ENROLLED, YOU'RE OUT TRIBAL
MEMBER SHE HOLDS A DOCTORATE OF
JUDAS JURISPRUDENCE FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO SCHOOL
OF LAW AND WAS THE FIRST
CALIFORNIA TRIBAL WOMAN TO BE
ADMITTED TO THE STATE BAR OF
CALIFORNIA. SHE WAS A STATE
JUDICIAL OFFICER FOR SAN
FRANCISCO SUPERIOR COURT OVER 17
YEARS ASSIGNED TO THE UNIFIED
FAMILY COURTS. SHE HAS BEEN IN
EUROPE TRIBAL COURT JUDGE SINCE
1997. IT WAS APPOINTED CHIEF
TRIBAL COURT JUDGE IN 2007. A
POSITION SHE HELD IN CONJUNCTION
WITH THEIR SUPERIOR COURT
ASSIGNMENT. UNTIL 2015. WORKING
DUAL WORKING FOR THE TRIBAL
COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. JUDGE ABBY. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU
LETTING ME DO THIS. VIRTUALLY
AND SKEWING MCCOY TO BE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S THAT ARE
PRESENT AND THE FIRST THING I
WANT TO SAY TO THE OTHER PANEL
MEMBERS IS BEFORE I GET ACCUSED
OF TRYING TO STEAL THE BON. SHE
ACTUALLY HAS NOT LEFT HER
JUDICIAL POSITION IN THE SOUTH.
ALTHOUGH I AM NOT ABOVE TRYING
TO ATTEMPT TO DO THE CHIEF
JUDGE. OF THE TRAVEL COURT OF
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. SO ALL YOU
PEOPLE WERE THINKING OF WRITING
THE NASTY NOTES STAND DOWN. THE
SECOND THING I WANT TO SAY IS, I
APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT,
DOROTHY SAID. AND WHAT I THINK
PEOPLE DON'T QUITE GET A HANDLE
ON IS THAT THIS ACT OF PUBLIC
LAW, 2 80 CREATED A TERRIBLE
CONSTRAINT, NOT JUST ON THE
TRIBES. BUT ON THE STATE ALSO
BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS
PERIOD OF TIME AND IN ONLY SIX
STATES DID THIS HAPPEN? THE
STATE WAS GIVEN A TREMENDOUS
MANAGER RESTRICTION AND NO
FINANCIAL ABILITY TO EXTEND
THEIR SERVICES. NOW YOU ALL KNOW
WHAT KIND OF A MESS AND
CONFUSION THAT CAN CAUSE THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE.
YOU KNOW, AND WHEN WE LOOK AT
OUR POLICE, I WANTED TO TELL YOU
JUST FOR A MOMENT. WHAT OUR WORD
FOR POLICE WAS AND WHAT IT
TRANSLATES TO IN ENGLISH AS
PROTECTOR. AND THAT'S WHAT THAT
. GOAL WAS AND THAT'S WHAT THEIR
PROCESS WAS IN OUR VILLAGES WAS
TO PROTECT. OUR RELATIONSHIP WAS
MUCH DIFFERENT WITH OUR POLICE
FORCE. AND THEY HAVE COME BACK
IN IN TERMS OF THE EUROPE,
PLEASE DEPARTMENT TO FILL FILL
THAT. HISTORICAL ROLE. THEY ARE
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. THEY
WALK IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY WORK
WITH US, AND THEY LOOK AT THE
PROBLEMS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND
THEY TRY TO ADDRESS THOSE
PROBLEMS. THAT'S WHAT THE
COUNCIL HAS INSISTED ON. THAT IS
WHAT OUR CHIEF OF POLICE IS.
ASSISTANT INSISTED ON AND THAT
CHANGES EVERYTHING, AND WE CAN
BECOME. GUARDING LIGHT FOR OTHER
POLICE AGENCIES. AS YOU TURN AND
LOOK AT POLICE DEPARTMENTS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. EVERYBODY'S
LOOKING AT COMMUNITY POLICING.
WE KNOW ABOUT THAT, AND WE KNOW
HOW TO DO IT. AND WE WILL CREATE
SYSTEMS THAT ALLOW FOR THAT. IN
THIS INSTANCE IT'S TERRIFIC LEE
IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK TOGETHER
. WHEN YOU HAVE LIMITED
RESOURCES. YOU DON'T WANT TO
ISOLATE EACH OTHER. YOU WANT TO
TEAM UP. BECAUSE THAT IS THE
BEST WAY TO DO IT. YOU KNOW, AND
WE HAVE AND LT WILL TALK ABOUT
IT ACTUALLY. I THOUGHT, UM.
LIEUTENANT JACOBS NAME WAS LT
FOR THE LONGEST TIME HE ACTUALLY
DOES HAPPEN WITH THE FIRST NAME.
HE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT ALL OF
THE TEAMING UP THAT WE HAVE DONE
WITH OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'RE
INCREASING OUR ABILITY TO
PROTECT AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT
TO DO. WE LOOK AT THAT FIGURE OF
FIFTH IN THE NATION WITH HORROR
THAT IS NO PLACE YOU EVER EVER
WANT TO BE, AND PARTICULARLY
WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT IT'S
PROBABLY UNDER REPORTED THAT'S A
DISASTER. AND MUCH OF WHAT THAT
COMES FROM, FRANKLY, IS DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SITUATIONS THAT
ALLOW FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
PART OF A PUBLIC LAW TWO REALLY
QUICK. IT WAS A GAP IN
PROTECTION FOR VICTIMS. AND WE
ARE TRYING TO FULFILL THAT GAP.
AND LIKE. WE DO AS PROTECTORS.
OUR SYSTEM HAS CREATED THE ONLY
STATE CERTIFIED PROGRAM. WE'RE
BETTER INTERVENTION. THAT IS
VERY SUCCESSFUL. THAT IS HOW WE
PROBLEM SOLVED. WE SAW BOTH
SIDES OF THE PROBLEM. WE DON'T
GO JUST OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO BE
ENFORCING THIS AND THAT WE GO.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM? IS IMPORTANT TO US TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE WHEN
PEOPLE GO MISSING WE LOOK
BACKWARDS AND WE SAY, OH, LOOK,
LOOK AT ALL THE HISTORICAL
TRAUMA THAT'S HAPPENING TO
CALIFORNIA. EVERY TIME SOMEONE
GOES MISSING IN THIS STATE. THAT
IS TOMORROW'S HISTORICAL TRAUMA.
BECAUSE THAT IMPACTS THAT FAMILY
THAT VILLAGE THAT DANCE FAMILY
THAT TRIBE AND THE HORROR. NOT
KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO SOME
MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY. YES.
UNDESCRIBABLE FRANKLY. AND I'VE
SEEN IT TIME AFTER TIME AFTER
TIME. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
TRYING TO LOOK AT. HERE IS HOW
ARE WE GOING TO STOP THAT? AND
THE WAY TO STOP THAT FOR US? YES
TO DEFEND PUBLIC LAW 2 80 TO
FILL IN THE GAPS THAT PUBLIC LOT
ALREADY LEFT. AND ALSO I THINK
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TURN TO THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAY NICE TRY.
BUT NO BANANA HERE. WE'RE DONE
WITH THIS. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO
TAKE UP SOME OF THE SLACK, AND
YOU HAVE TO HELP US SOLVE SOME
OF THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU FRANKLY
CREATED HERE. WE ARE WILLING TO
DO THE HARD WORK TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUES. AND WE'RE WILLING TO
PARTNER WITH LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND TO WORK WITH
THEM, AND THEY COME BACK OUT AND
SAY LOOK WE REALIZED WE HAVE
ISSUES. WE WANT TO FIX THOSE
ISSUES BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUES
LIKE I SAID ABOUT DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, AND WE WILL DO THAT
WITH YOUR SUPPORT. AND THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. WE'RE
LOOKING AT BEING PROTECTORS AND
AS WE PROTECT BECAUSE NOW BEFORE
, EVEN WHEN PUBLIC LOTTERY HE
WAS PASSED, WE COULD SAY OKAY,
WELL, WE'RE SEPARATE COMMUNITIES
. NOW WE'RE PARTNER COMMUNITIES
. WE MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER ON
MANY, MANY INITIATIVES. AND THIS
HAS TO BE ONE OF THEM. PEOPLE
ARE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO ISOLATE
AND GO. OKAY. I CAN SAVE MYSELF
AND TOO BAD FOR THE REST OF YOU.
THAT'S NOT HOW THIS WORLD
OPERATES ANYMORE. BECAUSE EACH
THING WE DO NOW IMPACTS
EVERYONE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE
LOOKING AT THESE SOLUTIONS WHEN
WE ASK FOR HELP FROM THE STATE
LEGISLATURE. WHAT WE'RE TRYING
TO DO IS TEAM UP. AND SAY WE ARE
PARTNERS. AND WE'RE TRYING TO
CREATE A BETTER WORLD FOR THE
ENTIRE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR
OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN WE HELP OUR
COMMUNITY, WE HELP ALL THE
COMMUNITIES. AND THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE DOING, AND WE'RE CREATING
A MODEL. AND WE WILL HOLD UP OUR
END OF THE RESPONSIBILITY IN
TERMS OF TEAMING. AND WORKING
WITH PEOPLE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT
AND WE SUPPORT THAT AS A
CONCEPT. AND THAT'S HOW WE
ALWAYS OPERATED. BEFORE THE HALL
OF THE LAWS, AND THIS CAME AND
SAID, THIS IS HOW YOU'RE GOING
TO DO IT AT YOUR ISOLATED YOUR
HONOR RESERVATION IN WE REALIZED
THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PLACE AND
TO EACH OTHER. THAT'S KORDA, WHO
WE ARE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL
DO. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING
FOR HELP FROM IS FOR YOU TO LOOK
AT PUBLIC LAW TWO READY AND
ADDRESS THE GAPS THAT HAVE BEEN
CREATED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR
PARTNER COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THIS
IS CREATED HORRIBLY UNFAIR
BURDEN ON A LOT OF PEOPLE. AND
THAT HURT IS GOING TO SPREAD OUT
AND CONTINUE. AND WE WILL HELP.
WE WILL HELP TEACH WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE PROTECTORS WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE A PARTNER IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT. THIS IS WHAT WE DO.
WE PARTNER WITH OUR COURTS AND
WE PARTNER WITH OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT. YOU WILL SEE HUGE
EFFORTS MADE IN THAT IN THAT
REGARD. AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE
TO DO THAT AND BE RESPONSIBLE
COMMUNITY FOR THAT. AND WE HAVE
TO END THE MURDERED AND MISSING
ISSUES THAT FACE THIS STATE AND
FACE FRANKLY, THE ENTIRE
COUNTRY. WHERE PEOPLE ARE JUST
DISAPPEARING AT A HORRIBLE RATE
, AND THAT'S NOT OKAY AND IT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ADDRESS IF
WE FORM PREVENTION TEAM, AND
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
AND THIS IS WE NEED A SAFETY NET
. WE WILL CREATE THAT SAFETY
NET. WE HAVE THE WILL, AND WE
WANT TO JOIN WITH OUR LOCAL
PARTNERS WHO I ALSO BELIEVE HAVE
THE WILL. YES SOMETIMES WE HAVE
SQUABBLES, BUT IT'S LIKE SAYING
YOU NEVER HAVE AN ARGUMENT WITH
YOUR SISTER OR SOMETHING. NOBODY
WOULD BELIEVE YOU TRUST ME. YOU
KNOW, BECAUSE YOU DO SOMETIMES,
BUT THOSE ARE RESOLVABLE BECAUSE
WE HAVE THE SAME END RESULT. AND
WITH THAT, AND I'LL YIELD THE
FLOOR TO LT THANK YOU. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. JUDGE ABBY FOR BEING
PART OF THIS PANEL AND FOR YOUR
SERVICE TO INDIAN COUNTRY OVER
THE YEARS, UM AND STILL BRINGING
AWARENESS ON PUBLIC LAW, 2 80
THE ISSUES AND THE TEAM APPROACH
HERE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
TO TRAVEL COMMUNITIES IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL
BE YOUR TRIBAL LIEUTENANT JACOB
MORRIS IN 2004. LIEUTENANT
MORRIS BEGAN HIS LAW ENFORCEMENT
CAREER WITH A HUMBOLDT COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR 13 YEARS,
HE WORKED THE MOST RURAL
COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHERN HUMBOLDT
WORKING IN THESE REMOTE
ENVIRONMENTS GAVE HIM A UNIQUE
INSIGHT INTO PUBLIC SAFETY
NEEDS. OF SOME OF CALIFORNIA'S
MOST RURAL COMMUNITIES IN 2019,
LIEUTENANT MORRIS JOINED THE
EUROPE TRIBAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
LIEUTENANT. THANK YOU. UM. I'VE
BEEN ASKED TO BE ON THE PANEL
THIS MORNING TO PROVIDE FOR YOU
GUYS, A BOOTS ON THE GROUND
PERSPECTIVE ON WORKING AS TRIBAL
POLICE DEPARTMENT IN PUBLIC LAW
2 80 STATE UH, DOROTHY AND JUDGE
ABBY PROVIDED YOU A PRETTY GOOD
BACKGROUND ON THE HISTORY OF
PUBLIC LAW TO A T AND SOME OF
ITS EFFECTS. UH, FROM A TRIBAL
POLICE PERSPECTIVE, WORKING
TODAY, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE AND
PROTECTING THE COMMUNITIES IS A
LACK OF STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT
AUTHORITY. DOROTHY LAID OUT SOME
OF THE JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES
CREATED BY PL 2 80. UM AND WHILE
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS
AFFIRMED THE RIGHT OF TRIBES TO
CREATE THEIR OWN LAWS, COURTS
AND POLICE FOR THEIR CITIZENS
AND EVEN TO DETAIN NON TRIBAL
MEMBERS AND CERTAIN MATTERS OF
PUBLIC SAFETY THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA DOES NOT ALLOW TRIBES
TO GRANT STATE PEACE OFFICER
STATUS TO ITS OFFICERS, WHICH
LEAVES SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES. THIS FORCES TRIBES
TO SEEK BAND AID SOLUTIONS TO
POLICING SUCH AS SPECIAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT COMMISSIONS WITH THE
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH
SHERIFF'S OFFICE NDS OFFICES OR
TO OPERATE UNDER ONLY THEIR
TRIBAL AUTHORITY. SOME OF THE
ISSUES CREATED WITH THESE
VARIOUS SOLUTIONS. HAVING A
SPECIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
COMMISSION WITH THE BA IS ONE OF
THE MOST COMMON SOLUTIONS THAT
TRIBES SEEK TO HAVE SOME
AUTHORITY. UH THE UNFORTUNATE
REALITY IS THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA ALSO DOES NOT
RECOGNIZE FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. AS STATE
PEACE OFFICERS AND LIMITS THEIR
AUTHORITY TO A VERY NARROW SCOPE
OF THE LAW UNDER PENAL CODE
SECTION 8 30.8. THE NEXT OPTION
THAT LIKE TALKING ABOUT THE
DEPUTATION MOU WITH THE COUNTY
SHERIFF. THAT IS WHAT WE USE THE
YUROK TRIBE. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
USE IT VERY SUCCESSFULLY, BUT
IT'S NOT WITHOUT ISSUES.
ESSENTIALLY THE MOU. UH AFTER
COMPLETING A FIELD TRAINING
PROGRAM. MY OFFICERS HAVE LEVEL
ONE RESERVE DEPUTY SHERIFF
STATUS, WHICH MAKES THEM STATE
PEACE OFFICERS. UH, BUT HAVING
AN MOU WITH THE SHERIFF REQUIRES
THE TRIBE TO BE ON GOOD TERMS
WITH THE SHERIFF DOROTHY TALKED
ABOUT THAT EARLIER. SOMETIMES
THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE
CONTENTIOUS. UH, THERE'S ALSO
THE CHANCE THAT WITH
ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES AND
EITHER DEPARTMENT, THE MOU COULD
BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY
TIME. YOU ALSO HAVE. I TALKED
ABOUT MY OFFICERS FIELD TRAINING
WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THAT
PROGRAM, THE MINIMUM FIELD
TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CALIFORNIA
PEACE OFFICERS LAID OUT BY THE
CALIFORNIA COMMISSIONER, PEACE
OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAININGS
IS 400 HOURS. 10 WEEKS, MOST
AGENCIES PROVIDE SUBSTANTIALLY
MORE HOURS OF FIELD TRAINING.
THAT IS A LONG TIME FOR TRIBAL
POLICE OFFICER TO BE REMOVED
FROM THE DEPARTMENT FOR
TRAINING. AND CREATES A
DISCONNECT WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
THOSE SHERIFF'S OFFICES. MOST
CALIFORNIA AGENCIES RIGHT NOW
ARE UNDERSTAFFED AND RECRUITING
HARD. AND IT GIVES THEM AMPLE
OPPORTUNITY TO LURE TRIBAL
OFFICERS AWAY WITH INCENTIVES
THAT WE CANNOT PROVIDE. A FEW
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AGENCIES
HAVE HAVE DONE GOOD WORK HAVING
A DIRECT FILING AGREEMENT WITH
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THIS ALLOWS QUALIFIED TRAVEL
OFFICERS TO FILE REPORTS
DIRECTLY WITH THE D. A S OFFICE
FOR STATE CRIMES COMMITTED ON
THE RESERVATION. BUT IT ALSO
WOULD REQUIRE THE CONSENT OF THE
SHERIFF TO MAKE CUSTODIAL
ARRESTS. SO YOU ALMOST HAVE TO
HAVE TWO MOU S OR, UH, YOU'RE
ABLE TO FILE CASES BUT NOT MAKE
CUSTODIAL ARRESTS WHEN NEEDED.
THERE ARE A LOT OF TRIBES STILL
OPERATING WITH JUST THEIR TRIBAL
AUTHORITY. THE TRIBE HAS
CONCURRENT JURISDICTION. AH THE
PROBLEM THERE IS, YOU END UP
WITH LIMITED CRIMINAL AUTHORITY
OVER NON INDIANS AND NO ARREST
AUTHORITY OVER TRIBAL MEMBERS.
UNLESS THAT TRIBE HAS ITS OWN
CRIMINAL CODE AND HAS A JAIL.
THAT'S YOUR RESOURCES THAT A LOT
OF TRIBES SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE.
THAT REQUIRES I TALKED ABOUT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AFFIRMING
THE TIME IS RIGHT TO DETAIN NON
TRIBAL MEMBERS AND MATTERS OF
PUBLIC SAFETY. SO YOU HAVE
TRAVEL OFFICERS OUT THERE, THEY
SEE AN OFFENSE THEY DETAIN. NOW
WHAT? NOW WE WAIT. WE GET A HOLD
OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WE SAY
, HEY, WE HAVE A PERSON DETAINED
FOR THIS CRIMINAL CODE
VIOLATION. IF THERE IS A DEPUTY
SHERIFF AVAILABLE. THEY WILL
SEND ONE. IN MY EXTRACTION, ONLY
SPEAK TO THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT
I HAVE WITH WITH OUR TWO
SHERIFF'S OFFICES. BUT THE
CLOSEST CORNER OF THE EURO
PRESERVATION TO WHERE I CAN
EXPECT THE DEPUTY TO RESPOND
FROM IS ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND
ELMORE COUNTY AND 45 MINUTES IN
HUMBLE COUNTY, AND THAT'S WITH
FULL STAFFING LEVELS FOR THOSE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS. NIGHT
SHIFT. IN A FAR CORNER OF THE
YUROK DRIVE RESERVATION. WE MAY
BE WAITING OVER TWO HOURS.
THAT'S AN UNREASONABLE
DETENTION, IN MY OPINION TO PUT
A SUSPECT OF A CRIME THROUGH.
ANOTHER THING I'VE SEEN IN MY
TIME IN IN LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
. HUMBLE COUNTY IS I HAVE SEEN
FRIENDS OF MINE WHO HAVE WORKED
FOR TRAVEL AGENCIES. WHEN THEY
WORKED IN A PLACE WHERE THEY HAD
A WORKING DEPUTATION AGREEMENT
AND DID NOT HAVE THOSE POWERS OF
ARREST. I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE
LEAVE. THEIR TRIBAL AGENCY TO GO
TO WORK FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE
BECAUSE THEY FELT LIKE THEY WERE
GOING TO BE BETTER ABLE TO SERVE
THEIR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY
WERE SO UNCERTAIN ABOUT THEIR
AUTHORITY. THAT IT GAVE THEM
IDENTITY ISSUES IN THEIR
PROFESSION. IN THAT THAT IS AN
UNREASONABLE PROBLEM TO HAVE AS
A POLICE OFFICER. THAT'S NOT WHY
YOU PUT A UNIFORM ON. THE TRIBES
NOT HAVING STATE AUTHORITY TO
MAKE ARREST, INVESTIGATE
CRIMINAL MATTERS AND
RESERVATIONS CREATES EXCESSIVE
RESPONSE TIMES IN RURAL AREAS
HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED IN
UNNECESSARY GAPS IN PUBLIC
SAFETY. JUDGE ABBY TOUCHED ON
THE ROLE OF TRIBAL POLICE. GOING
BACK TO THE ROLE OF THE VILLAGE
PROTECTOR. WE VERY MUCH SEE OUR
ROLE. AND SPEAKING PRIMARILY
FROM MY AGENCY, BUT ALSO
CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH
OTHER TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
LEADERS AS GUARDIANS OF THE
COMMUNITY. WE'RE TRYING TO FILL
THAT VOID. LEFT BY PL 2 80.
THERE'S A HISTORIC MISTRUST WITH
LAW ENFORCEMENT BETWEEN AND
NATIVE COMMUNITIES. UH, I DON'T
FEEL LIKE I NEED TO GIVE YOU
GUYS A HISTORY LESSON. I BUT
THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL REASONS
FOR THAT HISTORIC MISTRUST. WE
ALSO EXPERIENCE. HIGH RATES OF
ENERGY, ASIAN GENERATIONAL
TRAUMA AND NATIVE COMMUNITIES.
THESE ISSUES ARE FURTHER
COMPLICATED BY BEING POLICED BY
OUTSIDE AGENCIES THAT DON'T
UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THESE
ISSUES. GOING BACK TO 18 29, SIR
ROBERT PEEL PRESENTED US WITH
SOME CORE IDEALS AND PRINCIPLES
OF POLICING. ONE OF WHICH IS TO
GAIN THE TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY.
YOU SHOULD HIRE OFFICERS WHO
REPRESENT AND UNDERSTAND THAT
COMMUNITY. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR
EVERY TRIBAL AGENCY IN THE
STATE. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT
THE YUROK TRIBAL POLICE
DEPARTMENT THAT MEANS HIRING
OFFICERS WHO BELIEVE IN A TRAUMA
TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH TO
CRIMINAL JUSTICE. WHO BELIEVE IN
A COLLABORATIVE CRISIS
INTERVENTION TEAM APPROACH TO
ASSISTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE
CITIZENS WHO ARE INVESTED IN A
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
MODEL TO INTEGRATE INTO THE
COMMUNITY AND REDUCE NEGATIVE
INTERACTIONS WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT. AND WHO ARE WILLING
TO BRIDGE THE GAP. BETWEEN THE
TRIBAL COMMUNITY AND OTHER
AGENCIES. THOSE ARE PRIMARY
SELECTION FACTORS FOR EVERY
OFFICER THAT WE HIRE. THERE ARE
FOLKS WHO JUST AREN'T A GOOD
FOOT FIT IN A RURAL COMMUNITY OR
SPECIFICALLY A TRIBAL COMMUNITY.
AND WE WON'T HIRE THEM, NO
MATTER WHAT THEIR QUALIFICATIONS
ARE. IT IS MY EXPERIENCE THAT
TRIBAL OFFICERS, EVEN MYSELF AND
OTHER NON TRIBAL MEMBERS, OR
BETTER RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY
THAN OUTSIDE AGENCIES WHEN WE
PUT THIS UNIFORM ON, AND WE WEAR
THIS PATCH SKIN COLOR DOESN'T
SEEM TO MATTER. THE COMMUNITY
HAS OWNERSHIP OF ITS POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN THE EXPECT MORE
FROM US WE GET MORE REPORTING
BETTER COOPERATION. THEN OUR
PARTNER AGENCIES DO WHEN THEY
HAVE TO COME ONTO THE
RESERVATION. THE CURRENT STATUS
OF TRIBAL POLICE OFFICERS, NOT
HAVING STATE POWERS HAS A
NEGATIVE EFFECT. ON THE VICTIMS
OF CRIME AND ON MISSING PERSONS.
THE LACK OF TRUST BETWEEN NATIVE
COMMUNITIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
LEADS TO THE UNDER REPORTING OF
CRIME. IN A LACK OF COOPERATION
WHEN CRIME IS REPORTED THAT GOES
FOR MISSING PERSONS AS WELL. WE
CURRENTLY HAVE NO ACCESS TO THE
CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT
TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM, WHICH
IS THE PRIMARY MECHANISM WITH
WHICH STATE AGENCIES SHARE
INFORMATION REGARDING LAW
ENFORCEMENT. THAT MEANS WE
MISINFORMATION. WHEN A TELETYPE
GOES OUT ABOUT A WANTED PERSON.
WE DON'T GET IT. IT'S NOT COMING
TO MY OFFICE. I HAVE TO RELY ON
MY PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER
AGENCIES TO SHARE THAT
INFORMATION WITH US. OFFICERS
ARE UNABLE TO USE KLUTZ TO GET
REAL TIME INFORMATION IN THE
FIELD. WHICH MEANS THEY MISS OUT
ON IDENTIFYING WHEN A PERSON HAS
WARRANTS OR IS IN VIOLATION OF
THEIR PROBATION OR PAROLE. AND
PREVENTS US FROM POSSIBLY
PREVENTING A CRIME FROM
OCCURRING. CURRENTLY, TRIBAL
COURT ORDERS ARE ENTERED INTO
THE NATIONAL CRIMINAL
INFORMATION CENTER. THE TRIBAL
ACCESS PROGRAM. THAT'S
FANTASTIC. BUT. BOOTS ON THE
GROUND PERSPECTIVE. WHAT I CALL
THE TWO A.M. CLAUSE. N C I C
REQUIRES AN OFFICER TO KNOW
FIRST AND LAST NAME, MIDDLE
INITIAL AND DATE OF BIRTH TO GET
A HIT IN THAT SYSTEM. KLUTZ
REQUIRES FIRST AND LAST NAME. SO
WHEN A VICTIM SEEKS A
RESTRAINING ORDER FROM TRIBAL
COURT AND THEY REPORT A
VIOLATION IF THEY DON'T HAVE
THAT PAPERWORK IN THEIR HAND. OR
ISN'T PERHAPS A SPOUSE IN THE D
V ISSUE WHERE THEY KNOW ALL OF
THAT INFORMATION. SOMETIMES.
WE'RE NOT FINDING THAT
INFORMATION IN THE FIELD THAT
GOES BOTH FOR US, AND THAT ALSO
GOES FOR OUR PARTNER AGENCIES,
WHICH RESULTS IN MORE CONTENTION
BETWEEN THE TRIBE AND OUR
PARTNER AGENCIES. BECAUSE
THERE'S ALREADY A HISTORY. OF
NON TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT,
REFUSING OR BEING RELUCTANT TO
ENFORCE TRIBAL COURT ORDERS.
SOMETIMES IT'S SIMPLY AN ISSUE
OF THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH
INFORMATION TO FIND THE HIT AND
SEE. I SEE. WE ARE UNABLE TO
ENTER A MISSING PERSON. INTO
MAPS, WHICH IS WITHIN KLUTZ
MISSING IN UNDER FIVE PERSONS
SYSTEM. BECAUSE WE CAN'T MAKE AN
ENTRY IN TWO MONTHS. THE NEW
FEATHER ALERT PROGRAM. WHICH IS
FANTASTIC. WORDS WERE HAVING TO
REFER THE REPORTING PARTY OF A
MISSING PERSON. TO A PARTNER
AGENCY THAT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO
MAKE THAT ENTRY AND THEN WE'RE
RELYING ON THEM TO HAVE TO
REQUEST A FEATHER ALERT IF WE
THINK THE CRITERIA IS MET. WHO
BETTER KNOWS THE RISK FACTORS.
OF TRIBAL PERSONS THAN THEIR OWN
TRIBAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. I
THINK NO. ONE WE HAVE CONSTANT
WORKINGS WITH OUR SOCIAL
SERVICES DEPARTMENT. WE KNOW WHO
THE FOSTER KIDS ARE. WE KNOW OUR
KIDS THAT ARE IN AND OUT OF
JUVENILE HALL AT SIGNIFICANT
RISK. WE TALKED ABOUT THE
MISTRUST EARLIER. THAT MISTRUST.
IF THAT MISTRUST LEADS TO A
DELAYED REPORTING OF MISSING
PERSON. AND POTENTIALLY A LACK
OF COOPERATION WITH THE
INVESTIGATING AGENCY. WE ARE
DOING THESE PEOPLE MISS SERVICE
. I THINK THAT THAT IS LARGELY,
UH, SIGNIFICANT FACTOR
CONTRIBUTING TO THE MM MM. I P
CRISIS THAT WE FACE TODAY.
YOU'VE HEARD BRIEFLY ABOUT A B
44 IS A SOLUTION TO SOME OF
THESE PROBLEMS. A B 44 AS
ORIGINALLY DRAFTED WITH GRANT
STATE PEACE OFFICER STATUS TO
TRIBAL POLICE AGENCIES THAT MEET
THE MINIMUM STANDARDS AS SET BY
THE LEGISLATURE. THUS ALLOWING
TRIBES TO INVEST IN POLICE
DEPARTMENTS THAT REFLECT THEIR
VALUES. REDUCE RELIANCE ON
OUTSIDE AGENCIES. REDUCE
RESPONSE TIME. TWO CALLS FOR
SERVICE. INCREASE COMMUNITY
TRUST. ALL OF WHICH I BELIEVE
WILL LEAD. TO AN INCREASE IN
REPORTING AN INCREASE IN
COOPERATION WITH INVESTIGATIONS.
IN A REDUCTION IN CRIME AND MORE
POSITIVE OUTCOMES AND MISSING
PERSON CASES. A B 44 BUT ALSO
GRANT TRIBAL POLICE AND TRAVEL
COURTS ACCESS TO KLUTZ. ENSURING
TRIBAL OFFICERS ARE GETTING
INFORMATION IN REAL TIME AND CAN
ENTER MISSING PERSONS IN THE
MUMPS WITHOUT UNDUE DELAY. BEING
THE ENTERING AGENCY OF THE
MISSING PERSON. REPORT. WELL,
THEN ALLOW US UH HUH. THE
OFFICERS WHO HAVE THE MOST
INFORMATION ABOUT RISK FACTORS
TO REACH OUT TO CHP TO INITIATE
A FEATHER ALERT. TRIBAL COURT
ORDERS BEING ENTERED INTO KLUTZ
WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR OFFICERS
TO GET HITS IN THE FIELD IN
INCREASED POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR
VICTIMS. IN CONCLUSION. I WANT
TO OFFER TO THIS LEGISLATURE
THAT SUPPORTING A B 44 IS
ORIGINALLY DRAFTED. IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH
TRIBES IN ADDRESSING THESE
ISSUES AND INCREASED PUBLIC
SAFETY IN CALIFORNIA. AND I WANT
TO THANK ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS
FOR ARRANGING THIS HEARING AND
CONTINUING TO AUTHOR LEGISLATION
, WHICH SEEKS TO INCREASE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT
MORRIS. FOR THAT I DO WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAD ONE CAREER
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ONE CARILLO
JOIN US, ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S, UM
EDUARDO GARCIA. AND
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S REGGIE JOHN
SAWYER ALSO JOINED AND THERE'S
COMMITTEES GOING ON, SO MEMBERS
WILL BE COMING IN AND OUT, BUT
GETTING THIS MESSAGE OUT VERY
MUCH IS IMPORTANT TO THE STATE
LEGISLATURE. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
YOUR TRAVEL CHAIRMAN JO JAMES
CHAIRMAN JO JAMES IS FROM THE
TRADITIONAL VILLAGE. UH TRIGON
OF THE KLAMATH RIVER AND
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAIRMAN
JAMES WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN IN
2018 AND RE ELECTED TO A SECOND
TERM IN 2021. HE IS LEADING THE
CHARGE OF EUROPE. CONFRONTING
THE MM. I P CRISIS. HERE'S
THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THE
GRASSROOTS TRIBAL ADVOCACY
EFFORTS TO IMPROVE INDIGENOUS
LIVES. HE HOPES TO BUILD A MODEL
THAT ALL TRIBES CAN USE TO FEND
OFF THIS CRISIS OF MM I P.
CHAIRMAN THANK YOU. SOME OF THE
RAMOS UM. I QUIT NECK NOW CHOSE
TO JAMES, CHAIRMAN OF THE EUROPE
TRIBE. AS CHAIRMAN OF THE ARK
TRIBE. I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO TELL TO HAVE
TODAY AND ADDRESS THE PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES AND ISSUES,
CONCERNS AND SOLUTIONS ON BEHALF
OF THE YUROK TRIBE. YOU KNOW? AS
A. I HAVE MY TESTIMONY IN FRONT
OF ME AND LISTEN TO TESTIMONY.
YOU KNOW? PUBLIC LIFE. 2 80.
IT'S NOTHING NEW. IT'S BEEN HERE
SINCE NEARLY 70 YEARS. WITHOUT
THE CONSULTATION OF TRIBES. YOU
KNOW, LET THAT THAT THINKING GO
IN REGARDING TRAUMA BOARDING
SCHOOLS GETTING OVER LANGUAGE,
GET RID OF OUR IDENTITY. FAST
FORWARD TO HERE TODAY, SEVEN
YEARS LATER. YOU KNOW WHY? WOULD
THEY NOT WANT TO JUST BEING ABLE
TO ARREST TO PROTECT THE WELFARE
AND SAFETY OF OUR PEOPLE ON THE
RESERVATION? WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE
GOING MURDERED MISSING. WOMEN
CHILDREN. STEINORTH MY P YOU
KNOW, IT'S A. HURTS AS A TRIBAL
LEADER. AH FAST FORWARD 70 YEARS
NOW, AND WE'RE STILL TALKING
ABOUT THE WELFARE AND SAFETY OF
OUR PEOPLE. I HAVE THE PROCESS
OF TRIBAL CHAIRMAN FOR THEIR
JUDGMENT. LAW ENFORCEMENT. AS A
MODEL RESPECT AND SAFETY,
WELFARE PEOPLE BUT ALSO BRING
THEM TOGETHER. FOR OUR COURT
SYSTEM FOR WELLNESS. THROUGH
THROUGH VILLAGE. ALL THROUGH OUR
TRIBE. IT'S A VILLAGE MINDSET
WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER. WE TALKED
ABOUT BALANCE AND BRING PEOPLE
TOGETHER AND BALANCES ONE. YOU
MENTIONED WE'RE GOING IN THE
WRONG DIRECTION WE HAVE WE
STARTED WERE FIFTH HIGHEST
CASELOADS IN THE UNITED STATES.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S SIX STATES IN
PUBLIC, YOU 80 MORE FIFTH AND IN
MY P WE HAVE DONE GREAT WORK. WE
HAVE A LOT OF GREAT WORK YET TO
GO TODAY. YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT
PUBLIC LOGIC WITTY HOW TO IMPACT
US HER STRICT US REGARDING
RESOURCES TOOLS. HOOKED TO IT IS
NOTHING NEW TO INDIAN COUNTRY.
AS JUDGE MENTIONED, IT'S A
FEDERAL LAW. THANKS. YOU HAVE TO
GO BACK, BUT IT'S IN FRONT OF US
NOW WITHIN THE STATE. WITH OUR
LEGISLATORS TO HELP US IN A
PARTNER. BECAUSE OF PUBLIC LAW
TO A T. PROBLEMS WITH STATE LAW
WERE WITHOUT TOOLS AND RESOURCES
WE NEED AND REMOTE AND RULE.
AREAS. HMM. WE HAVE SPONSORED
LEGISLATION. 80 44 RESULTS SOME
OF THESE ISSUES AND YOUR SUPPORT
TO PASS THIS BILL AS ORIGINALLY
STATED WITHIN A B 44. WHEN YOU
LOOK AT A B 44 I THINK OF BACK
70 YEARS FROM NOW REGARDING
PUBLIC LAW, 2 80. IT'S A SYSTEM
THAT WAS PASSED IN A LOT, BUT
NOT BUILT FOR US. AGAIN A B 44
HAS BEEN INTRODUCED, STRONGLY
SUPPORTED AS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN
IS A LAW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO
HELP AND PROTECTING SAFETY,
WELFARE. OUR PEOPLE. IT'S NOT A
LOT. TO GO ARREST PEOPLE
TOMORROW. THE NEXT DAY, IT'S
THERE TO PROTECT US. IT'S A
SYSTEM THAT HAS INPUT. WHAT
TRIBES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA
THAT'S DRIVEN BY TRIBES. AND I
URGE THE LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT
80 40 HAS RECENTLY WRITTEN.
RIGHT NOW, NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE
THE HIGHEST RATES OF VIOLENT
VICTIMIZATION FOR BOTH MALES AND
FEMALES. VINNIE RACE. WE AS
EUROPE IN OUR SURROUND TRAVELERS
ARE FACING FENTANYL. WHICH IS
HIDDEN OR NATIVE COMMUNITIES IN
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, HIGHER RATE
THAN NEAR THEIR RACE. WHERE THE
MM I P WE HAVE CRIMES. RIGHT NOW
WE'RE LOSING PEOPLE. OUR PEOPLE
ARE BEING KILLED. WE'VE DECLARED
A STATE OF EMERGENCY. AGAIN WITH
OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH OUR
WITH OUR SHARE WITH THEIR STATE.
IT'S WHAT WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT
OF US PUBLIC LAW. TWEET IS A
FEDERAL LAW, BUT IT'S IN FRONT
OF US NOW TO DEAL WITH IT AND
WORK WITH IT. AS OUR JUDGES
MENTIONED OR LAW ENFORCEMENT
MENTIONED. THERE'S MANY HURDLES
AND OBSTACLES LACK OF RESOURCES.
WE'RE HERE TO PARTNER. WE'RE
HERE TO WORK TOGETHER TO COME
TOGETHER AS A VILLAGE. WE'RE
PUTTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO
OUR POLICE AND COURT SYSTEMS. WE
APPLY FOR GRANTS. AND CAN YOU DO
THE HARD WORK? WE'RE ASKING MORE
THAN WE AS TRIBES WITH 84 ASK
HIM. FOR NOTHING MORE THAN
GIVING US THE AUTHORITY TO
ENGAGE WITH. AND ARREST ANY
PERSON THAT'S PUSHING FENTANYL
ON THE RESERVATION, RESULTING IN
DEATHS OF TRAVELERS AT A HIGHER
RATE THAN THE OTHER COMMUNITIES
IN PRISONS WHO ARE ABUSING
KIDNAPPING, KILLING NATIVE WOMEN
AND GIRLS. A B 44. SPEAKS TO THE
INJUSTICES. A PUBLIC LAW 2 80.
THAT'S PRESENTED TO US. 80 44 IS
A RESOURCE AND A TOOL. THAT CAN
HELP US PROTECT THE SAFETY AND
WELFARE ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN
ON THE GROUND RIGHT NOW IN REAL
TIME. JUDGE MENTIONED THE GAPS.
THOSE GAPS ARE IN REAL TIME
RIGHT NOW. A B 44 82 73. HAVE
BEEN PRODUCED BY SOMEBODY WE'RE
ALMOST AS COLLEAGUES. THOSE ARE
RESOURCES AND TOOLS THAT CAN
FILL THE GAPS IN REAL TIME RIGHT
NOW REGARDING THE CRISIS THAT'S
HAPPENING IN INDIAN COUNTRY
RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE IN CALIFORNIA.
YOU KNOW, AS I LOOK BACK HERE IN
THIS MOMENT. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY IN THIS ROOM. TO
MOVE FORWARD. WAS SOLUTIONS TO
PROTECT THE SAFETY AND WELFARE.
OF INDIAN COUNTRY. WE'RE GOING
TO STILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT
FIGHT. THAT'S WHO WE ARE AS
INDIAN PEOPLE. CONTINUE TO WORK
HARD AND FIGHT FOR ON BEHALF OF
OUR CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT PUBLIC LAW 2 80 WAS PUT
THERE FOR A REASON. I KNOW THAT
REASON. IT DOESN'T HELP US.
WASN'T THERE MEANT FOR US. AND
REPEAT THAT SEVEN YEARS LATER.
IT'S INJUSTICE. WE'VE GOT TO
LOOK AT IT. THAT'S WHAT A B 44
IS THERE NOW. TO HAVE BASIC
CRITERIA. CLIPS DATA. TO BE ON
THE SAME LEVEL FIELD PLAYING
FIELD. SEVEN YEARS LATER. BEING
ABLE TO ARREST SOMEBODY IN REAL
TIME. ON A RESERVATION. THAT'S
AN ASK YOU KNOW? AGAIN,
EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM OR TRIBAL
LEADERS. WE'VE COME A LONG WAY.
AND I THINK OF SOMETHING RONALD
LEADERSHIP AND HIS COLLEAGUES IN
THIS ROOM TO ADDRESS THAT AND TO
BRING THIS FORWARD. BUT THAT'S
WHAT PUBLIC LAW 80 HAS DONE TO
US TO THE PLACE SEVEN YEARS.
REGARDING JURISDICTION REGARDING
FUNDING REGARDING RESOURCES. WE
HEAR TODAY REGARDING THE CRISIS
OF N Y P AND I URGE AH. THE
LEGISLATORS CONTINUE TO MOVE
FORWARD TO PARTNER TO WORK WITH
US. MOVING 80 44 MAYBE 2 73.
THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU,
CHAIRMAN. FOR THOSE INSIGHTFUL
WORDS, OUR NEXT SPEAKER. WILL BE
JUST AS POLICY LEAD FOR EUROPE
TRIBE JUDGE DEVIN LOW MESS YES,
VIA A MEMBER OF THE E PI NATION
, SANTA ISABEL AND OWNER UH, IS
CHIEF JUDGE OF THE INTER TRIBAL
COURT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
THAT SERVES 12 MEMBER TRIBES AND
SIX OTHER TRIBES AND TRIBAL
ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. IN HER
COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING THE
RIGHTS OF INDIAN TRIBES VIA THE
PRACTICE OF TRIBAL AND FEDERAL
INDIAN LAW. SHE HAS HELD THE
POSITION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF CALIFORNIA ANY INDIAN LEGAL
SERVICES IN HOUSE TRIBAL
ATTORNEY FOR THE IPP BY NATION
OF SANTA ISABEL LECTURE OF SAN
DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY, AMERICAN
INDIAN STUDIES DEPARTMENT AND A
JUNK PROFESSOR AT PALOMAR
COLLEGE. SHE HAS ALSO SERVED A
FOUR YEAR TERM ON THE IT BY
NATION TRIBAL COUNCIL. THE
NUMEROUS COMMITTEE POSITIONS.
PLEASE. MOVE FORWARD WITH YOUR
TESTIMONY. AND MY CASH. GOOD
MORNING, CHAIRMAN RAMOS AND
HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON NATIVE AMERICAN
AFFAIRS. AS CHIEF JUDGE OF THE
INNER TRAVEL COURT OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA FOR THE LAST SIX
YEARS OF PRACTICING INDIAN LAW
ATTORNEY FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND
FORMER TRIBAL COUNCIL MEMBER OF
THE PAY NATION OF SANTA ISABEL
SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW PUBLIC LAW 2
80 CONTINUES TO AFFECT THE
PROTECTION AND SAFETY OF TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES IN SAN DIEGO AND
RIVERSIDE COUNTIES. MUCH OF WHAT
I WILL SHARE WITH YOU TODAY HAS
BEEN SAID AND THIS ONLY
DEMONSTRATES THE BREATH OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES FACING
CALIFORNIA TRIBES. THE INNER
TRAVEL COURT OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA ICSC AS STATED SERVES
12 MEMBER TRIBES, SIX ADDITIONAL
TRIBES AND AN INDIAN HOUSING
AUTHORITY, PRIMARILY IN SAN
DIEGO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES.
WHILE MANY TRIBES IN SAN DIEGO
AND RIVERSIDE HAVE SOME FORM OF
TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR
SECURITY TRIBES ARE STILL
RELIANT ON LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
VIA THE SHERIFF, OR CHP, FOR
ASSISTANCE WITH CRIMES OCCURRING
ON THE RESERVATION FOR THE
VARIOUS REASONS STATED HERE
TODAY. DURING MY TENURE, I'VE
WATCHED TRIBE'S STRUGGLE TO
MAINTAIN THEIR OFTEN ONE OFFICER
, TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
DEPARTMENTS. OTHERS HAVE ELECTED
FOR THEIR OFFICERS TO BECOME
SPECIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
COMMISSION CERTIFIED. HOWEVER.
NO MATTER THE SIZE OR
QUALIFICATIONS OF THESE TRIBAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THEY
ARE OFTEN MET WITH THE SAME
CHALLENGES THAT PREVENT ADEQUATE
SECURITY OF THE RESERVATIONS
THEY SERVE. CONFUSION AS TO THE
ABILITY TO DETAIN PERSONS ON THE
RESERVATION. INABILITY TO KEEP
WRONGDOERS OFF TRIBAL LANDS AND
DENIED ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT TOOLS TO KEEP THEM
AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE
SAFE. WHEN CRIMES HAPPEN ON THE
RESERVATION, I CONTINUE TO
OBSERVE THE TRIBES EXPERIENCE
LONG WAIT TIMES AND IN MANY
CASES NO IN PERSON RESPONSE
OCCURS AT ALL. SO THEN IT
BECOMES THE FIRST RESPONDER
TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT IS
LEFT TO DEFUSE OFTEN DANGEROUS
SITUATIONS ON TRIBAL LANDS. BUT
AS MENTIONED, THEIR HANDS ARE
TIED. WHILE THEY MAY KNOW THE
PERSONS INVOLVED BECAUSE THEY'RE
FROM THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY.
THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.
OFTEN VIOLENT OFFENDERS,
PAROLEES OR PERSONS WITH ACTIVE
WARRANTS FREQUENT OUR
RESERVATIONS. TRIBAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT ARE LEFT WITH LITTLE
OF THOSE TOOLS TO SAFELY ADDRESS
THESE SITUATIONS. LACK OF ACCESS
TO LET'S OR THE N C I C PREVENTS
FUNDAMENTAL PROTECTION WITH
REGARD TO OFFICER IN TRIBAL
CITIZENS SAFETY. THE ICSC WOULD
NOT EXIST IN ITS CURRENT
STRUCTURE IF TRIBES DID NOT HAVE
THEIR OWN LAW ENFORCEMENT. MOST
OF OUR CASES DIRECTLY INVOLVED
TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE ICSC
. HERE'S MONTHLY CIVIL CITATION
CALENDARS FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX
TRIBES. MANY OF THESE CASES THAT
COME TO THE TRIBAL COURT COULD
ALSO BE VIOLATIONS OF STATE
CRIMINAL LAW. HOWEVER. THE
MAJORITY DO NOT INVOLVE LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE THE
VIOLATIONS ARE EITHER THAT OF
TRIBAL LAW OR IN MANY CASES,
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS
DECLINED TO TAKE ANY ACTION
AGAINST THE WRONGDOER. THESE
SITUATIONS BEING TRIBAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO THE TRIBAL COURT
TO HANDLE THESE CIVIL CITATIONS
, AND IN FACT, WE HERE NEARLY
600 CIVIL CITATIONS A YEAR IN
THE INNER TRAVEL COURT. MOST OF
OUR CITATIONS ARE RELATED TO
DRUG AND ALCOHOL POSSESSION OR
BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE. OTHER
MATTERS THAT ARE HIGH IN OUR
CASELOAD INCLUDE MOVING
VIOLATIONS. AND INFRACTIONS
AGAINST THE PROPERTY. THE PEACE
OTHER PERSON'S HEALTH AND SAFETY
OR THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT ITSELF.
MINERS ARE ALSO CITED INTO THE
ICSC. THESE ARE SERIOUS MATTERS
RELATING TO THE SAFETY AND WELL
BEING OF OUR TRIBAL PEOPLE IN
LANDS. WHEN THESE PERSONS ARE
CITED INTO TRIBAL COURT. THE
COURT HAS A MODEST SECURITY
SCREENING AND A BAILIFF TO
ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE
PROCEEDINGS. ADDITIONALLY THE
COURT WILL OFTEN UTILIZE TRIBAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT TO SERVE PERSONS
WITH VARIOUS COURT DOCUMENTS ON
TRIBAL LANDS AND ESSENTIAL NEED
FOR NOTICE AND DUE PROCESS.
HOWEVER THERE IS NO CURRENT
ABILITY TO CHECK BACKGROUNDS IN
THE STATE OR FEDERAL SYSTEM IN
THE ICSC. FIRST BECAUSE TRIBES
HAVE BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO
CLEATS AND SECOND WHILE THE ICSC
HAS BEEN DELEGATED AUTHORITY BY
TWO TRIBES. TO DO BACKGROUND
CHECKS AND ENTER ORDERS IN THE
FEDERAL DATABASE VIA THE TRIBAL
ACCESS PROGRAM. WE HAVE YET TO
GO ONLINE BECAUSE IT'S A
REQUIREMENT THAT ORDERS ARE ABLE
TO BE VERIFIED 24 HOURS A DAY.
UNFORTUNATELY MANY OF OUR TRIBAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DO NOT
HAVE THE FUNDS TO STAFF 24 HOUR
OPERATIONS. WITH REGARD TO
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTION
ORDERS. THE ICSC HAS ISSUED MANY
OF THESE ORDERS OVER THE YEARS.
HOWEVER THESE ORDERS ARE OFTEN
ISSUED WITH RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
THE VICTIM KEEP EXTRA COPIES IN
STORE THE ORDERS. AND SHARE THEM
WITH TRIBAL LEADERSHIP, TRIBAL
POLICE AND OTHERS THAT MAY BE
PROTECTED BY THE ORDER. THIS IS
BECAUSE REGISTERING AND
ENFORCEMENT OF TRIBAL COURT
PROTECTIVE ORDERS IS NOT
CONSISTENT BY THE STATE COURTS
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. WHILE THE
ICSC HAS AND CONTINUES TO MEET
WITH STATE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS,
COURTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THERE IS NOT YET A RELIABLE
SYSTEM TO ENSURE THESE
PROTECTIVE ORDERS ARE IN OUR
PROMPTLY AND ENFORCED. THIS LACK
OF COOPERATION AND COORDINATION
LEADS MANY TRIBAL PEOPLE TO
BYPASS THE TRIBAL COURT SYSTEM.
FORCING THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE STATE SYSTEM. THIS IS A
TRAVESTY IN THE EYES OF TRAVELS
UP TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY THAT OUR
PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO TRAVEL
LONGER DISTANCES AWAY FROM THE
FAMILIARITY OF THEIR TRIBAL
COMMUNITY TO GET ESSENTIAL
ORDERS OF PROTECTION AND THEN
STILL WONDER IF THOSE ORDERS
WILL BE ENFORCED WHEN A
VIOLATION IS CALLED IN FROM THE
RESERVATION. FURTHER EVEN WHEN
COORDINATION IS POSITIVE WITH
THE STATE, THERE'S ONGOING NEED
FOR TRAINING DUE TO STAFF
TURNOVER, RESULTING INTO LATE
DELAYS IN THE REGISTRATION AND
ENTERING OF THESE VITAL
PROTECTIVE ORDERS IN THE STATE
COURTS. IT IS NOT THE TRIBAL
COURTS ROLE TO TRAIN THE STATE
COURT PERSONNEL AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT. THE REMEDY LIES
WITH A PERMANENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AND HONORING OF THE FOUNDATIONAL
GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT
RELATIONSHIP OF TRIBES IN THE
STATES. IN CLOSING, IT MUST BE
THE ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION
THAT REQUIRES TRIBAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND TRIBAL COURTS BE
ENTITLED TO THE SAME TOOLS THAT
ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COURTS
IN CALIFORNIA ARE ENTITLED TO,
INCLUDING PEACE OFFICER STATUS
THAT GRANTS THE ABILITY TO RUN
BACKGROUND CHECKS AND ENFORCE
ORDERS THAT PROTECT TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES. AND TO REQUIRE
TRIBAL COURTS. ORDERS ARE TIMELY
, ENTERED AND ENFORCE FOR THE
PROTECTION, SAFETY AND SECURITY
OF MORE THAN 100, FEDERALLY
RECOGNIZED TRIBAL NATIONS THAT
HAVE GOVERNED CALIFORNIA TRIBAL
LANDS SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
CONSIDERATION TODAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. JUDGE LAMARRE? YES,
FOR YOUR INSIGHTFUL WORDS THAT
BRINGS FULL CIRCLE THAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC LAW 2 80.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ENFORCEMENT
ON TRIBAL LANDS. UM, AND NON
TRIBAL MEMBER ENFORCEMENT OF
CRIMES PERPETRATED BY BRINGING
IT FULL CIRCLE TO THE
ENFORCEMENT COMPONENT. UH THE
COURT SYSTEM ITSELF. UM WE DO
HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, BUT I WANT
TO OPEN IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES
THAT, UM, HAVE JOINED US ALSO,
UM ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S AVELLINO,
VALENCIA AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER, UM
ARAMBULA AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
SABRINA CERVANTES. BUT THIS ENDS
THIS PANEL. BUT NOW IS THE TIME
FOR ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE
DIOCESE. SOMETHING, REMEMBER?
YES THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
PROVIDING THE TESTIMONY IN THE
BACKGROUND FOR ALL OF US
REGARDING PUBLIC LAW, 2 80. WE
KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF
CHALLENGES AND YOU LAID OUT MANY
OF THOSE. I WANTED JUST TO GET
MORE CLARIFICATION WHEN A
VIOLATION IS CALLED IN FROM THE
RESERVATION. WHAT TYPICALLY
OCCURS. SPEAKING FROM THE
STANDPOINT OF THE YUROK TRIBAL
POLICE BECAUSE OF OUR DEPUTATION
AGREEMENTS WITH TWO COUNTIES SO
THERE'S ONE OR TWO THINGS IS
GONNA OCCUR. UH THAT CALL IS
EITHER GOING TO COME TO OUR
OFFICE WERE RIGHT NOW, UH, I
HAVE JUST SHY OF 24 HOUR
COVERAGE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK RIGHT
NOW. UM AND I HAVE, UH AND ADMIN
ASSISTANT THAT ANSWERS THE PHONE
DURING BUSINESS HOURS. WE DO NOT
HAVE THE RESOURCES FOR A FULL
TIME DISPATCH CENTER. SO AT
TIMES THOSE CALLS AT THAT CALL
GOES ON UNANSWERED. WE'VE BEEN
TRYING TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON
PLEASE CALL THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE
EITHER VIA 911 IF YOU HAVE AN
EMERGENCY OR VIA THE NON
EMERGENCY NUMBERS FOR A NON
EMERGENT CALL. MY OFFICERS ARE
THEN DISPATCHED FROM THE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE BECAUSE WE
DON'T WE DON'T HAVE OUR UM OUR
OWN DISPATCH CENTER RIGHT NOW,
FOR A TRIBE THAT DOES NOT HAVE
UH, ITS OWN DOESN'T HAVE A
DEPUTATION AGREEMENT OR DOESN'T
HAVE A TRIBAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY MAY NOT RECEIVE THAT CALL.
THAT CALL MAY GO DIRECTLY TO THE
SHERIFF'S OFFICER. THE CHP AND
THOSE AGENCIES ARE GOING TO
ALLOCATE RESOURCES BASED ON
AVAILABILITY. AND SO IT ALSO
DEPENDS ON THE RELATIONSHIP
WITHIN EACH SHERIFF COUNTY
SHERIFF HAS WITH TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT CORRECT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
REMEMBER, GARCIA? THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE
WITNESSES. I THINK, UM WHATEVER
WE TALK ABOUT A SPECIFIC ISSUE,
IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO
CONTEXTUALIZE IT WITH THE
HISTORY. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
19 FIFTIES FOR NATIVE PEOPLE, IT
WASN'T I WOULD SAY A ERA OF, YOU
KNOW, PROGRESS AND ADVANCEMENT
THAT WAS BEING PERPETUATED BY
THE POLICIES OF THIS GOVERNMENT.
I THINK OF TERMINATION POLICIES
, RELOCATION POLICIES. I THINK
OF ALL OF THE IMPLICATIONS THAT
THAT HAS HAD THAT HAS LED TO
MANY OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE
SEE TODAY ON TRIBAL RESERVATIONS
. AND THEN THOSE NATIVE PEOPLE
WHO DON'T LIVE ON TRIBAL
RESERVATIONS AS A RESULT OF SOME
OF THESE POLICIES, RIGHT? TO
DETACH THEM FROM A PLACE OF
ORIGIN AND, ULTIMATELY, ITS
PEOPLE, ITS CULTURE AND SO FORTH
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC LAW, 2
80, RIGHT. I THINK THE PROPOSAL
THAT'S IN FRONT OF US IS A VERY
MODEST REQUEST OF INTEGRATION.
UHM FOR SIMPLE COMMUNICATION.
AND THE COMMUNICATION THAT WOULD
GO VERY FAR AS IT RELATES TO
ADDRESSING THE PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES OF THE DAY ON INDIAN
RESERVATIONS, WHICH IS THE
MURDERED MISSING, UM, WOMEN
ISSUE THAT CONTINUES. TO
ESCALATE AS WE LOOK AT THE DATA
AND BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF
COMMUNICATION THAT'S TAKING
PLACE WITHIN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
REALM OF WORK. UM, WE'RE SEEING
A LACK OF REALLY FOLLOWED
THROUGH IN RESPONSE TO THESE
ISSUES, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT ANY
TIME WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE
ISSUES, IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT
WE PUT BACKGROUND THE HISTORY IN
ORDER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY
WE'RE WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY. I
HAD THE FORTUNATE PLEASURE, AND
I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, AND
ANOTHER HEARING TO WORK ON AS A
YOUNG INTERN FOR A TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT OFFICE TO WORK ON
PUBLIC LAW 2 80 BILL WHERE AT
THE TIME THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO
TRY TO BRING, UM NOT JUST THE
COMMUNICATIONS ASPECT OF IT, BUT
REALLY GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT
POLICE THE AUTHORITY I'M TALKING
ABOUT IN EARLY TWO THOUSANDS
WHEN THIS TOOK PLACE, AND IT WAS
A BIG FIGHT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
, BOTH THE SHERIFF ASSOCIATION
CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL. AND
WHAT TRIGGERED THIS ISSUE WASN'T
FRONT AND CENTER OF THE ISSUE
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
THE ISSUE OF MISSING AND
MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN, IT
WAS SIMPLY GIVING THE
JURISDICTION BACK. TO INDIAN
COUNTRY FOR PURPOSES OF
PROTECTING ITS BOUNDARIES AND
ITS PEOPLE. UM THERE WERE TRIBES
THAT WERE BEING ACCUSED AND
CITED. FOR IMPERSONATING POLICE
OFFICERS WHEN TRAVELING OFF THE
RESERVATION BY THE SHERIFF'S BY
THE CHP. I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE
THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THOSE AGENCIES AND OUR FRIENDS
AND INDIAN COUNTRY HAS CHANGED
SLIGHTLY ENOUGH. TO BE ABLE TO
MOVE. A POLICY LIKE MAYBE 40 FOR
THAT AGAIN IS A VERY MODEST,
REASONABLE COMMON SENSE.
SOLUTION TO A LARGE PROBLEM OF
INTERCONNECTIVITY TO ASSIST THEM
THAT WILL ALLOW US TO PREVENT
ISSUES FROM OCCURRING BUT ALSO
RESPOND TO THE ISSUES THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN A MUCH MORE
EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE MANNER.
SO I WANTED TO LEND MY SUPPORT
TO THE EFFORT. AND JUST AGAIN
EMPHASIZE HOW SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPORTANT IT IS TO CONTEXTUALIZE
THESE ISSUES BY TALKING ABOUT
THE HISTORY AND I STARTED OFF
WITH SAYING THE 19 FIFTIES
WASN'T AN ERA OF PROGRESS WHEN
IT COMES TO NATIVE PEOPLE
THROUGH THE POLICIES OF THE
STATE, OR, FOR THAT MATTER, THE
POLICIES OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. I UNDERSTAND THEM.
NOT EVERYONE DOES NOT THAT THAT
MEANS ANYTHING BUT BIÂU SHARING
THE HISTORY. IT'S EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT THAT YOU SET THE TONE
FOR THE CONVERSATION. I JUST
WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY. THANK YOU
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ANY OTHERS. I
WANT TO THANK THE PANEL FOR
BRINGING FORWARD VERY MUCH
NEEDED INFORMATION AND DIALOGUE.
CERTAINLY AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE
A B 44 FORWARD, UM IT WAS
RELEVANT THAT WE HAD TO EDUCATE
THE LEGISLATURE MORE ON PUBLIC
LAW 2 80. AND LOOKING AT THE
GAPS AND THE LACK OF FUNDING
WHEN THE ASSERTION WAS MOVED
FORWARD WITHIN THAT ACT OF
CONGRESS THAT ASSERTED
JURISDICTION OVER THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA IS ONE OF THE STATES
THAT PUBLIC LAW 2 80. ENCROACHED
UPON. BUT ALSO LOOKING AT. THE
PREVENTION PREVENTION TEAM AND
IDENTIFYING THE GAPS THAT NEED
TO BE ADDRESSED THAT THE
LEGISLATURE UM HERE'S THESE
FIRSTHAND FROM THOSE PRESENTING
FROM TRIBAL MEMBERS AND INDIAN
PEOPLE FROM THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. BUT ALSO LOOKING AT
THE ABILITY OF. HOLDING PUBLIC
SAFETY ON TRIBAL LANDS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN NON TRIBAL
MEMBERS THAT COME ONTO
RESERVATIONS AND PERPETRATE
CRIMES. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO
WORK TOGETHER AS A LEGISLATURE
TO AFFORD. THE TRIBES,
CALIFORNIA'S FIRST PEOPLE, THE
ABILITY TO PROTECT THEIR PEOPLE
AND THEIR JURISDICTIONS HERE IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. AND
CHAIRMAN JAMES. UM, COMMENTS.
WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH THIS
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE ON INDIAN
RESERVATIONS. AND PUBLIC LAW TO
80. FOR MANY OF US, YOU KNOW,
GROWING UP ON INDIAN
RESERVATIONS. WASN'T ESTABLISHED
TO PROTECT US INDIAN PEOPLE. IT
WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT NON
INDIAN PEOPLE FROM INDIAN PEOPLE
THEMSELVES, SO IT'S A REVERSE OF
THINKING ON THESE DIFFERENT
PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT COME
OUR WAY. AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK
ON THOSE AREAS. BUT THEN WE ALSO
GET TO THE POINT OF THE BEING
ABLE TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE,
RIGHT BUT THEN ENFORCING THROUGH
THE COURT SYSTEM, SO WE STILL DO
HAVE A LONG, LONG WAY TO GO. BUT
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PRESENTERS
AND BRINGING THAT VOICE FORWARD.
NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO PANEL
TOO. TRIBAL LEADERS. CONCERNS ON
M M I P. UM WE HAVE FIVE CHAIRS.
THERE'S A SERIES OF TRIBAL
LEADERS. THE FIRST FIVE WILL BE,
UM WILTON RANCHERIA VICE
CHAIRWOMAN, RAQUEL WILLIAMS. I
OWN BAND AND MIWOK INDIANS
CHAIRPERSON SARAH DUSKY SHINGLE
SPRINGS BAND AND ME WHAT
CHAIRPERSON REGINA CLAR. AND THE
KUN RANCHERIA CHANCES. INDIANS
CHAIRPERSON JANET BILL AND THEN
WE'LL ROTATE OUT AND GET THE
OTHER SPEAKERS UP. ON THE NEXT.
TO BE PART OF THE NEXT ONE. YOU
GET BUSY. BEFORE WE GET STARTED.
WE'D LIKE TO OFFER ANY COMMENTS
THAT MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO SAY
WHEN YOU JOINED US? EVERYTHING.
REMEMBER ARAMBULA? MHM GOING TO
APPRECIATE CHAIRWOMAN BUILD FOR
THE INVITATION TO COME AND SEE
FIRSTHAND IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY
AND TO LISTEN TO SO MANY OF OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I'M
APPRECIATIVE OF CHAIR RAMOS OF
TAKING THE TIME TO MAKE SURE
WITH INTENTIONALITY THAT WE WERE
VISITING ALL ACROSS THE STATE
AND JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT
AND APPRECIATE THE PERSON IN MY
BACKYARD WHO MAKE SURE WE WERE
OPENING DOORS TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? AVELLINO. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S. HAPPY TO BE
HERE AND APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND TAKE
THIS MOMENT TO ALSO BUILD ON THE
GOOD WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE THUS
FAR. LONG ROAD AHEAD, BUT WE'LL
GET THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
REMEMBER CARILLO? I JUST WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU FOR THE HISTORY.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
RAMOS FOR INCLUDING ME, AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
USER AND EVERYBODY ELSE HERE.
BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUES
, ISSUES THAT OBVIOUSLY BEING
FORGOTTEN FOR SO MANY YEARS. AND
IT'S JUST BEEN REALLY EDUCATIVE
, EDUCATING FOR ME TO LEARN MORE
AND SEE HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU.
IN THE SALESFORCE AGAIN. YOU
CONTINUE TO BRING THIS UP, AND
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS
ADMIRABLE. THANK YOU FOR
CONTINUING TO BRING THIS UP TO
OUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. ANY OTHER MEMBERS WISHING
TO MAKE COMMENTS? THANK YOU.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO PANEL TOO.
FIRST SPEAKERS FROM WILTON
RANCHERIA VICE CHAIRWOMAN,
RAQUEL WILLIAMS, FIRST ELECTED
IN 2022 COUNCIL. VICE CHAIR.
WILLIAMS WAS THEN ELECTED TO THE
VICE CHAIRMANSHIP IN 2022. SINCE
CHILDHOOD. SHE HAS HELD FAST TO
HER CULTURE CEREMONIES AND
CELEBRATIONS VICE CHAIR. GOOD
MORNING. THANK YOU. COULD YOU
HEAR ME? I ALSO CAN PARTICULAR.
HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS RAQUEL
WILLIAMS AND THE VICE CHAIR
MOMENT FOR WILTON RANCHERIA. IT
IS MY HONOR TO WELCOME YOU GUYS
HERE TODAY. UM, ON THE HOMELAND
OF OUR PEOPLE. IT IS AN HONOR TO
BE HERE AMONGST OTHER TRIBAL
LEADERS. UM WELL, BRINGING US
WHILE BRINGING AWARENESS AND A
SOLUTION BASED APPROACH TO THIS
ISSUE. WHEN THINKING ABOUT
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE IN THE
COUNTRY. I THINK ABOUT ALL THE
TRIBAL LEADERS AND THE
LEADERSHIP IN THIS ROOM WORKING
TO MAKE CALIFORNIA INDIAN
COUNTRY SAFE FOR ALL OF ITS
CITIZENS. FIRST AND FOREMOST,
I'D LIKE TO THANK CALIFORNIA
STATE OFFICIALS, ESPECIALLY
ESPECIALLY GOVERNOR NEWSOM,
ATTORNEY GENERAL BONTA AND
ASSEMBLYMAN RAMOS FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. ASSEMBLYMAN RAMOS.
YOU'VE BEEN AN UNWAVERING
CHAMPION FOR OUR PEOPLE. WE
COULD NOT HAVE MADE THE
SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS WITHOUT
YOUR GUIDANCE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE
TO THANK YOUR STAFF AND FOR
THEIR HARD WORK AND PLANNING
EVENTS FOR THE REST OF THIS
WEEK. THIS MORNING. YOU'VE HAD
THE PLEASURE OF HEARING AND
LEARNING FROM A POWERFUL LINEUP
OF CALIFORNIA'S MOST RESPECTFUL
TRIBAL LEADERS AND CITIZENS.
EACH WITH IMPORTANT REQUESTS AND
CALL TO ACTION. BUT I LEAVE YOU
WITH ONLY ONE AND THIS ONE IS
EVEN FREE. THAT REQUEST IS TO
LISTEN. THE LEADER SPEAKING
AFTER ME, WILL CERTAINLY SHARE
STAGGERING STATISTICS,
INCREDIBLY PAINFUL STORIES OF
LOVED ONES WHO HAVE BEEN TAKEN
FROM US FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE
LIVES HAVE BEEN TRAGICALLY CUT
SHORT. AND IN THE COMMUNITIES
WHO WILL ALWAYS MOURN THE LOSS
OF ONE LESS LEADER. ONE LESS
ELDER TEACHER, ONE LESS PERSON
TO CARRY ON OUR CULTURES AND
TRADITIONS TO OUR FUTURE
GENERATIONS. THESE STORIES ARE
UNDOUBTEDLY COMPEL YOU TO WANT
TO ACT. THEY WANT YOU TO DO
SOMETHING ANYTHING TO HELP IN
THIS CRISIS. BUT KNOW THAT MOST
IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU CAN DO
TODAY IS LISTEN. THE CHALLENGES
IN OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR BEST MET
BY SOLUTIONS THAT ARE LED,
INFORMED AND SHAPED BY TRIBAL
LEADERS AND GOVERNMENTS. LISTEN
TO THESE LEADERS. LISTEN TO
THESE CITIZENS EVALUATE AND
RESPECT OUR TRIBAL VOICES.
TRIBAL NATIONS ARE ALL DISTINCT
AND UNIQUE. AND THE NEEDS OF
EACH NATION MAY VARY GREATLY.
BUT ONE BUT OUR PEOPLE HAVE
EMPOWERED US AS LEADERS BECAUSE
THEY UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF OUR
RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES. WE MUST
DEMAND THAT ALL LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY
WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE SWIFT
AND EFFECTIVE ACTION. 11 OF OUR
CITIZENS GOES MISSING. THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST HONOR
THE TREATIES AND RESPECT AND
TRUST RESPONSIBILITIES BY
PARTNERING AND COLLABORATING
WITH OUR TRIBAL NATIONS ON
LEGISLATION TO CREATE AND BUILD
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE NEED TO
COMBAT THIS CRISIS. NEXT IT IS
VITAL THAT CALIFORNIA CONTINUES
TO STRENGTHEN ITS GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH
TRIBAL NATIONS AND EMPOWER
TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY TO INSPIRE
SELF DETERMINATION. THIS MEANS,
INCLUDING TRIBAL LEADERSHIP AT
EVERY STAGE OF THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
MULTI FACED REJECTION
JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES THAT
EXISTS IN THIS STATE AND BEING
WILLING TO ASK FOR EDUCATION AND
SUPPORT TO FULLY UNDERSTAND OUR
COMPLEXITIES OF LIVING UNDER
PUBLIC LAW, TWO EIGHTIES
JURISDICTIONS FINALLY, WE MUST
ENCOURAGE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH TRIBAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT. SO THAT EVERY
MISSING PERSON CASE IS TREATED
WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF URGENCY
AND RESPECT. WE KNOW THAT THIS
CRISIS DOES NOT HAVE A SINGLE
CAUSE OR AN EASY SOLUTION. WE
MUST NOT ONLY FOCUSED ON HOW WE
CAN BEST PROTECT OUR MOST
VALUABLE PEOPLE. WE MUST ALSO
LEARN. WE MUST ALSO WORK AND
LEARN MORE ABOUT WHY THIS IS
HAPPENING AT A DISPROPORTIONATE
LEVEL. WE MUST STRIVE TO
IDENTIFY UNDERLYING CAUSES THAT
RESULT IN THE SHOCKING NUMBERS
SO THAT WE MAY PRIORITIZE
RESOURCES AND FUNDING AVAILABLE
TO SUPPORT BOTH IMMEDIATE
EFFORTS. LONG TERM EDUCATION AND
PLANNING. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE
TODAY. IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO
JOIN YOU IN LISTENING AND
LEARNING FROM THE REST OF OUR
SPEAKERS. THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK
YOU FOR ALSO SHOWING THE
RESILIENCY OF OUR PEOPLE TO GET
THROUGH A TESTIMONY, RIGHT?
THERE IS SOME CONSTRUCTION GOING
ON, AND I'LL LET THE CHAIR OF
OVERSEEING THAT KNOW THAT THIS
IS IMPACTING THE COMMITTEE. BUT
THAT CONSTRUCTION IS GOING ON.
BUT IT SHOWS THAT WILLINGNESS TO
CONTINUE TO GET THE VOICE OUT,
UM AND RECORDING INTO UM, THE
OFFICIAL RECORD OUR NEXT SPEAKER
AS FROM THE ION BANDA MIWOK
INDIANS CHAIRPERSON SARAH DUSKY,
UM CHAIRWOMAN DUSKY AND HER
FIRST TERM AS CHAIR. SHE HAS A
LAW PARTNER AND KAPLAN, COURAGE
AND ROCKWELL IN SAN FRANCISCO,
WHERE SHE PRACTICES FEDERAL
INDIAN LAW, HER FIRM IS FOCUSED
ON EXCLUSIVELY REPRESENTING
TRIBAL GOVERNMENT. SHE HAS A
GRADUATE OF CHICO STATE U. C
DAVIS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF
PACIFIC MAJORITY GEORGE SCHOOL
OF LAW. SHE HAS BEEN A LONG TIME
CHAIR OF THE I OWN BAN ME WALK
INDIANS. THANK YOU
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS AND GOOD
MORNING TO YOU AND MEMBERS OF
THE OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS. UM ECHO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS IS
COMMENTS ABOUT THE RESILIENCE OF
INDIAN COUNTRY AND MY COUSIN
HERE, VICE CHAIRWOMAN WILLIAMS
AS LOUD AS THAT MIGHT GET WE
KNOW HOW TO SPEAK MUCH LOUDER.
SO DÍAS ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS
SAID. I'M SARAH DUTCH KI¾M
ACTUALLY NOW IN MY SECOND TERM,
AS AS AS MY TRIBE'S LEADER, AND
I'M ALSO PRACTICING ATTORNEY AND
FEDERAL INDIAN LAW. UM I COME TO
THIS WITH KIND OF A UNIQUE
PERSPECTIVE, PERHAPS, UM, BOTH
AS A LEADER. I'VE BEEN A LATER
FOR SHORTER TIME THAN I'VE BEEN
IN ATTORNEY. UM BUT I'VE DEALT
WITH ISSUES SURROUNDING MISSING
AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AS A
LEADER AND REPRESENTATIVE, NOT
ONLY MY TRIBE BUT AS A LEGAL
REPRESENTATIVE OF TRIBES
THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA AND
ACTUALLY THE NATION, SO THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK
BEFORE YOU TODAY. I WANT TO
START BY, OF COURSE, COMMENDING
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS ON HIS
HARD WORK OVER THE PAST FEW
YEARS TO GET THE WORD OUT ON
THIS ISSUE. UM IT'S VERY
CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT, AND
WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. UM, I ALSO WANT TO
THANK CHAIRMAN JO JAMES.
SPECIFICALLY HE AND HIS STAFF
HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD NOT JUST
HERE AT THE LEGISLATURE, BUT
EVERY SINGLE DAY TO BRING
AWARENESS TO THIS ISSUE, AND
WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE
EFFORTS OF THAT TRIBE TO SHARING
THEIR STORY AND BRINGING THIS
ISSUE TO THE FOREFRONT. THE WORK
OF THE TRIBAL LEADERS HERE TODAY
OF ALL OF YOU AND THE ASSEMBLY.
IT'S REALLY A LABOR OF LOVE.
WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS IN
RECENT MONTHS. BUT THERE'S STILL
A LOT MORE TO GO. AS I SAID THIS
MORNING AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE
UM, THE CREATION OF THE FEATHER
ALERT SYSTEM LAST YEAR WAS
PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. WE'VE SEEN
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR
FUNDING REQUESTS IN THE
LEGISLATURE, WHICH IS VERY MUCH
APPRECIATED AND, OF COURSE, MUCH
NEEDED AWARENESS TO THIS ISSUE.
WITHOUT THESE EFFORTS, THE
CRISIS WOULD CONTINUE TO GROW
WELL BEYOND ITS ALREADY
MONUMENTAL PROPORTIONS. PENNY OF
MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES AND
FRIENDS TESTIFYING BEFORE YOU
TODAY WILL BE SHARING THE
STORIES OF MISSING AND MURDERED
LOVED ONES. SOME ALREADY HAVE.
SOME WILL BE A COURAGE IN THIS
BODY TO CONTINUE ITS LEGISLATIVE
EFFORTS. WE HEARD A LOT ON A B
44 THIS MORNING. UM MOST WILL BE
OFFERING YOU REAL WORKABLE
SOLUTIONS FOR COMBATING THIS
PROBLEM IN THE NEAR AND IN THE
LONG TERM. SO WITH THIS IN MIND,
I'M GOING TO LIMIT MY COMMENTS
TO ONE THING THAT I THINK IS
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO
ADDRESSING THIS AT THE STATE
LEVEL COMBATING THIS CRISIS.
THAT IS THE CREATION OF THE RED
RIBBON PANEL. NO. UM MY
COLLEAGUE HERE, UH, CHAIRPERSON
BILL MENTIONED THE RED RIBBON
PANEL THIS MORNING AND HER
COMMENTS IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE
. UM WE BOTH ACTUALLY SPOKE
ABOUT THE RED RIBBON PANEL LAST
YEAR. UM APPARENTLY, WE'RE LIKE
MINDED ON THIS SUBJECT, WHICH IS
FANTASTIC. WE CANNOT
SUCCESSFULLY COMBAT THE CRISIS
IN THE ABSENCE OF REAL TIME DATA
HEARD ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING
AND IT COMPREHENSIVE,
COORDINATED APPROACH. THE
CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION AND
SUPPORT FOR RED WOMAN PANEL IS
THE IDEAL SOLUTION. THIS PANEL
SHOULD BE TASKED WITH THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO INVESTIGATE
AND FULLY ASSESS THE SCOPE AND
SCALE THE CRISIS TO RECOMMEND
BEST PRACTICES AND SOLUTIONS TO
ESTABLISH THE GREATEST
OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS AND
PREVENT THESE ATROCITIES THAT
ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND TO OPEN AVENUES FOR REAL AND
ROBUST COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, THE STATE
GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT AND
ACTUALLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AS WELL. IT MUST FOCUS BOTH ON
THE HISTORIC AND MODERN DAY
FACTORS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED
THE CRISIS. FROM DECADES OF
FORCED TRAUMA AND ASSIMILATION
TO THE LACK OF ADEQUATE
RESOURCES THAT PLAGUE NEARLY
EVERY TRIBAL COMMUNITY IN THE
STATE. IT MUST BE COMPRISED OF
THOUGHT LEADERS AND RESPECTED
PROFESSIONALS AT ALL LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING EDUCATION
, HEALTHCARE, CAREER DEVELOPMENT
, EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL JUSTICE,
LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT MUST BE
SUFFICIENTLY FUNDED AND
SUPPORTED BY THE LEGISLATURE. WE
CAN'T JUST CREATE IT. WE HAVE TO
GIVE IT THE TOOLS IT NEEDS TO
SUCCEED. IT ABSOLUTELY CANNOT
OPERATE IN A VACUUM. IT MUST NOT
ONLY INCLUDES STATE
REPRESENTATIVES BUT ALSO FEDERAL
REPRESENTATIVES. AND OF COURSE,
TRIBAL REPRESENTATIVES WORKING
TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY TO TACKLE
THIS CRISIS AND DEVELOP GOOD,
WORKABLE SOLUTIONS. COLLEAGUES
THIS MORNING. SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT
PL 2 80. I HAVE PRETTY STRONG
VIEWS ON APPEAL TO 80 THAT'LL
REFRAIN FROM SHARING HERE BUT
YEAH. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PL 2
80 OVER THE MANY DECADES THAT
IT'S BEEN APPLICABLE IN THIS
STATE. UNDERSCORES AND
DEMONSTRATES THE REASON WHY
CROSS JURISDICTIONAL COOPERATION
IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO
SOLVING THIS PROBLEM.
FUNDAMENTALLY THOUGH THE RED
RIBBON PANEL MUST APPROACHES
WORK WITH OPEN MINDS AND OPEN
HEARTS MAKE AN EFFORT TO SEE AND
EVALUATE THE SITUATION THROUGH A
TRIBAL LENS. EVERY FULLY
COMMITTED TO FINDING SOLUTIONS
THAT CAN TRULY BRING AN END TO
THIS CRISIS. THANK YOU FOR
AFFORDING ME THE TIME TO SPEAK
WITH YOU TODAY AND URGE YOU TO
BUILD UPON TODAY'S DISCUSSIONS
AND LAST YEAR'S EVENT. LET'S
KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING.
FOCUS ON ACTION TO PREVENT THE
CRISIS RATHER THAN SIMPLY
REACTION TO DRESS NEGATIVE
EFFECTS. AND WORK WITH TRIBAL
LEADERS IN THE TRUE SPIRIT OF
NOT ONLY GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS BUT TRUE
PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. AND JUST
TO BE CLEAR. WE'RE NOT THE ONLY
HEARING ROOM. THAT'S UM YOU
KNOW, HAVING THIS TYPE OF NOISE
WHEN THEY'RE HAVING HEARINGS. UM
IF THERE'S CONSTRUCTION GOING ON
, WE'RE HOPING TO GET THE ANNEX
BUILT BEFORE 2026. AND SO THAT
WAY IT PUTS US ALL BACK INTO THE
BUILDING. SO JUST SO YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT UM, GEARED TOWARDS THIS
HEARING. IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD,
AS THE OTHER CHAIRS ON THE
COMMITTEE COULD ATTEST TO UM,
BUT WE ARE TRYING TO QUIET IT
DOWN A LITTLE BIT. OUR NEXT
SPEAKER, UM, IS FROM THE SHINGLE
SPRINGS BAND OF MEANWHILE,
INDIANS CHAIRPERSON REGINA COOL
ARE HAS BEEN A TRIBAL LEADER, UM
AND SINCE HER BEGINNING TERM IN
2018, SHE CONTINUES TO LEAD WITH
ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND
COMMITMENT TO BETTERING HER
PEOPLE AND ALL PEOPLE IN IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA CHAIRWOMAN
THANK YOU. WHEN A MARKER CHERYL
RAMOS AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS REGINA
CUELLAR, CHAIRWOMAN OF THE
SHINGLE SPRINGS. ABANDON ME WALK
INDIANS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING
ME TO BE HERE TODAY. TRIBAL
NATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE
LONG SOUGHT SOLUTIONS TO COMBAT
THE EPIDEMIC OF MISSING AND
MURDERED PEOPLE FROM WITHIN OUR
COMMUNITIES, SUCH SOLUTIONS
UTILIZED BY MY TRIBE RELY
HEAVILY ON TO CONSISTENT FACTORS
THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN SUCCESSFUL
AGAIN AND AGAIN MEANINGFUL
COLLABORATION AND CONSULTATION.
IS THE ONLY FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED
TRIBE IN OUR COUNTY. IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT THE SOLUTIONS
PLAGUING OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
ARE SOLVED WITH THE INPUT AND
VOICES OF OUR PEOPLE,
COLLABORATION AND CULTURAL
CONSULTATION WITHIN THE ENTIRE
SYSTEM IS NECESSARY, ESPECIALLY
AMONGST OUR MOST LOCAL AGENCIES
, BUT STATE, FEDERAL AND TRIBAL
PLAYERS MUST BE INVOLVED IN ALL
LEVELS. THE POTENTIAL OF THESE
RELATIONSHIPS CULMINATES AND
OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THE PASSING
OF A B 13 14 ROCK FOURTH AT THIS
VERY SELECT COMMITTEE
INFORMATIONAL HEARING ONE YEAR
AGO. WHICH FROM DRAFTING TO
IMPLEMENTATION. EXCELLENTLY
SHOWCASES HOW EFFECTIVE
COORDINATED EFFORT ON ALL FRONTS
CAN BE. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY
EXAMPLE OF SUCCESS WHEN GOOD
FAITH EFFORT IN THIS WAY IS
PURSUED WITH TRIBES. IN 2014
MIGHT TRY THE SHINGLE SPRINGS
ABANDONED ME WALK INDIANS AND
THE SUPERIOR COURT OF EL DORADO
COUNTY MADE HISTORY BY
ESTABLISHING THE FIRST JOINT
JURISDICTIONAL COURT IN THE
STATE AND THE ONLY ONLY THE
SECOND IN THE COUNTRY. IT WAS
NAMED THE FAMILY WELLNESS COURT
. THIS COURT HAS TWO JUDGES, ONE
FROM EACH COURT THAT HEARS CASES
INVOLVING CHILD WELFARE,
SUBSTANCE ABUSE, JUVENILE
DELINQUENCY AND TRUANCY. BY
HEARING CASES ALONGSIDE THE
COUNTY. THE TRIBE HAS ACCESS TO
CASE INFORMATION THAT WE
OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE. WITH
THIS INFORMATION, THE TRI
PROVIDES A HOLISTIC AND
CULTURALLY BASED CASE PLAN FOR
THE COURT PARTICIPANT. THIS PLAN
HELPS IDENTIFY AND PROVIDE
SOLUTIONS FOR RISK FACTORS THAT
COULD LEAD THE COURT PARTICIPATE
INTO BECOMING A MISSING OR
MURDERED INDIGENOUS PERSON. THE
COURT JUDGES THEN HOLD THE
PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTABLE FOR
FULFILLING THE CASE PLAN.
THROUGH THIS JOINT PROCESS. OUR
PARTICIPANTS HAVE EXPERIENCED
GREATER SUCCESS THAN THOSE WHO
HAVE GONE THROUGH SOLELY THE
STATE COURT SYSTEMS DUE TO THE
SUCCESS OF THE FAMILY WELLNESS
COURT. JUST LAST YEAR, OUR TRIBE
SIGNED TO M. O U. S WITH THE
COUNTY TO EXPAND THE COURT
SERVICES TO INCLUDE A
COORDINATED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
COURT. DRIVING UNDER THE
INFLUENCE PROGRAM. I WANT TO
TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
ENCOURAGE INCREASE SUPPORT FOR
FUNDING, JOINT JURISDICTIONAL
COURTS AND INVALUABLE TOOL FOR
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE DESPERATELY IN
NEED OF HEALING AND A HOLISTIC
CULT CULTURAL APPROACH THIS
COURT PROVIDES 2022 ARE TRIBAL
POLICE DEPARTMENT ENTERED ACROSS
DEPUTY IZATION AGREEMENT
REFERRED TO AS A SPECIAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION OR SLACK.
WITH THE B I A DESIGNATING OUR
SHINGLE SPRINGS TRIBAL POLICE
OFFICERS AS DEPUTY SPECIAL
OFFICERS AND GRANTING THEM THE
AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE FEDERAL
LAWS ON TRIBAL LANDS. THIS IS AN
EXCELLENT EXERCISE OR TRIBAL
SOVEREIGNTY BY ALLOWING US AS A
TRIBE TO SHED OUR RELIANCE ON
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
ENFORCE FEDERAL LAWS ON TRIBAL
LANDS. ENHANCING THESE LAW
ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITIES AND
PLACING THEM BACK INTO THE HANDS
OF THE TRIBE. IT'S CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT TO THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND
SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS. IT IS AN
HONOR FOR THEM TO BE SWORN IN AS
FEDERAL OFFICERS AND REPRESENT
THE 21ST TRIBAL DEPARTMENT IN
THE STATE TO ENTER INTO ONE OF
THESE AGREEMENTS. IT IS OUR HOPE
THAT THIS SLACK LEADS TO
CONTINUED COLLABORATION AND ACTS
AS A PRECURSOR TO FURTHER LOCAL
CROSS DEPUTY IZATION AGREEMENTS.
ADDITIONALLY WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT TRIBES FACE UNFAIR BARRIERS
TO CRIME INFORMATION. DATA, BUT
DATABASES VIA STATE NETWORKS AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL THE TRIBAL
ACCESS PROGRAM TAP IS AN AVENUE
TO CRIMINAL INFORMATION. MY
TRIBE IS FORTUNATE TO BE AMONG
THE TRIBES SELECTED. ACCESS TO
TAP HOWEVER, THE BOY REMAINS FOR
STATE INFORMATION VIA CLEANSE
THE INFORMATION. THE CALIFORNIA
LAW ENFORCEMENT TELLING
TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM. UNDER
GOVERNMENT CODE 15150, WHICH
ESTABLISHES THE CLEANSE TRIBAL
POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT INCLUDED
AMONG THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES ELIGIBLE TO ACCESS THE
VITAL CRIMINAL INFORMATION
SYSTEM. THEREFORE, TRIBAL POLICE
AND COURTS CANNOT RECEIVE OR
SHARE CRIMINAL HISTORY,
INFORMATION OR PROTECTIVE ORDERS
WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES. AN
ABSENCE OF ACCESS. THIS VOID IN
INFORMATION LIMITS BOTH THE
TRIBES AND STATE'S ABILITY TO
PROTECT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND
FORCES US TO RELY ON STATE AND
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PROVIDE
THIS VITAL INFO. TWO TRIBES ON A
TIMELY MANNER. IN CONTEXT OF MM
I P. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CASES
WHERE A MATTER OF HOURS MAKES A
DIFFERENCE AND FOR TRIBES TO GO
WITHOUT DIRECT ACCESS TO THIS
INFORMATION IS TOO COSTLY AND WE
WILL PAY WITH LIVES LOST, WHICH
WE HAVE. IT IS A SAD REALITY
THAT NATIVE COMMUNITIES
EXPERIENCING THIS APPROPRIATE,
DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF LOSS,
INCLUDING LOSS OF LAND LOSS OF
OUR HISTORY, LOSS OF OUR
LANGUAGE AND LOSS OF OUR CULTURE
, BUT WE WON'T TOLERATE LOSING
OUR PEOPLE THIS YEAR. OUR
PRIORITY MUST BE TO WORK
TOGETHER TO ENSURE OUR TRIBAL
POLICE GAIN ACCESS TO CLIPS AS
PROPOSED BY 80 44 BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS A BEFORE
A B 44 TAKES HIS FIRST STEPS IN
CREATING PARITY BETWEEN TRIBAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER PEACE
OFFICERS IN THE STATE, THEREBY
EMPOWERING TRIBES TO HELP SECURE
THEIR OWN PUBLIC SAFETY. STEPS
LIKE THE FEATHER ALERT ARE JUST
THE FIRST AND VITAL ACCESS TO
SYSTEMS LIKE THESE THAT CAN HELP
CUT THE RESPONSE TIME OF OUR
MISSING AND MURDERED CASES. IT
IS ESSENTIAL IF WE EXPECT TO SEE
CONTINUED PROGRESS. AND
MITIGATION OF THESE CASES
PLAGUING INDIAN COUNTRY. PUB OR
THERE'S MUCH MORE TO DO. AND WE
ARE HERE TODAY. SPEAKING OF OUR
MISSING BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE
ARE DEMANDING THAT THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA SPEAK UP WITH US TO
HELP FIND THEM. THANK YOU. CHAIR
RAMOS FOR INVITING US TO BE HERE
TODAY YOU HAVE BEEN AN
OUTSTANDING LEADER IN BRINGING
THIS CRITICAL ISSUE TO THE
FOREFRONT. MM. I P IS IMPORTANT
NOT ONLY TO MY TRIBE BUT FOR
EVERY TRIBE IN CALIFORNIA AND
THROUGHOUT THE NATION. I
APPRECIATE YOU SHINING LIGHT ON
THE NEED TO REDUCE UNCERTAINTY
REGARDING CRIMINAL JURISDICTION.
AND IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY ON
TRIBAL LANDS. WE SUPPORT
INITIATIVES FOR FUNDING TO STUDY
CHALLENGES RELATED TO THE
REPORTING AND IDENTIFICATION OF
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA, ESPECIALLY
OUR YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS, JUST
BEING HERE TODAY, FACE TO FACE
WITH TRIBAL, STATE AND LOCAL
AGENCIES TOGETHER SHOW THAT
ASSEMBLY RAMOS ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
RAMOS AND PLAYERS AT ALL LEVERS
LEVELS ARE STAYING TRUE TO THEIR
PROMISE AND COMMITMENT OF
CONSULTATION AND COLLABORATIONS
WITH TRIBES. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR SHOWING.
THE RESILIENCY OF OUR PEOPLE TO
GET THROUGH. EVEN THOUGH
OBSTACLES COME OUR WAY, UM AND
BRINGING UP THE AREAS OF TRYING
TO FIND SOLUTIONS. UM. THE
TRIBES ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH
MOU SOME WITH THE COURT SYSTEM
BUT ALSO THE CROSS DEPUTIES
ATION COMPONENT, AND I BELIEVE
YOU SAID WITH THE B I A. AND SO
THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION. UM
LATER ON AS FAR AS THE FEDERAL
COMPONENT FEDERAL LAWS VERSUS
STATE LAWS BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT
THOSE UM SO OUR NEXT SPEAKER. IS
FROM THE COCOON TREACHERY OF TOO
CHANCY INDIANS. CHAIRPERSON
JANET BILL. CHAIRPERSON BILL
GRADUATED FROM STANFORD
UNIVERSITY WITH A BACHELOR'S OF
ARTS DEGREE WITH HONORS IN 2012
WITH A MASTERS OF ARTS DEGREE IN
2013. SHE RECEIVED A JURIS
DOCTORATE DEGREE FROM THE SANDRA
DAY O'CONNOR COLLEGE OF LAW. IN
2020. SPECIALIZING IN INDIAN
LAW. AND WAS HONORED WITH THE
HIGHEST DISTINCTION OF HER
AMOUNT OF PROMO BONO HOURS.
MISS. BILL IS CURRENTLY A
LICENSED ATTORNEY THROUGH THE
STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA. AND HAS
SERVED AS A VICE PRESIDENT ON
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE
CALIFORNIA INDIAN LAW
ASSOCIATION. AND AS A MEMBER OF
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE
SIERRA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SHE IS THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN
TO SERVE IN THIS DISTINGUISHED
POSITION IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS
, 100 YEAR EXISTENCE.
CHAIRWOMAN. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN
RAMOS. BEFORE I BEGIN MY REMARKS
, WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT
IF WE COULD SUBMIT WRITTEN
TESTIMONY AFTER THE HEARING,
GIVEN THE CONSTRUCTION THAT IS
GOING ON AGAIN, HILLY, HILLY I'M
CHAIRPERSON JANET QUÊ BILL OF
THE PICAYUNE RANCHERIA, THE
CHUCK CHANCY INDIANS, A
SOVEREIGN NATION LOCATED IN
MCDONOUGH COUNTY, NEAR THE SOUTH
ENTRANCE OF THE 70 NATIONAL
PARK. ON BEHALF OF MY NATION,
MITCH GUYS, THANK YOU TO
CHAIRMAN JAMES C. RAMOS AND THE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE NATIVE
AMERICAN CAUCUS FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. AND FOR ORGANIZING
THE MISSING AND MURDERED
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. MM I P.
AWARENESS WEEK AND A SPECIAL
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ARAMBULA FOR
ATTENDING THE INAUGURAL FEATHER
ALERT EVENT THAT OUR TRIBE
POSTED IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR.
AS YOU HAVE HEARD FROM MY FELLOW
TRIBAL LEADERS FOR SO MANY HERE
TODAY, THE MM. I P CRISIS IS
PERSONAL. BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING
OUR FAMILY. OUR FRIENDS, OUR
LINEAGE. THUS IT IS OUR REQUEST
THAT THIS BECOMES AN ANNUAL
EVENT TO ENSURE THE MM I P
CRISIS CONTINUES TO BE A
FOREFRONT ISSUE ACROSS THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT WE ALL HAVE THE COLLECTIVE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFEGUARDING
THE PEACE, SAFETY AND GENERAL
WELFARE OF OUR TRAVEL
COMMUNITIES, SO THAT FUTURE
GENERATIONS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
LIVE A LIFE OF PEACE AND
PROSPERITY. WE TOOK A MONUMENTAL
STEP LAST YEAR WITH THE PASSAGE
OF A B 1314 AND THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FEATHER
ALERT SYSTEM AT THE BEGINNING OF
THIS YEAR, BUT WE MUST DO MORE.
IT IS INCUMBENT UPON OUR ELECTED
LEADERS TO ELEVATE THE MM I P
CRISIS AND IMPLEMENT A TRIBE
CENTERED, COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY
TO END THIS SYSTEMIC EPIDEMIC.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE MUST HAVE A
VOICE TO COMBAT THIS. MM I P
CRISIS ESTABLISHMENT OF A RED
RIBBON PANEL UNDER A B 1574
BEGINS TO ADDRESS THIS CONCERN.
OUR NATIVE CHILDREN IN FOSTER
CARE ARE TARGETS FOR THESE
PREDATORS. 82 73 PROVIDES
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO BETTER
PROTECT ONE OF OUR MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. OUR
YOUTH. ADDITIONALLY WE MUST
CORRECT THE PUBLIC LAW 2 80
CRIMINAL JURISDICTIONAL GAPS
THAT CONTINUES TO ALLOW
PREDATORS TO PREY ON OUR
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. A B FOUR FOR
ADVANCES, THE MUCH NEEDED PARITY
BETWEEN OUR TRIBAL POLICE AND
CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE
APPLAUD THIS LEGISLATURE FOR
INTRODUCING NUMEROUS BILLS TO
STAND BEHIND YOUR COMMITMENT TO
PARTNERING WITH TRIBES TO END
THE MM, I P CRISIS. HOWEVER.
ABSENT THAT NECESSARY CAPITAL TO
FUND THESE. MM I P. PREVENTION
INITIATIVES ARE INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO GO
MISSING AND BE MURDERED. QUITE
SIMPLY, THE LACK OF FUNDING
LEAVES PREDATORS FREE, FREE TO
CONTINUE RAVAGING OUR
COMMUNITIES WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE.
YOU ALL HAVE THE ABILITY TO NOT
ONLY ADVOCATE FOR BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY, ALLOCATE THE
NECESSARY FUNDING TO ADDRESS THE
MM, I P CRISIS. AS ALWAYS, WE
STAND STRONGEST TOGETHER AND WE
ARE COMMITTED TO PARTNERING WITH
YOU TO DISMANTLE THE MM, I P
PIPELINE THAT WAS CREATED AFTER
CENTURIES OF DISENFRANCHISEMENT
AND MARGINALIZATION OF OUR
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, GUYS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY AND WORKING THROUGH,
UM, EVEN WITH THE DISTRACTIONS,
BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US
TO GET THIS, UM OUT RIGHT AND SO
WRITTEN TESTIMONY. IF YOU HAVE
IT, PLEASE SUBMIT IT SO WE CAN
GET IT INTO THE RECORD. UM NOW
WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO THE NEXT
PRESENTERS. UM THROUGH HERE WE
HAVE ONE OF VISTA RED SHARIA
MARK INDIANS CHAIRWOMAN RONDE
BARBER FLORES. ROUND VALLEY
INDIAN TRIBES PRESIDENT RANDAL
BRITAIN. AND I BELIEVE THAT'S
PANEL TOO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
MAKING YOUR WAY HERE TO TESTIFY
, UM, AND BRING AWARENESS TO
THIS ISSUE AND AGAIN THE
RESILIENCE OF OUR PEOPLE TO WORK
THROUGH DISTRACTIONS. THINGS
THAT ARE GOING ON. UM, IF YOU
CAN, PLEASE SPEAK LOUDLY INTO
THE MIC. EVEN IF IT STOPS
WORKING, STILL SPEAK LOUDLY INTO
THE MIC. BUT OUR FIRST PRESENTER
WILL BE, UM. WANNA VISTA
RANCHERIA MIWOK INDIANS
CHAIRWOMAN RHONDA POPE FLORES,
WHO IS IN HER THIRD TERM AS
CHAIR. UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, THE
TRIBE HAS ESTABLISHED MEMBER
SERVICES, SOCIAL SERVICES AND
CHILD CARE SERVICES. SHE HAS
ESTABLISHED AN ENVIRONMENTAL
DEPARTMENT. ALSO SHE FORMED THE
JESSE FLYING CLOUD QUOTE
FOUNDATION IN 2007. CURRENTLY ON
THE BOARD FOR THE AMADOR CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE CHAIRWOMAN. OH,
THAT'S SO DATED. SORRY. I DON'T
KNOW IT'S OKAY. AND I STOPPED
COUNTING TERMS. UM WANTS TO BE
THE CHAIRWOMAN, TERM CHAIRWOMAN
. LONG LONG TERM. UM RHONDA POPE
FLORES, CHAIRWOMAN FOR ONE OF
HIS DEATH. THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY. UM. UM I GUESS I
LOOK, I LOOK AT MY FATHER. UM, I
DON'T SORRY. MHM. OH, THIS IS A
CRISIS IN IT, AND IT'S BEEN
HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME. MY
FATHER JESSE FLYING CLUB POPE.
UM IS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS. HE, UM
WAS KILLED ON A RESERVATION.
1975 AND. AND WHAT I LIKE TO SAY
IS THE COUNTY THAT SURROUNDS OUR
RESERVATION. UM AMADOR COUNTY IS
NOT A VERY FRIENDLY COUNTY TO
OUR TRIBE, AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR
OUR NEIGHBORING TRIBE. BUT FOR
OUR TRIBE HAS IT IS NOT BEEN A
GREAT EXPERIENCE. MY FATHER'S
DEATH WAS JUST ROLL THE SUICIDE
AND NOTHING FURTHER WAS DONE.
AND SO I KIND OF TAKE THIS ALL
THE WAY BACK TO HIM. AND THEN I
THINK OF, UM ALL THE OTHER
ANCESTORS THAT ARE NO LONGER
WITH US HAVE HAD THOSE THAT HAVE
COME TO OUR RESERVATION AND
DANCE CENTER CEREMONIES. UM AND
THEY'RE NO LONGER WITH US. WE
ARE BEHIND THE CURVE ON THIS. OH
WHY IS IT TAKING A MOVEMENT FOR
US TO DO THIS NOW? BUT I DO.
THANK YOU, UH, ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
ALMOST FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND
EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE, BUT
WE'RE BEHIND THE CURVE ON THIS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK. TO DO.
THERE'S A LOT OF WE HAVE A LOT
OF, UM. YOU KNOW, LOCAL STATE
FEDERAL LEVEL AND NONE OF THEM
TALK TO EACH OTHER, SO NOTHING
REALLY GETS DONE. AND IT'S
FRUSTRATING. AND WE HAVE TO
CONNECT ALL OF THOSE GAPS SO
THAT YOU KNOW ALL THIS
LEGISLATION THAT WE PUT FORTH
THAT ACTUALLY WORKS BECAUSE WE
DON'T TALK TO ONE ANOTHER. WE
DON'T ONE, YOU KNOW, LEFT SIDE
DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT
TIGHTS DOING. UM EVERYONE SPOKE.
A LOT ABOUT. PUBLIC LAW 2 80. A
LOT OF LAWS HAVE BEEN, UH,
ESTABLISHED THAT AFFECT OUR
TRIBES, NOT NECESSARILY
BENEFITING OUR TRIBES. BUT
HAVING AN IMPACT ON US AND I GO
I LOOK AT ALL IS INTERTWINED AND
CONNECTED AND ALL HAS AN EFFECT
ON US, UM, EVEN DOWN TO OUR
FOSTER CARE AND THE LAWS THAT
ARE WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH
ON NOW JUST TO KEEP OUR
SOVEREIGNTY TO PROTECT OUR
SOVEREIGNTY. WHERE WE'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE
OF OUR PEOPLE AND YET LAWS AND
POLICIES AND THINGS ARE
ESTABLISHED THAT ACTUALLY
PREVENT US FROM DOING THAT. OH
WE ARE TRIBE WORKS WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT. WE DON'T WE DON'T
HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH
LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE'RE IN THE
INFANCY STAGES OF ESTABLISHING
OUR TRIBAL COURTS. I'VE HEARD
ALL THE STRUGGLES AND, UH, THAT
HAVE BEEN GOING ON AND THE
INFORMATION THAT DOESN'T GET
SHARED AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE
BECAUSE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE
ABLE TO DO THAT. WE'RE SUPPOSED
TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR
PEOPLE. AND I JUST I'M I WON'T
GO TOO LONG. I JUST WANT TO. I
WANNA I WANT TO SAY HER NAME.
BECAUSE YOU JUST KHADIJA,
BRITAIN. ANDREA CHECK. WHITE.
RACHEL SLOAN. EMILY RISLEY.
NICOLE SMITH. I WANT TO STOP
RIGHT THERE FOR NICOLE SMITH
BECAUSE SHE DANCED AT OUR
CEREMONY. JUST NOT TOO LONG, AND
THEN WE HEAR ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
AND IT'S SAD. IT'S UNFORTUNATE
AND WE GET LEFT AND FORGOTTEN.
OR THE CASES GET CLOSED BECAUSE
LACK OF EVIDENCE IT'S LAZY. AND
IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE INDIAN
PEOPLE. AND I GO BACK TO MY DAD
BECAUSE HE WAS A DRUNK INDIAN.
THAT'S THAT'S HOW HE WAS LABELED
. SO IT'S NOT WORTH LOOKING
INTO. BUT ALL THESE SOULS THAT
WE'VE LOST WE CAN'T WE CAN'T
LEAVE THIS UNDONE. WE HAVE TO
WORK AND WE HAVE TO PUSH TO
BRING JUSTICE TO ALL OF THESE.
INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'VE LOST.
IT'S NOT RIGHT. AND THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING. AND I JUST ASK,
UM. THAT WE MOVE FORWARD AND
THAT THIS IS SUCCESSFUL AND
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
CHAIRWOMAN FOR YOUR TESTIMONY
AND BRINGING IT FULL CIRCLE THAT
YOU KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT. MM I W
M I P AND BRINGING IT HOME. THIS
IS THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES
ARE SUFFERING. AH NEXT WE'RE
GONNA HAVE FROM THE HARBOR MOTEL
PROMO OF UPPER LAKE CHAIRPERSON
SHERRY TRIPPER. HAS BEEN A LONG
TIME CHAIRPERSON OF HER TRIBE
AND HAS CONTINUED TO WORK IN
CALIFORNIA, INDIAN LEGAL
SERVICES AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AND ON MANY ISSUES, UM AFFECTING
CALIFORNIA'S FIRST PEOPLE.
CHAIRWOMAN TRIPLE. GOOD MORNING
. THANK YOU FOR ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
RAMOS AND THANK YOU TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR THE INVITATION TO
SPEAK ON THE PANEL TODAY. LIKE
MANY OTHERS IN THE ROOM, THE
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE. CRISIS HITS CLOSE TO
HOME FOR OUR TRIBE. IT IS A
DEVASTATING REALITY IN OUR STATE
, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO THE
COMMITTEE AND THE CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATURE FOR ADDRESSING THIS
ISSUE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU ON COMBATING
THE CRISIS. MY NAME IS SHERRY
TREVA. I AM THE CHAIRWOMAN OF
OBAMA. TOPA MOVE UPPER LAKE
TRIBE. I'VE BEEN THE CHAIRWOMAN
SINCE 2008. OUR TRIBE IS LOCATED
IN LAKE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. IT'S
ABOUT TWO HOURS NORTHWEST OF
HERE. VERY BEAUTIFUL, YET REMOTE
AREA. UNFORTUNATELY THE COUNTY
IS KNOWN FOR BEING THE POOREST
COUNTY IN CALIFORNIA. UM. THEY
HAVE, UM ATO HAVE OCCUPIED THE
REGION SINCE TIME AND MEMORIAL
TODAY. ALTHOUGH OUR RESERVATION
BOUNDARIES WERE 565 ACRES AT ONE
POINT AS A RESULT OF TERMINATION
, OUR TRIBE HAS TODAY JUST A
LITTLE OVER 20 ACRES. UM
UNFORTUNATELY AND NOTABLY, OUR
HISTORY HAS NOT BEEN, UM VERY
POSITIVE. WE WERE MANY OF OUR
WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE
MASSACRED DURING THE BLOODY
ISLAND MASSACRE, WHICH NOTABLY
THE MARKERS LESS THAN A MILE
AWAY FROM OUR CURRENT LAND BASED
UM. DESPITE ADVERSITY, THE
TRIBES SUCCESSFULLY REORGANIZED
IN 1998 AND FORMALLY APPROVED
ITS NEW CONSTITUTION IN 2004,
AND IN YEARS SINCE OUR NEW
GOVERNMENT HAS WORKED TO RESTORE
THE TRIBES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PORTFOLIO WHILE PRESERVING OUR
CULTURE AND HISTORY, AND WE
CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO PURSUE
SELF DETERMINATION AND SELF
SUFFICIENCY. AS OTHERS HAVE
STATED TODAY. NATIVE AMERICANS,
ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND GIRLS, ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY AT RISK OF
VIOLENCE, MURDER AND GOING
MISSING AT MUCH HIGHER RATES
THAN PEOPLE OF OTHER GROUPS. NOT
ONLY IS THE MURDER RATE 10 TIMES
HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE
FOR WOMEN LIVING ON RESERVATIONS
, BUT ACCORDING TO THE URBAN
INDIAN HEALTH INSTITUTE, MURDER
IS THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF
DEATH. FOR NATIVE WOMEN. REASONS
RANGE FROM LESS THAN ADEQUATE
ASSISTANCE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT
DUE TO STEREOTYPES WHEN
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE GO MISSING
REPORTING ISSUES DUE TO
JURISDICTIONAL COMPLICATIONS,
LACK OF RESOURCES AND TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES AND HISTORICAL
TRAUMA CYCLES THAT RESULT IN
DRUG USE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
HOMELESSNESS AND HUMAN
TRAFFICKING IN TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES. UNFORTUNATELY OBAMA
TOLL HIGGS HAS EXPERIENCED THE
IMPACTS OF MM I P CRISIS IN OUR
OWN COMMUNITY. IN JUNE OF 2000.
17 A 34 35 YEAR OLD TRIBAL
MEMBER MOTHER WAS TRAGICALLY
MURDERED IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
INCIDENTS, LEAVING BEHIND SIX
CHILDREN. HER DEATH AND THE
MANNER IN WHICH SHE DIED.
SHATTERED OUR COMMUNITY AND THE
DEVASTATION WAS FELT NOT JUST
THROUGHOUT OUR SMALL TRIBE BUT
THE WHOLE NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY
. THIS MOM WAS BEATEN TO DEATH
IN FRONT OF HER YOUNG CHILDREN,
THE YOUNGEST BEING 11 MONTHS OLD
. WHAT IS WORSE, THE TRIAL TOOK
FOUR YEARS TO GET SCHEDULED,
LEAVING THE FAMILY OF THE VICTIM
WITH NO CLOSURE FOR FAR TOO
LONG. SADLY HER MOTHER, WHO WAS
CARING FOR THE THREE YOUNGER
CHILDREN PASSED AWAY BEFORE THE
TRIBE TRIAL STARTED AS PART OF
AN EFFORT TO SHED LIGHT ON THE
ISSUE OF MY P THAT OBAMA TOLD
DONATED OVER $20,000 TO HOPE
THROUGH ART FOUNDATION IN 2021 H
. T. R IS A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION, WHICH HELPS
COMMUNITIES HEAL THROUGH ART.
AND BRING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND
EDUCATION TO SOCIAL ISSUES LIKE
HUMAN TRAFFICKING, HOMELESSNESS
AND OTHERS. THE DONATIONS FROM
THE TRIBE WERE USED FOR THE
PROJECT, WHICH PROVIDED MURAL
TRIBUTE TO OUR MEMBER IN A IN
OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS
A MURAL IN CHICO, CALIFORNIA AND
A TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR 12 YOUTH
ARTISTS, INTERNS. IN AN ONGOING
EFFORT TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS,
AMONG OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY,
OBAMA TOE HAS PARTNERED WITH
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
TO DEVELOP AND HOST REGULAR
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
COMMUNITY LEADERS, ENFORCEMENT
AND THE PUBLIC ON ISSUES SUCH AS
PL 2 80 I, P VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN, INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT
AND MANY OTHERS. THESE TRAININGS
HAVE RESULTED IN BETTER
COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION AND
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY AND THE TRIBE.
SOMETHING OBAMA TOLL IS
DEDICATED TO PURSUING THROUGH
ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. WE
INVITE ANYONE ON THE COMMITTEE
TO ATTEND ONE OF OUR TRAININGS
IN THE NEAR FUTURE IF YOU'RE
INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING THE
MM. I P CRISIS IS JUST ONE OF
MANY ISSUES TRIBES FACE IN THIS
COUNTRY THAT STEM FROM THE
HISTORICAL TRAUMA OF OUR PEOPLE
AS THE IMPACTS ARE GENERATIONAL.
OUR TRIBE IS WORKING TOWARD
ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES
INTERNALLY THROUGH YOUTH
PROGRAMS, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
AND EDUCATION, BUT WE MUST
ADDRESS THEM ON A LARGER SCALE.
THE LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN
PROPOSED A B 15 74 A B 2 73 WILL
BE INSTRUMENTAL IN ADDRESSING
SOME OF THE MATTERS. I WOULD BE
REMISS IN NOT MAKING COMMENTS ON
THE PL 2 80. WE EXPERIENCED AN
ISSUE, UH, THAT RESULTED IN THE
DEATH OF A FAMILY MEMBER AS A
RESULT OF THE UN EDUCATION OF
LAW ENFORCEMENT AROUND PL 2 80.
THAT IS WHY WE SPONSOR SO MANY
TRAININGS. UNFORTUNATELY THERE
IS AN ISSUE THAT RESULTED IN A
STAGING, UM, EFFORT WHEN
EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE CALLED
FOR OUR FAMILY MEMBER ON THE, UM
WITHIN THE RESERVATION
BOUNDARIES. UNFORTUNATELY AS A
RESULT OF STAGING THAT IS THAT
THE EMERGENCY SERVICES VEHICLES
WOULD NOT GO INTO WHAT THEY
CONSIDERED RESERVATION. AREA BUT
IT IS NOT IN TRUST IT IS WITHIN
OUR RESERVATION BOUNDARIES, BUT
NONE OF THE LAND IS IN TRUST AT
THIS POINT FOR THE TRIBE. BUT AS
A RESULT OF STAGING, UM THE
EMERGENCY SERVICES WOULD NOT GO
INTO THE AREA. UM WITHOUT, UH,
SHERIFF'S BACKUP, AND
UNFORTUNATELY, THE WOMAN THAT
WAS HAVING A CARDIAC ARREST
PASSED AWAY. AS A RESULT, IT'S
UM I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
TAKING ON PL 2 80 AGAIN. I DO
THINK MANDATORY TRAINING. OR LAW
ENFORCEMENT, WHERE TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES ARE IN THEIR AREAS
IS REALLY PIVOTAL. I APPRECIATE
YOU TAKING THE TIME TO ADDRESS
THE STAY AND LET ME TALK ON THE
PANEL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR THAT AND GROWING UP ON
THE INDIAN RESERVATION. WE'RE
VERY FAMILIAR WITH STAGING
BEFORE LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD
COME ON TO THE RESERVATION
ITSELF. AND SLOWING DOWN THE
RESPONSE TIME THAT'S THERE. AND
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING, UM, TO
THE AWARENESS THE NEED FOR THE
TRAINING FOR PUBLIC LAW TO 80 IN
OUR COMMUNITIES AND FINDING A
WAY TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON
TRULY THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS.
AND WHAT PUBLIC LAW 2 80 TRULY
MEANS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER. IS FROM THE
ROUND VALLEY. INDIAN TRIBES
PRESIDENT RANDAL BRITAIN. UNDER
HIS LEADERSHIP, ROUND VALLEY,
INDIAN TRIBES DECLARED. THEIR
FIRST. MM I P RELATED STATE OF
EMERGENCY ON APRIL 16TH. THIS
YEAR. AND IT WAS JUST A COUPLE
WEEKS AGO. THE ROUND VALLEY. HAS
SUCCUMBED TO FATALITIES ON THE
RESERVATION WITHIN A THREE WEEK
PERIOD. UM FATALITIES OF TWO
INDIVIDUALS THAT PROMPTED THE
TRIBES TO DECLARE A STATE OF
EMERGENCY AND THE STATE OF
EMERGENCY IS NOT JUST FOR THE
TWO TRIBES. THIS IS A STATE OF
EMERGENCY FOR ALL CALIFORNIA
INDIAN PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. PRESIDENT. YES THANK
YOU, ASSEMBLYMAN, ALMOST MEMBERS
OF, UH, SLICK COMMITTEE FOR
INVITING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. MY
NAME IS RANDALL, BRITAIN
ENROLLED MEMBER OF ROUND VALLEY
INDIAN TRIBES OF WHY LACKEY
NORMAL LACKEY DESCENT. I AM ALSO
THE CURRENT ROUND VALLEY. INDIAN
TRIBES TRAVEL PRESIDENT. SINCE
DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY
TWO WEEKS AGO. DECLARING A STATE
OF EMERGENCY ITSELF DOESN'T
CHANGE THE MENTALITY THAT THOSE
WILLING TO COMMIT THE CRIMES. IT
DOESN'T CHANGE THE MENTALITY OF
THOSE JURISDICTIONAL AUTHORITIES
TRYING TO DECIDE WHO THE
CHALLENGE AND FUNDING BURDEN
BELONGS. WHEN ALL IS SAID AND
DONE. THAT CRIMINAL GETS TO
PROCEED ON WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT
AND IN SOME CASES IN INDIAN
COUNTRY. GO ON, KNOWING THEY MAY
NEVER BE CAUGHT. FOR THE VICTIMS
FAMILIES THEY GET TO LIVE WITH
THE AGONY OF NO CLOSURE, NO
RESOLVE AND NO JUSTICE. THE
REASONS THE CRIMES PERSIST THE
WAY THEY DO BECAUSE OF THE MANY
CHALLENGES ARE TRIBES FACE IN
THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE PL 2
80. FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO THANK
TAKE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS FOR
REACHING OUT AND ALWAYS BEING ON
OUR SIDE AS A TRIBE FOR HIS WORK
ON THESE ISSUES, SUCH AS A B 44.
A B 13 14. LAST SEPTEMBER, OR
TRIBE AND VALLEY COMMUNITY
ACKNOWLEDGED ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
ARE ALMOST AS WORK FOR ALL THE
TRIBES IN CALIFORNIA. PRESENTS.
HE'S BEEN IN OFFICE. WE
ACKNOWLEDGED HIM AS OUR GRAND
MARSHAL IN OUR INDIAN DAYS
FESTIVAL ROUND VALLEY LAST FALL.
IT WAS A TIME OF CELEBRATION AND
WINDS. SO THANK YOU. BUT NOW WE
ARE ON FORTUNATE, EXEMPLARY
DISPOSITION IN OUR CURRENT STATE
, OUR VALLEY COMMUNITY AND TRIBE
ALREADY HAS HAD ITS HOST OF
CHALLENGES IN THE SHORT YEAR.
OUR VALLEY RIDDLED WITH HATE AND
MURDER. AND WHY? WHAT BENEFITS A
PERSON TO TAKE ANOTHER'S LIFE,
ESPECIALLY THAT OF AN INNOCENT
YOUNG WOMAN WITH HER WHOLE LIFE
IN FRONT OF HER? THIS WAS A
FAMILY MEMBER OF MINE. MY FAMILY
IS STILL DEALING WITH THE LOSS
OF KHADIJA ROSE BRETTON, WHO HAS
BEEN MISSING SINCE 2018 AND THIS
IS JUST IN MY FAMILY, NOT TO
MENTION THE FAMILY THAT LOST A
YOUNG MAN A MONTH AGO AND
ANOTHER ABOUT A YEAR AGO, BOTH
TO HOMICIDE. ALL OF THE
INDIVIDUAL. I ALL THE
INDIVIDUALS I JUST MENTIONED ALL
UNDER THE AGE OF 30. I HAVE TO
ASK WHAT IS THE POINT OUR
EFFORTS AS TRIBAL GOVERNMENTAL
LEADERS IF WE ARE NOT BEING MET
AT LEAST HALFWAY ALL OF US TODAY
HAVE TO COME TO THE DOOR STEP OF
YOUR HOUSE, WHICH IS ALSO OUR
HOUSE. BUT THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN
FORGOTTEN, IGNORED AND SILENCE
ON MOST ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO
OUR NEEDS. SOMETIMES IT FEELS
THIS ISN'T OUR HOUSE AS EVERY
OTHER CITIZEN OF THE STATE. EVEN
THOUGH WE ARE A SOVEREIGN, WE
ARE STILL CITIZENS OF THIS
STATE. SOMETIMES OUR SOVEREIGNTY
IS USED AS A WEAPON AGAINST US,
THEN AS A TOOL FOR CULTURE AND
PRESERVATION, AND ESPECIALLY
WHEN WE ARE UNDER RESOURCED,
HURTING FROM OUR PEOPLE DYING
BECAUSE OF JURISDICTIONAL
CHALLENGE AND UNDERFUNDED.
EXPECTATIONS. YOUR DECLARED A
STATE OF EMERGENCY. ROUND VALLEY
HAS DECLARED A STATE OF
EMERGENCY. HOW MANY MORE TRIBES
HAVE TO ENDURE OUR FATE? I HOPE
. OUR PLEASE OR MEANINGFUL IF WE
AS TRIBAL NATIONS UNDER UNITY
NEED TO DECLARE A STATEWIDE
INDIAN STATE OF EMERGENCY, THEN
THAT'S WHAT I WILL PUSH FORWARD.
I SPOKE TO IT BEING IN
SOLIDARITY DURING THE PRESS
CONFERENCE AND I WILL FIGHT. FOR
THAT UNTIL OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE
MISSING AND MURDERED OR BROUGHT
HOME. I URGE YOU TRIBES.
PRESENCE TODAY. PRESIDENT TODAY
AND ALL THOSE REPRESENTED TODAY
TO CONSIDER A UNIFIED
DECLARATION BECAUSE WE ARE ONE
11 HURTS. WE ALL HURT GIANT.
SORRY. EXCUSE ME. UNIFIED
DECLARATION COULD POSSIBLY WAKE
. THE SLEEPING GIANT OF WHAT OUR
SOVEREIGNTY REALLY IS CAPABLE OF
OUR UNITY AND NOT DIVISION OR
LOVE AND PEACE, NOT HATE AND
ANGER. NOTHING GREAT EVER CAME
FROM THE BELLY OF ANGER AND HATE
THE ANGER AND HATE. I SPEAK OF
CONTINUES TO KILL MY PEOPLE.
THIS MUST STOP. IT MUST STAND.
MADE THE EFFORTS OF THE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS AND THOSE
LEGISLATORS PRESENT TODAY WITH
US AND FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.
MAYOR EFFORTS WITH OURS. CREATE
THE CHANGE WE SEEK TODAY AND
FURTHERMORE FOR ALL OF INDIAN
COUNTRY, THANK YOU AGAIN
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ALMOST AND
MEMBERS OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THIS
CONCLUDES PANEL TO I BELIEVE I
GOT EVERYBODY RIGHT? AND ANY
QUESTIONS FROM THE DIOCESE. JUST
WANT TO REITERATE SOME OF THE
DIFFERENT TOPICS THAT WERE
TALKED ABOUT. AS FAR AS TRYING
TO FIND, UM WAYS TO ENGAGE THE
COMMUNITY WITH M O U. S AND
TRAINING ON PUBLIC LAW 2 80
EQUAL AREAS THAT ARE THERE. BUT
ALSO, UM FORMING THOSE ALLIANCES
THAT ARE THERE AND THERE WAS, UM
SPEAKING OF THE RED RIBBON PANEL
, WHICH WE DO WANT TO MOVE
FORWARD ON THAT AND HAVE SOME
HEARINGS ON IT SO THAT WE COULD
GET BETTER EQUIPPED TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TRULY IS THAT
WE WANT TO SEE. WE COULD DO A
RED RIBBON PANEL, BUT WE HAVE TO
HAVE THE FUNDING AND THE
COMMITMENT RIGHT FROM THE
LEGISLATURE. SO WE WANT TO DO
HOW A HEARING ON THAT MOVING
FORWARD IN ANTICIPATION OF
JANUARY AND FINE TUNING PIECE OF
LEGISLATION. THAT'S THERE. WE
ALSO, UM I WANT TO AGAIN
APOLOGIZE FOR THE UM,
DISTRACTIONS DURING THE
TESTIMONY, BUT IT'S SO
IMPORTANT. TO HAVE OUR OWN
PEOPLE'S VOICES AT THESE AT
THESE HEARINGS TO HEAR DIRECTLY
FROM US ON THESE ISSUES AND TO
THE PRESIDENT OR THE DEEPEST
CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY AND YOUR TRIBE FOR WHAT
YOU'RE STILL GOING THROUGH AND
ALL OF OUR PEOPLE. UM, FOR THAT?
SO OUR NEXT PANEL WE WILL MOVE
TO PANEL THREE. THE SPEAKERS ON
PANEL THREE WILL BE MARY LOPEZ,
KEEPER FROM DIRECTOR OF OFFICE
OF NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS OF
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. WE ALSO
HAVE CATALINA CHIKANE,
COMMISSIONER ON THE CALIFORNIA
COMMISSION OF THE STATUS OF
WOMEN AND GIRLS. SAMANTHA
THORNBERRY, PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF
THE KOREA CONSORTIUM. APRIL
MCGILL DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIP AND PROJECTS, AND
MORNINGSTAR GOLLY, VICE
PRESIDENT, VICE CHAIRPERSON OF
THE PIT RIVER TRIBE, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF INDIGENOUS JUSTICE.
I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH SEATS.
I WANT TO THANK ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
SORIA. FOR, UM. FOR JOINING US
TODAY.
BECAUSE HE WANTS TO KNOW.
MORNINGSTAR NEEDS TO GO FIRST,
SHE HAS TO GO TO SOUTH DISCO.
THANK YOU. OUR FIRST PRESENTER
WILL BE MORNINGSTAR GOLLY, VICE
CHAIRPERSON OF PITT RIVER TRIBE
, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
INDIGENOUS JUSTICE, A MEMBER OF
THE BAN OF PIT RIVER TRIBE. SHE
IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO
ADVOCATING FOR INDIGENOUS
SOVEREIGNTY. UM PLEASE PROCEED.
SOLEIL. THANK YOU TO ASSEMBLYMAN
RAMOS. JIMMY SUNWAY .COM
GREETINGS, RELATIVES. I WANT TO
THANK I WANT TO OPEN BY THANKING
THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND CECIL
I EAT ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS FOR
EFFORTS IN LEADING THE
SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF A B 2022
REMOVING THE S WORD FROM OVER 95
PLACE NAMES IN CALIFORNIA
THROUGH THE PASSAGE OF HB 2022.
WE ARE WITNESSING AND
EXPERIENCING HEALING AND ACTION
AND THE WRITING OF TRUTH IN
HISTORY. WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF A
B 273, THE TRIBALLY LEAD YOUTH
AND FOSTER CARE BILL AS A FIRST
STEP IN FILLING THE GAPS OF
VULNERABLE NATIVE YOUTH. WE SAY
THAT 100% OF NATIVE YOUTH ARE
CONSIDERED SYSTEM IMPACTED DUE
TO THE DOUBLE WAVES OF GENOCIDE
THAT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY
CALIFORNIA INDIAN PEOPLES. I
WANT TO SHARE SOME OF THE
NATIONAL AND STATEWIDE
STATISTICS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST
NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLES.
ALARMING STATISTICS ABOUT THE
RATES IN WHICH NATIVE WOMEN
GIRLS AND TWO SPIRIT PEOPLE'S GO
MISSING OR MURDERED IN THE
UNITED STATES. FOUR OUT OF FIVE
NATIVE WOMEN HAVE EXPERIENCED
SOME FORM OF VIOLENCE IN THEIR
LIFETIME. THAT'S 84.3% OF NATIVE
WOMEN, MORE THAN HALF WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
NATIVE WOMEN FACE MURDER RATES
MORE THAN 10 TIMES THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE EVEN THOUGH NATIVE WOMEN
ARE 1.1% OF THE TOTAL U. S
POPULATION AND 2.2% OF THE US
POPULATION OF WOMEN. HOMICIDE
BEING THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF
DEATH AMONG NATIVE GIRLS AND
WOMEN AGED 10 TO 24, THE FIFTH
LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR
NATIVE WOMEN AGED 25 TO 34. IN
2016. THERE WERE 5702 REPORTS OF
MISSING NATIVE WOMEN AND GIRLS
THROUGH THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE'S FEDERAL MISSING
PERSONS DATABASE. THIS NUMBER IS
LIKELY MUCH HIGHER AS THERE IS
NO RELIABLE COUNT ON HOW MANY
NATIVE WOMEN GIRLS AND TWO
SPIRIT PEOPLE GO MISSING OR
MURDERED ANNUALLY. I WANT TO
THANK DIRECTOR LOPEZ KIEFER AND
THE OFFICE OF NATIVE AMERICAN
AFFAIRS, FURTHER EFFORTS AND
GATHERING DATA AND REPORTING AND
MEETING DIRECTLY WITH OUR
FAMILIES OF THOSE MISSING AND
MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLES. THE
DISAPPEARANCE AND TRAFFICKING OF
INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS
STARTED IN CALIFORNIA WITH THE
GOLD RUSH IN ENSLAVEMENT. THE
INCARCERATION OF CALIFORNIA
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND MISSION
IZATION. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES THAT
HAVE DISAPPEARED AND BEEN
MURDERED. AND WE ARE COMMITTED
TO UPLIFTING JUSTICE ON STOLEN
LANDS. NOT ONLY DID THEY COMMIT
THE THEFT OF INDIGENOUS LANDS IN
EXCHANGE FOR NATIVE WOMEN'S
BODIES, BUT THEY ERASED OUR
TRIBAL PLACE NAMES AND CREATED
NAMES WITH THE SLUR AND
EXPLETIVE AS A WAY TO FURTHER
BECAUSE OF VIOLENCE, ERASER AND
INVISIBILITY. THIS FURTHER THE
GOAL OF UPHOLDING WHITE
SUPREMACY AND COLONIZATION IN A
WAY THAT IS DEMEANING AND
DEROGATORY TO INDIGENOUS WOMEN
AND GIRLS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
INCLUDE ENVIRONMENTAL, RACISM
AND STATE VIOLENCE. TODAY AS WE
HONOR YOU ARE MISSING AND
MURDERED INDIGENOUS RELATIVES. I
WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
RECOGNIZE THE INTERSECTIONS THAT
LEAD TO. MM I W. THIS INCLUDES
SUICIDE IDEATION CODEPENDENCY,
VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING LATERAL
OPPRESSION. THIS ENROLLED NATIVE
PEOPLES, ALCOHOL AND DRUG
ADDICTION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
SEXUAL ASSAULT. RAPE COMPLEX
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES COMPLEX
TRAUMA. AND SHELTERED PEOPLE'S
RACISM FAMILIES WHO ARE PLACED
IN HARM BY THE PERSONAL EGOS AND
AGENDAS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
NOT BEING QUOTE UNQUOTE INDIAN
ENOUGH WITH THE LACK OF FAMILY
SUPPORT, JUDGMENT OF FAMILY ON
VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF CRIME
SYSTEM INVOLVED YOUTH BLIND
REMOVALS AND THE CHILDREN
AFFECTED BY ALL OF THE ABOVE.
YOUTH AND FOSTER CARE ARE THE
MOST VULNERABLE TO THIS VIOLENCE
AND ABUSE. THEY ARE INVISIBLE,
THEIR IDENTITIES KEPT
CONFIDENTIAL BY THE GOVERNMENT.
THEY SUFFER FROM MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES DRUG ADDICTION AND ARE
HUNTED BY BUYERS AND
TRAFFICKERS. THEY'RE SUFFERING,
AND THEY NEED HEALTHY PARENTS,
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. BY
ASSESSING THE NEEDS AND
ADVOCATING ALONGSIDE AND ON
BEHALF OF SYSTEM INVOLVED
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES THROUGHOUT
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. INDIGENOUS
JUSTICE SEEKS TO ELEVATE NEEDED
SUPPORT IN CREATING PATHWAYS OF
HEALING AND EMPOWERMENT FOR
SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE BACK INTO
OUR TRIBAL AND INTER TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES. FOR THE PAST 160
YEARS, CALIFORNIA NATIVE PEOPLES
WITHIN TRIBAL AND INTER TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES ARE LIVING
RESILIENT. AND THRIVING WHILE
CONTINUING TO BREAK LEGACIES OF
INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA THROUGH
TRADITIONAL PATHWAYS TO HEALING.
WE AS TRIBAL MEMBERS ARE
COMMITTED TO SUPPORT THIS
HEALING THROUGH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING ADVOCACY CENTERING OF
CULTURAL PRACTICES THROUGH
MOVEMENT BUILDING AND ACTION AS
WE ORGANIZE THROUGHOUT OUR
TRIBAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES, WE
ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR RESPONDING
TO THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THOSE
COMMUNITIES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO
WORKING FOR STRUCTURAL CHANGE
AND TRANSFORMATION. OF THE
DOMINANT NARRATIVES IN WHICH OUR
STORIES ARE TOLD NARRATIVES THAT
BLAME AND FURTHER MARGINALIZED
SYSTEM IMPACTED INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES. WITHIN REAL AND TRIBE
WITHIN RURAL, TRIBAL AND INNER
CITY COMMUNITIES. THERE IS A
DIRE NEED ACROSS THE STATE TO
INVEST IN GIRLS AND GENDER. NINE
NON BINARY NONCONFORMING
PEOPLE'S POTENTIAL, ADVANCE
THEIR RIGHTS AND ADDRESS THE
EPIDEMIC OF MISSING AND MURDERED
INDIGENOUS WOMEN. GIRLS MEN BOYS
TRANSCEND TO SPIRIT RELATIVES.
MM I P IS THE LEGACY OF RESOURCE
EXTRACTION IN THE FORM OF GOLD
MINING AND MINING AND PLUNDERING
VALUES OF EXCESS AND GREED AND
THE GENOCIDE OF CALIFORNIA
INDIAN PEOPLES THAT STILL VERY
MUCH EXIST TODAY. CALIFORNIA
INDIAN GIRLS AND WOMEN ARE GOING
MISSING AND BEING MURDERED AT
EXPONENTIALLY INCREASING RATES.
OVER HALF OF THESE CASES
DOCUMENTED IN CALIFORNIA HAVE
OCCURRED WITHIN THE LAST FIVE
YEARS. HERE ARE SOME OF THE COM
STOLEN RELATIVES ON STOLEN LAND.
THAT WE ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF
AND THEIR FAMILIES FIGHTING
JUSTICE FOR THEIR LOVED ONE.
NICK PATTERSON RIVER TRIBAL
MEMBER 26 YEARS OLD LAST SEEN
JANUARY 4TH 2020. JUST LAST
WEEK. AT THE MISSING IN
CALIFORNIA INDIAN COUNTRY EVENT
HOSTED BY THE OFFICE OF NATIVE
AMERICAN AFFAIRS, SHASTA AND
MODOC COUNTIES AGREED TO WORK
COLLABORATIVELY FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN THREE YEARS. DO WE
MCGARVEY TO? RIVER TRIBAL MEMBER
WHO WENT MISSING IN 2013.
MILTON, YOGI MÀ GARBA PIT RIVER
TRIBAL MEMBER AND MY RELATIVE
JESSICA ALBA 35 BLACK FEEDING
YOCKEY. WITH FAMILY TIES TO PIT
RIVER WAS MURDERED IN SAN
FRANCISCO. HER DEATH IS STILL
RULED AS A HOMICIDE. NICOLE
SMITH. MANCHESTER POINT ARENA
TRIBAL MEMBER MURDERED NOVEMBER
19TH 2017. WE WERE HONORED TO
HAVE HER FAMILY PRESENT AT OUR
MM, I P WALK THIS PAST WEEKEND.
MELODY ST CLAIR TURNER 36 LAST
SEEN IN REDDING, CALIFORNIA
MISSING SINCE OCTOBER, 2012.
AMBER HOPE MCDONALD 15. MURDERED
IN AUBURN, CALIFORNIA IN 1984.
PITT RIVER TRIBAL MEMBER HEATHER
CAMERON 28 MISSING SINCE 2012 IN
REDDING, CALIFORNIA. COULD USE
YOUR BRITAIN 23 ABDUCTED
FEBRUARY 7TH 2018. A MEMBER OF
THE ROUND BELLY INDIAN TRIBE.
RUBY SKYE MONTEL AGO 15.
MURDERED. ON THE ROUND BELLY
INDIAN RESERVATION. NICK WHIPPLE
20. MURDERED ON THE ROUND VALLEY
INDIAN RESERVATION. ANGELA
MCCONNELL HOOPER. TRIBAL MEMBER
, 26 MURDERED IN SHASTA LAKE IN
2018. I WANT TO SHARE THAT WE DO
HAVE PERMISSION TO SHARE THIS
INFORMATION ON BEHALF OF THOSE
FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED
. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE
NAMES THAT WE ARE HERE TO UPLIFT
TODAY, SOME OF THE NAMES THAT WE
FIGHT DAILY FOR JUSTICE AND
HEALING OF OUR FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES. WE ARE HERE TO PAY
THAT LOVE AND RESPECT. TO THOSE
THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO LIVE THEIR
LIVES AND SHOW UP IN THEIR TRUE
AND SACRED SELF DUE TO THE
THREAT. VIOLENCE AND BEING
KILLED. WE KNOW THAT THE
INTENTION BEHIND STATE AND
COLONIAL VIOLENCE IS UPHELD BY
WHITE SUPREMACY AND TARGETED AT
OUR RELATIVES. WE KNOW THAT
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ARE MOST
IMPACTED, ARE NOT RECOGNIZED AND
ACKNOWLEDGED ON THEIR OWN LANDS
DUE TO COLONIAL VIOLENCE AND
BORDER WALLS IMPOSED ON
SOVEREIGN LANDS AND TERRITORIES.
WE DENOUNCE THESE COLONIAL
FRAMEWORKS THAT INTENTIONALLY
KEEP US DIVIDED AND TELL US THAT
WE ARE DIFFERENT FROM ONE
ANOTHER. THE DISAPPEARANCE ON
TRAFFICKING OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN
AND GIRLS. AND STARTING HERE IN
CALIFORNIA, WITH THE GOLD RUSH
IN ENSLAVEMENT AND INCARCERATION
OF THOSE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES THAT
ALSO BEGAN WITH MISSION IZATION
OVER 250 YEARS AGO. WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THE MULTITUDES OF
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES NOT
RECOGNIZED THE COLONIAL
VIOLENCE. AND NOT ONLY DID THEY
COMMIT THE THEFT OF INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES ON INDIGENOUS LANDS. AND
IN EXCHANGE FOR NAVAL WOMEN'S
BODIES. THEY ERASE THOSE TRIBAL
PLACE NAMES AND CREATED NAMES
WITH SLURS AND EXPLETIVES AS A
WAY TO FURTHER CAUSE VIOLENCE.
ERASER AND INVISIBILITY. I AM
HAPPY TO SHARE AGAIN. THE
SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF A B 2022.
AUTHORED BY ASSEMBLYMAN RAMOS
AND WERE SIGNED SEPTEMBER 23.
2022 INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR NEWSOM
. A B 2022 THE FEATHER ALERT.
MAYBE 13 14 ARE THE FIRST OF
MANY STEPS FORWARD. AS
INDIGENOUS JUSTICE ADVOCATES WE
DENOUNCE RESTRICT RESOURCE
EXTRACTION IN ALL FORMS,
ESPECIALLY THE EXTRACTION OF OUR
CALIFORNIA, INDIAN GIRLS, WOMEN
TO SPIRIT, RELATIVES AND
PEOPLE'S. WE UPLIFT THE
PROTECTION OF INDIGENOUS BODIES
ON STOLEN LAND. WE ARE COMMITTED
TO OUR HEALING AND
TRANSFORMATION FULLY AND
UNILATERALLY. IN ORDER TO HEAL.
WE MUST ADDRESS THE PAINFUL AND
HEARTBREAKING TRUTH OF WHAT OUR
PEOPLES CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE
TODAY TO LOCALLY THROUGH .COM
ALL MY RELATIONS THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR THAT TESTIMONY AND
TAKING IT BACK. TO THE MENTALITY
. THE MENTALITY OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA TOWARDS INDIAN PEOPLE
. UM AND THAT MENTALITY CARRIED
FORWARD THAT IS A DIRECT
RELATION TO THE VERY ISSUE WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT HERE TODAY. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. OUR NEXT
SPEAKER. IT'S GONNA BE CATALINA
CHIKANE. COMMISSIONER OF THE
CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON THE
STATUS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS. I
JUST WANT TO REITERATE AND WE
CAN PLEASE SUBMIT OUR COMMENTS
BECAUSE I REALLY WANTED TO HEAR
EVERYTHING EVERYONE HAS HAD TO
SAY. MIRIAM. NO TUNE CATALINA
CHIKANE CHANDRAYAAN. GOOD
MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
CATALINA CHIKAN AND I SERVE ON
THE PECHANGA TRIBAL COUNCIL AND
THE VICE CHAIR OF TASSAN, VICE
CHAIR OF THEIR CTF SEABOARD. AND
LAST YEAR I WAS APPOINTED TO THE
CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON THE
STATUS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS, THE
FIRST ENROLLED MEMBER OF A
FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBE TO BE
APPOINTED ON THE COMMISSION. THE
CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON THE
STATUS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS WORKS
AND CULTURALLY INCLUSIVE MANNER
TO PROMOTE EQUALITY AND JUSTICE
FOR ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS BY
ADVOCATING ON THE BEHALF WITH
THE GOVERNOR, THE LEGISLATURE
AND OTHER PUBLIC POLICY MAKERS
AND BY EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND
THE AREAS OF ECONOMIC EQUITY,
INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL EQUITY
ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, INCLUDING
REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN AND OTHER KEY
ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY THE
COMMISSION. IN 2021. THE
COMMISSION RECEIVED 7.9 MILLION
FOR A WOMAN'S RECOVERY RESPONSE
. FIVE MILLION WENT TO GRANTS
THAT WERE ISSUED ORGANIZATIONS
TO SUPPORT IMMEDIATE NEEDS FOR
WOMEN AND GIRLS. UNDER THE 21 22
FUNDING CYCLE CYCLE THAT TICHA
IN OR NONPROFIT CORPORATION,
WHICH SUPPORTS PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES FOR EUROPE. TRIBAL
MEMBERS USE GRANT FUNDS TO
DEVELOP A MICRO GRANT PROJECT TO
IMPROVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND
FINANCIAL SECURITY FOR EUROPE,
WOMEN AND GIRLS THROUGHOUT
HUMBOLDT COUNTY AND DEL NORTE
COUNTY. WE ALSO SUPPORTED THE
SAN FRANCISCO DEPARTMENT ON THE
STATUS OF WOMEN IN THEIR
CREATION TO GUARANTEED INCOME
PILOT PROGRAMS, ONE OF WHICH
INCLUDED DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE
TO NATIVE AMERICANS, INDIGENOUS
SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
THE SACRAMENTO NATIVE AMERICAN
HEALTH CENTER WILL BE AWARDED
FUNDING FOR THEIR CONTINUED WORK
AND PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE AND
AFFORDABLE QUALITY CARE,
INCLUDING MEDICAL, DENTAL AND
BEHAVIOR. HEALTH. FUNDS WILL
ALSO SUPPORT THE SWEET PROJECT
WELL, WHICH WILL PROMOTE
ECONOMIC RECOVERY FOR UP TO 150
MEMBERS OF THE TARGET POPULATION
BY PROVIDING HOUSING, UTILITY
TRANSPORTATION AND DOCUMENTATION
ASSISTANCE. THE COMMISSION
ADMITS INVESTED FUNDS AND WOMEN
SPECIFIC RESEARCH RESEARCH.
EXCUSE ME. TO EXAMINE THE
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID 19 ON
CALIFORNIA'S WOMEN AND GIRLS,
WHICH PRODUCED THE CALIFORNIA
BLUEPRINT FOR WOMEN'S PANDEMIC
ECONOMIC RECOVERY. THE BLUEPRINT
CENTERS FOR CENTERS, THE
ECONOMIC NEEDS OF WOMEN AND
GIRLS AS A CRITICAL TO THE
STATE'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY IT
ADOPTS FOR THE FIRST TIME. A
GENDERED LANDS ON THE STATE OF
KAMENI ECONOMY, RECOGNIZING
WOMEN AS HE DRIVERS AND INDUSTRY
AND KEY WORKFORCE PARTICIPANTS.
THE RESEARCH FOUND THAT WOMEN OF
COLOR WERE THE FIRST TO LOSE
THEIR JOBS. AND LAST TO REGAIN
THEM, CAUSING LONG TERM
FINANCIAL STRESS TO THEIR
HOUSEHOLDS. FOR THE 2023 2024
SESSIONS. THE COMMISSION IS
SUPPORTING 2 73. UM THIS
PROPOSAL PROPOSAL SEEKS TO BUILD
ON PAST EFFORTS BY REQUIRING
NOTIFICATION OF FAMILY MEMBERS,
COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL TRIBES
AND TRIBAL REPRESENTATIVES AND
THE COURT OF JURISDICTION WHEN A
CHILD OR NON MINOR DEPENDENT IS
MISSING AND REQUIRING
COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS AND DUE
DILIGENCE BY COUNTY SOCIAL
WORKERS, PROBATION OFFICERS,
COURTS AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE
ADULTS TO LOCATE PLACE AND
STABILIZE CHILDREN AND YOUTH
WHEN THEY RETURN. FOR THE 2021
20 SESSION. ALSO, WE ARE
SUPPORTING A B 2022, WHICH
REQUIRED THE REMOVAL OF THE S
WORD FROM ALL THE GEOGRAPHIC AND
PLACE NAMES IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA AND ESTABLISH A
PROCESS FOR THE CALIFORNIA
ADVISORY, COMMITTING ON
GEOGRAPHIC NAMES TO REVIEW AND
REVISE OFFENSIVE NAMES IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THE
COMMISSION'S BUDGET ASKED FOR
THE 2023 2024 SESSION BUILDS ON
A REQUEST FROM PREVIOUS YEARS TO
ELEVATE CALIFORNIA'S WOMEN AND
GIRLS AND TO SUPPORT OUR
EXISTING EFFORTS. 7.9 MILLION TO
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE WOMEN'S
RECOVERY RESPONSE PROGRAM AND
500,000 TO STUDY THE PANDEMIC
RECOVERY NEEDS OF CALIFORNIA'S
NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN, DISABLED
WOMEN AND LGBT Q. WOMEN. AND
OTHER MARGINALIZED GROUP WHO
OFTEN WHO, TOO OFTEN REMAIN
UNDERREPRESENTED AND UNSEEN. YOU
HEAR ALL THIS? BUT WE ARE ALL
TRYING TO WORK THIS TOGETHER.
BUT YOU KNOW, WE MUST DO MORE
AND MY EXPERIENCE AS A TRIBAL
COUNCIL WOMAN I KNOW AND
APPRECIATE AND COOPERATE THE
COOPERATION WE HAVE THAT
PECHANGA HAS BUILT WITH OUR
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. BUT THAT
RELATIONSHIP WAS BUILT OVER 25
YEARS, MOSTLY BECAUSE WE WERE
FORCED TO WORK TOGETHER AROUND
GAMING ISSUE. ISSUES THAT IS NOT
THE CASE FOR MOST TRIBES IN THIS
STATE TENSIONS WITH LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT WHICH ARE STEEPED IN
HISTORY, OUR REALITY THAT MUST
BE ADDRESSED ON TOP OF THAT. WE
ALSO HAVE JURISDICTIONAL
COMPLEXITIES AND CONFUSION
BECAUSE CALIFORNIA IS A PUBLIC
LAW 2 80 STATE AS SOMEONE WHO
SERVED IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
CHAIRMAN RAMOS, YOU KNOW ALL TOO
WELL THAT MOST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND PUBLIC LAW
2 80. I WANTED TO MAKE A FEW
POLICIES. SUGGESTIONS TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERATION,
PLEASE. FIRST WE MUST PROVIDE
MORE FUNDING AND RESOURCES TO
SPORT, TRIBAL AND LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT COLLABORATION ON
MISSING MURDERED AND ADDITIONAL
PERSONS. LAW ENFORCEMENT IS
STRAINED THE FUNDING FROM A B 30
99 FROM THE GOVERNMENT BUDGET IS
HELPFUL, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR
A STATE AS LONG AS LARGE AS
CALIFORNIA THAT SPANS URBAN
CITIES AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. WE
SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER THAT IF
THERE IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECT
OF THIS CRISIS THAT THAT MUST
ALSO BE ADDRESSED SECOND,
CONSIDER ESTABLISHING ON AN M M
I P LIAISON POSITION AT THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
TO HELP TRIBES, FAMILY MEMBERS
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT NAVIGATE
THESE ISSUES THAT ARE OFTEN
COMPLEX AND RIFE WITH PAST
HISTORICAL TRAUMA AND DISTRUST.
WASHINGTON STATE AND COLORADO
HAVE BOTH ESTABLISHED SIMILAR
POSITIONS IN THE PAST YEAR.
THIRD. THE COMMITTEE SHOULD
CONSIDER WAYS TO BRING
STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER TO
IDENTIFY AND SHARE BEST
PRACTICES WHEN IT COMES TO THE
MISSING MURDERED ADDITIONAL
PERSONS. PERHAPS THE COMMITTEE
SHOULD CONSIDER LEGISLATION TO
CREATE A STATE CHARTERED TASK
FORCE OF STAKEHOLDERS TO EXAMINE
THESE ISSUES. WASHINGTON AND
ARIZONA. BOTH HAVE SET UP SUCH A
TASK FORCE. FORCES OR PERHAPS
THE COMMITTEE CAN SPONSOR
LEGISLATION TO ALLOCATE FUNDING
TO STUDY BEST PRACTICES. I HOPE
THAT THIS HEARING WILL HELP
SHAPE POLICY TO BRING JUSTICE
FOR FAMILIES FOR ALL THESE
TRIBAL FAMILIES, AND MOST OF
ALL, ALL THE VICTIMS ON BEHALF
OF THE COMMISSION, I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. AND
FOR THOSE SUGGESTIONS, MOVING
FORWARD MORE FUNDING
COLLABORATION. UM THAT'S THERE.
WE NEED TO DO MORE. WE'RE STILL
TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH THE LACK
OF 170 YEARS OF NEGLECT FROM THE
STATE, SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO
WORK ON THOSE AREAS THAT ARE
THERE. OUR NEXT SPEAKER. IS
GONNA BE MARY LOPEZ KIEFER,
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF NATIVE
AMERICAN AFFAIRS FROM THE OFFICE
OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ROB BONTA,
SALAFIS. WHISKEY PER OKAY? I
THINK WE'RE STILL IN THE
MORNING. ALMOST IN THE AFTERNOON
. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU,
CHAIRMAN RAMOS AND THE HONORABLE
MEMBERS OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS FOR
INVITING ME TO SPEAK TODAY ON
THE STATE'S EFFORTS AND
ADDRESSING THE MISSING MURDERED
INDIGENOUS PERSONS CRISIS. MY
NAME IS MARY LOPEZ KIEFFER AND I
AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS AT THE
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
ROB BONTA, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE. THE OFFICE,
AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS ONA, UH
, WAS ESTABLISHED AND IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN THE
YEAR 2000 TO SUPPORT THE RIGHTS
OF TRIBAL CITIZENS AND
GOVERNMENTS AND TO HELP PROTECT
THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES. ATTORNEY GENERAL
BONTA IS COMMITTED TO ENHANCING
AND IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY ON
AND OFF TRIBAL LANDS. HE AND THE
ENTIRE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
STAND WITH CALIFORNIA TRIBES AND
NATIVE PEOPLE AND BRINGING AN
END TO THIS INJUSTICE THROUGH
BOTH AWARENESS AND ACTION. I'LL
BEGIN TODAY BY FIRST PROVIDING
SOME BACKGROUND ON WHAT WE KNOW
ABOUT THE MM, I P CRISIS AT A
NATIONAL LEVEL. A BRIEF SNAPSHOT
OF CALIFORNIA'S NATIVE AMERICAN
POPULATION AND THEN A BRIEF
SUMMARY OF ASSEMBLY BILL 30 99
THAT WAS PASSED IN 2020 AND
FUNDED IN 2021. AH! PROVIDING
THREE SPECIFIC TASK MANDATED TO
THE PARTNER OF JUSTICE AND OUR
CURRENT EFFORTS IN BRINGING
AWARENESS AND ACTION ADDRESSING
THE CRISIS. FOR DECADES, NATIVE
AMERICAN AND ALASKA NATIVE
COMMUNITIES HAVE STRUGGLED WITH
HIGH RATES OF ASSAULT, ABDUCTION
AND MURDER OF WOMEN. COMMUNITY
ADVOCATES DESCRIBE THE CRISIS AS
A LEGACY OF GENERATIONS OF
GOVERNMENT POLICIES, INCLUDING
FORCED REMOVAL, LAND SEIZURES
AND VIOLENCE INFLICTED ON THE
TWO PEOPLES. YOU'VE HEARD
MULTIPLE STATISTICS SHARED WITH
YOU TODAY. THESE WERE NOT. WHEN
REMAINS ARE FOUND. AMERICAN
INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE WOMEN
ARE 135% MORE LIKELY TO BE
LISTED AS LISTED AS UNIDENTIFIED
CASES THAN WOMEN OF OTHER RACES.
IN CASES OF MURDERED AND MISSING
INDIGENOUS WOMEN ARE SEVEN TIMES
LESS LIKELY TO BE SOLVED THAN
ANY OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC.
CALIFORNIA IS HOME TO ONE OF THE
LARGEST POPULATIONS OF AMERICAN
INDIAN, ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLE,
ACCORDING TO THE 2021 U S CENSUS
BUREAU. THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED
1.1 MILLION AMERICAN INDIAN
ALASKA NATIVES AND CALIFORNIA
ACCOUNTING FOR APPROXIMATELY
2.9% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION.
THE TOP FIVE COUNTIES WITH THE
MOST AMERICAN INDIAN, ALASKA
NATIVE PERSONS ARE LOS ANGELES,
SAN DIEGO, RIVERSIDE. SAN
BERNARDINO IN ORANGE COUNTY'S IN
ADDITION, CALIFORNIA IS HOME TO
APPROXIMATELY 171, CALIFORNIA
NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES
CONSISTING OF 109 FEDERALLY
RECOGNIZED TRIBES AND
APPROXIMATELY 62 NON FEDERALLY
RECOGNIZED TRIBES. AND A LITTLE
OVER 100 INDIAN RESERVATIONS AND
RANCH AREAS THAT NEIGHBOR 34 OF
OUR 58 COUNTY JURISDICTIONS. MM
I P IMPACTS ALL OF CALIFORNIA'S
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. SIGNED INTO
LAW ON SEPTEMBER 25TH 2020,
CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN DAY,
MAYBE 30 99 CREATED THE TRIBAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S OFFICE
OF NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS. MY
OFFICE. AND MANDATED THE DOJ
WITH THREE SPECIFIC TASKS. TASK
ONE WAS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE REGARDING POLICING
AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS ON
INDIAN LANDS CONSISTENT WITH
PUBLIC LAW, 2 80. YOU'VE HEARD
CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TESTIMONY
TODAY ON PUBLIC LAW, 2 80.
HOWEVER, TODAY'S TESTIMONY FROM
MY OFFICE WAS DIRECTED TOWARDS
MM I. P. TASK TWO IS TO CONDUCT
A STUDY TO DETERMINE HOW TO
INCREASE STATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
, PROTECTIVE AND INVESTIGATIVE
RESOURCES FOR REPORTING AND
IDENTIFYING MISSING NATIVE
AMERICANS IN CALIFORNIA, TASK
THREE WAS TO SUBMIT A REPORT TO
THE LEGISLATURE BASED ON THE
FINDINGS OF THE STUDY DESCRIBED
IN TASK TWO BY THE END OF FISCAL
YEAR 2024 25. THIS REPORT MUST
INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
LEGISLATURE AND PROPOSED
LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE THE
REPORTING AND IDENTIFICATION OF
MISSING NATIVE AMERICANS. AN
EXAMINATION OF DATA REGARDING
CURRENT MISSING AND MURDERED
NATIVE AMERICAN PERSONS AND
CALIFORNIA AND THE
IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL
BARRIERS TO PROVIDING STATE
RESOURCES NEEDED TO ADDRESS
THESE ISSUES. THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE IS EXECUTING ALL THREE
TASKS AND ARE ON TRACK TO
DELIVER THE REPORT ON TIME TO
THE LEGISLATURE. ATTORNEY
GENERAL BONTE CONTINUES TO WORK
IN COLLABORATION AND
COORDINATION WITH OUR LOCAL
STATE, TRIBAL, FEDERAL JUSTICE
PARTNERS AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY,
WITH THE SURVIVORS AND FAMILIES
IMPACTED BY LOVED ONES. WHO HAVE
GONE MISSING AND ARE WHO HAVE
BEEN MURDERED. AGAIN IT'S
AWARENESS AND ACTION THAT WILL
HELP BRING AN END TO THE CRISIS.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS
ACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH
CALIFORNIA TRAVEL LEADERS. ON
HOW WE CAN HELP BRING AWARENESS
TO WHAT IS OCCURRING WITHIN THE
NATIVE COMMUNITIES. AND HOW WE
AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS,
INJUSTICE CAN TAKE ACTION. TO
END THE DEVASTATING CRISIS TO
OUR COMMUNITIES. A FEW WEEKS AGO
, ATTORNEY GENERAL BONTA
INITIATED THE FIRST OF FOUR
REGIONAL EVENTS CALLED MISSING
IN CALIFORNIA, INDIAN COUNTRY.
THESE EVENTS, THE FIRST OF THEIR
KIND IN THE NATION. ARE
OCCURRING IN CALIFORNIA, INDIAN
COUNTRY AND ARE BEING DEVELOPED
AND COLLABORATION AND
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TRIBES AND
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES OF THE
SPECIFIC REGIONS IN ORDER TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND EACH
REGION. THERE ARE THREE KEY LAW
ENFORCEMENT COMPONENTS THAT WILL
BE PRESENT AT EACH REGIONAL
EVENT. TRIBAL PEOPLE WILL BE
PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO
REPORT A PERSON MISSING NO
MATTER HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN
MISSING. RECEIVE AN UPDATE,
PROVIDE OR PROVIDE NEW
INFORMATION ON AN ACTIVE MISSING
PERSON CASE. AND THEY HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A DNA
SAMPLE TO BE INCLUDED IN OUR
UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS AND REMAINS
DATABASE. THIS WOULD ALLOW
CLOSURE FOR A FAMILY WHO HAS
BEEN MORNING IF THEIR LOVED ONE
IS IN THAT DATABASE. THE FIRST
EVENT WAS HELD IN NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA AT THE BLUE LAKE
RANCHERIA ON APRIL 22ND 2023. IT
WAS HELD IN COLLABORATION WITH
ALL 28 OF THE TRIBES IN THE
NORTHERN REGION AND OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS WHERE THE
HUMBOLDT COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE, THE YUROK TRIBAL POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THE HOPE OF
VALLEY TRIBAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE'LL BE ANNOUNCING THE NEXT
THREE EVENTS SHORTLY, HOWEVER,
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED OUR PARTNERS
FOR THE SOUTHERN REGION TO BE
RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF CHAD
BIANCO AND THE SUBURBAN BAND OF
LUCIANO INDIANS, LED BY CHAIRMAN
BIANCO. BRONCO. EXCUSE ME. IN
ADDITION, OUR MM I P RESEARCH
TEAM. BEING LED BY DR BLACK
GEORGE WILL BE ENGAGING WITH
DAVID, THE NATIVE COMMUNITY
THROUGH LISTENING SESSIONS,
INTERVIEWS AND AN ONLINE TRAVEL
COMMUNITY SURVEY. DR BLACK.
GEORGE IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE
YUROK TRIBE AND A ASSISTANT
PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA, MERCED. THESE
QUALITATIVE DATA EFFORTS SEEK TO
GATHER INVALUABLE INFORMATION
DIRECTLY FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS
TO HELP US BUILD A MORE COMPLETE
UNDERSTANDING OF THE EXPERIENCES
, PERSPECTIVES AND NEEDS OF THE
COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS PROVIDE
THE COMMUNITIES OF VOICE IN THE
RESEARCH PROCESS AND THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE THE
DIRECTION OF FUTURE INITIATIVES.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN DILIGENTLY
ENHANCING CURRENT EDUCATIONAL
AND INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES,
INCLUDING UPDATING OUR NATIVE
AMERICAN MARCIE'S LAW CARD,
WHICH IS VICTIMS RIGHTS CARD AND
UPDATING OUR WEBSITE TO PROVIDE
MORE INFORMATION TO TRIBAL
COMMUNITY LEADERS, TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT
PARTNERS DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE IS SUPERIOR COURTS OF
CALIFORNIA TRAVEL COURTS ABOUT
THE AVAILABILITY OF CULTURALLY
INFORMED TRIBAL VICTIM SERVICE
PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. AND WE ARE
CURRENTLY DEVELOPING A DIGITAL
PUBLICATION AND CHILD MISSING IN
CALIFORNIA OF FREQUENTLY ASKED
ASKED QUESTION, UM. DIGITAL
RESOURCE FOR NATIVE AMERICAN
TRIBES AND PEOPLE. IT WILL BE A
RESOURCE FOR TRIBES AND TRIBAL
PEOPLE ON WHAT TO DO AND WHAT TO
EXPECT. IF A TRIBAL PERSON GOES
MISSING ON OR OFF TRIBAL LANDS.
ATTORNEY GENERAL MANTLE ALSO
ISSUED INFORMATION BULLETINS.
THOSE ARE DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS.
ADDRESSING THE APPLICABILITY OF
CALIFORNIA'S CRIMINAL TRESPASS
LAW ON TRIBAL LANDS. AND ALSO
PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO OUR
JUSTICE PARTNERS ON THE
ENFORCEABILITY OF TRIBAL COURT
PROTECTION ORDERS. YOU HEARD
TESTIMONY ON THAT AS WELL TODAY
AND UNDER THE VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN ACT. TRIBAL COURT.
PROTECTIVE ORDERS ARE TO BE
ENFORCED BY TRIBAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER THEY'RE IN THE FEDERAL
OR STATE DATABASE. LASTLY
ATTORNEY GENERAL BONTA BONTA
ALSO SUPPORTED THE PASSAGE AND
SIGNING OF THE FEATHER ALERT.
THE ALERT SYSTEM MAY ONLY BE
ACTIVATED WHEN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN REPORTED MISSING
UNDER EXPLAINED OR SUSPICIOUS
CIRCUMSTANCES. AND IT REQUIRES
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO
COORDINATE WITH AVAILABLE TRIBAL
RESOURCES. TOGETHER WITH ALL OF
OUR PARTNERS AND JUSTICE
ATTORNEY GENERAL BONTA AND THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
WILL HELP BRING AN END TO THE
MME CRISIS IN CALIFORNIA. WE
CANNOT DO IT ALONG ALONE. WE
NEED PARTNERSHIP. THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REMAINS
COMMITTED TO THE SAFETY AND WELL
BEING OF TRIBAL PEOPLE AND THEIR
COMMUNITIES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO
DOING OUR PART TO STAND UP FOR
ALL THE PEOPLE IN OUR STATE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR TESTIMONY AND BRINGING US
UP TO SPEED ON WHERE THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL IS AT AND THE
WORK THAT'S CONTINUING TO BE
DONE. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
OFFICE. OUR NEXT SPEAKER OF HIS
SAMANTHA THORNBERRY, PROGRAM
DIRECTOR FROM THE KOREA
CONSORTIUM. ANYWAY THE NET TO
SAMANTHA THORNS, BERRY, NOT EVEN
TIM. THEY SWEPT THEM. SO MY NAME
IS SMITH. FLORENCE. VERY I'M A
ENROLLED QUEER MEMBER. I'M ALSO
NEWLY SEATED ON THE TROUBLE
COUNCIL IN JANUARY. IT'S MY
SECOND TERM, BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, I'M HERE TODAY TO
TALK. TO YOU ABOUT OUR
EXPERIENCES AND MY EXPERIENCE AS
AN ADVOCATE. UM, AS WELL AS THE
PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR THE QUEER
CONSORTIUM, WHICH IS OUR TRIBAL
VICTIM ADVOCACY PROGRAM. SO THE
QUICK CONSORTIUM IS COMPRISED OF
FOUR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRIBES
. THE QUEER BAND OF INDIANS, THE
SANTA ROSA BAND OF QUI, A
INDIANS, THE TOURIST MARTINEZ
BAND OF DESERT QUEEN INDIANS AND
THE LAST CODY'S BAND OF QUINOA
AND CAMP NOU INDIANS. THE QUICK
CONSORTIUM PROVIDES ADVOCACY
SERVICES TO OUR CONSORTIUM,
TRIBAL MEMBERS, OTHER NATIVE
AMERICANS AND NON NATIVES WHO
RESIDE IN OUR SERVICE AREA,
WHICH WE'VE DEFINED AS RIVERSIDE
, SAN BERNARDINO AND SAN DIEGO
COUNTY'S WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING
ADVOCACY TO THOSE VICTIMIZED BY
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL
ASSAULT, STALKING AND HUMAN
TRAFFICKING SINCE 2010 AND
RECENTLY WE'VE EXPANDED TO OFFER
SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF CRIME. WE
ARE 100% FEDERALLY GRANT FUNDED
. WE HAVE PROJECTS AWARDED
THROUGH THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS
OF CRIME AND HHS FAMILY VIOLENCE
PREVENTION SERVICES ACT. I'VE
BEEN INVITED HERE TODAY TO
DISCUSS SOME OF THE REALITIES
THAT THE QUEER CONSORTIUM HAS
EXPERIENCE REGARDING HUMAN
TRAFFICKING. AND THE MM I W MM.
I DUB. MM, I P EPIDEMIC. THE
REALITY OF WHAT IS HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW REGARDING MM I W AND M
IN MY P CASES IS THAT WE DON'T
ALWAYS RECOGNIZE OR UNDERSTAND
THE SITUATION UPON FIRST
ENCOUNTER. THERE IS OFTEN AN
INTERSECTIONALITY OF CRIMES OR
VICTIMIZATIONS THAT MAKE THESE
CASES VERY COMPLEX. OFTEN CASES
BECOME CONFUSED OR
MISINTERPRETED FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING, WHICH COSTS PRECIOUS
TIME AND CAN HAVE DEVASTATING
IMPACTS ON THE OUTCOME. SEVERAL
YEARS AGO, I WAS ASKED AROUND, I
THINK, 2015 I WAS ASKING IF I
HAD EVER ASSISTED OR PROVIDED
ADVOCACY TO A SURVIVOR OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING. MY RESPONSE AT THE
TIME WAS NO. THIS BOTHERED ME
BECAUSE IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE
SENSE IN MY MIND UPON REFLECTION
AND ANALYSIS OF OUR PROGRAM DATA
, I REALIZED I HAD PROVIDED
ADVOCACY TO SURVIVORS WHO HAD
BEEN TRAFFICKED WHO HAD BEEN
TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES AND
FAMILIES AGAINST THEIR WILL, WHO
HAD BEEN MISSING. BUT NOT
REPORTED TO SUCH TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT. I JUST HAD NOT
CODED THE CASE AS SUCH, BECAUSE
INITIALLY, THE HOTLINE CALLER
HAD SAID THAT SHE WAS A VICTIM
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SURVIVORS
WHO CALL OUR HOTLINE WILL OFTEN
INDICATE THAT THEY NEED HELP DUE
TO FLEEING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
INCIDENT. WE START WORKING WITH
THE MOST BASIC APPROACH SAFETY
AND SHELTER, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
, FOOD, CLOTHING OR RESTRAINING
ORDER ALL THE MEDIA AND EMERGENT
NEEDS MOVING FROM THE EMERGENT
NEEDS INTO TRANSITIONAL NEEDS
LIKE HOUSING THERAPY, EMPLOYMENT
, OBTAINING OTHER RESOURCES,
WHATEVER THEIR SURVIVOR
IDENTIFIES AS A NEED, THIS
BECOMES THE FOCUS. WELL ALL OF
THIS IS OCCURRING. THE ADVOCATE
AND THE SURVIVOR ARE GETTING TO
KNOW ONE ANOTHER DEVELOPING A
RAPPORT WORKING ON TRUST.
INTERACTING IN A MANNER THAT
ENCOMPASSES MORE THAN A CLIENT
ADVOCATE ALL BUSINESS
RELATIONSHIP. THE SURVIVOR IS
PROVIDED SUPPORT THAT ALLOWS
THEM THE TIME AND SPACE TO FIND
THEIR VOICE AGAIN TO BE HEARD TO
BE BELIEVED. THIS COULD TAKE
WEEKS, MONTHS AND EVEN YEARS.
THIS IS WHERE THE ADVOCATE
LEARNS THAT THE SURVIVOR WAS
KIDNAPPED AS A 19 YEAR OLD. WAS
ISOLATED AWAY FROM FAMILY AND
FRIENDS. I WAS TOLD THAT IF SHE
TRIED TO LEAVE THAT HER FAMILY
THAT LISTS THAT LIVED LESS THAN
TWO MILES AWAY, WOULD ALL BE
KILLED IN A DRIVE BY SHOOTING OR
DIE IN A HOUSE FIRE. THIS IS
WHERE THE ADVOCATE REALIZES THAT
THE SURVIVOR AFTER YEARS OF
SEXUAL ABUSE, PHYSICAL ABUSE,
INCLUDING SELLING ILLICIT PHOTOS
AND SEXTORTION AND OTHER ABUSES
FROM PERSONS IN THE HOME OF THE
PERPETRATORS EXTENDED FAMILY DID
NOT. OR COULD NOT VOCALIZE ALL
THAT SHE HAD SURVIVED INITIALLY
WHEN SHE CONTACTED HELP. WHICH
TURNED OUT TO BE A LOT MORE THAN
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THIS 19 YEAR
OLD ESCAPING AT THE AGE OF 26
WAS A MM I W SURVIVOR. WITHIN
THE PAST YEAR. WE'VE IDENTIFIED
SEVERAL OTHER CASES. THAT UPON
INTAKE WERE CODED AS DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE CASES AND AGAIN AFTER
SOME TIME RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
AND CREATING A SAFE AND
NONJUDGMENTAL SPACE. SURVIVORS
REVEALED DATE RAPE, STOCKING
SURVIVAL, SEX, LABOR TRAFFICKING
, KIDNAPPING AND A WHOLE HOST OF
OTHER CRIMES AND VICTIMIZATIONS.
WHAT'S STILL LACKING IS THE
UNDERSTANDING OF THE TRUE
COMPLEXITY OF THESE TYPES OF
VICTIMIZATIONS FROM EVERY
PERSPECTIVE LEADERSHIP TO
SERVICE PROVIDERS TO THE TRIBAL
COMMUNITY TO THE SURVIVORS,
FAMILIES AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY,
THE SURVIVOR. AND UNDERSTANDING
HOW TO COMMUNICATE THESE
COMPLEXITIES TO THESE
PERSPECTIVES IN A MANNER THAT
EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS. WHICH IS
CRITICAL TO FIRST RESPONDING.
SECOND PROVIDING SUPPORT AND
DIRECT SERVICES TO A SURVIVOR.
THE SURVIVORS FAMILY AND THE
TRIBAL COMMUNITY AND LAST TO
ADDRESSING THE HEART OF THE
PROBLEM, AND IT'S
INTERSECTIONALITY AND
COMPLEXITY. I'VE HEARD COMMUNITY
MEMBERS SAY, WHY CAN'T THE
TRIBAL COUNCIL GET MORE
INFORMATION FROM THE SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT OR LAW ENFORCEMENT?
SAY WHY WON'T THE TRIBAL
COMMUNITY MEMBERS PROVIDE
INFORMATION TO INVESTIGATORS ON
WHAT THEY MIGHT KNOW? OR FROM
THE SURVIVOR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO
SAY WHY CAN'T THE INVESTIGATORS
TELL US MORE ABOUT WHERE THE
INVESTIGATION IS? OR VICTIM
ADVOCATES WHO SAY I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO HELP THIS PERSON BECAUSE
ALL THEY'RE REQUESTING IS FINE
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PAY THIS
MONTH'S RENT. I WANT TO MENTION
THAT WHILE WE MEANING ADVOCATES
WANT TO KNOW HOW TO HELP US
SURVIVOR, IT'S ESSENTIAL TO
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY AND
OFTEN. INITIALLY FOR SURVIVORS
TO VERBALIZE WHAT THEY'VE BEEN
THROUGH TO ACTUALLY FIND THE
WORDS TO ARTICULATE WHAT THEIR
NEEDS MIGHT BE. WHICH MAY TAKE
TIME. TRUST BUILDING A VARIETY
OF SUPPORTS, LIKE THERAPY, A
SAFE SPACE SAFETY ADVOCACY.
CONSIDER THE FACT THAT MANY
SURVIVORS HESITATE FROM SHARING
WHAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH, SO
IT'S NOT TO HURT THEIR FAMILY
MEMBERS TO NOT VICTIMIZE THEIR
PARENTS OR LOVED ONES WHO WOULD
BE TRAUMATIZED TO HEAR ACCOUNTS
OF RAPE, TORTURE, STARVATION FOR
SEX, LABOR WORK AND WORSE.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I WAS ASKED
WHY MORE SURVIVORS DO NOT REPORT
THEIR VICTIMIZATIONS TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT OR SOMETIMES TO
ANYONE. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
POINT TO CONSIDER AS OFTEN WITH
CRIMES INVOLVING PHYSICAL
ASSAULT OR VIOLENCE. THERE IS AN
ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE AS
ILLUSTRATED IN THE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, POWER AND CONTROL WILL
OR THE CYCLE OF ABUSE. SURVIVORS
STORIES OFTEN START WITH
ILLUSTRATIONS OF CONTROLLING
BEHAVIOR, FORCED ISOLATION FROM
FAMILY AND FRIENDS, EMOTIONAL
AND VERBAL ABUSE, THEN PHYSICAL
VIOLENCE. IT'S NOT A MATTER OF
IF IT'S WHEN PHYSICAL VIOLENCE
OCCURS. I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE
IF INTERVENTION WERE TO OCCUR AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE CYCLE
INSTEAD OF AFTER FIRST INCIDENTS
OF VIOLENCE WITH THE DATA ON M M
I W AND M M I P TODAY LOOK
DIFFERENT. WITH EVERYTHING
THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED TODAY. WE
HAVE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED SOME OF
THE REASONS WHY EARLY REPORTING
DOES NOT HAPPEN. THE STIGMA
THAT'S ATTACHED TO OUR MOST
VULNERABLE AND HOW THERE MAY BE
VIEWED ON DRUGS. OH HE WAS
HOMELESS. OH SHE'S A RUNAWAY. WE
MUST SUPPORT THE ONGOING AND
CONTINUAL TRAINING AND DEVELOP.
EDUCATIONAL TOOLS NEEDED THAT
ASSIST US IN ADDRESSING THE
HISTORICAL LACK OF TRUST AND
RAPPORT BUILDING BETWEEN
SURVIVORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS
ENFORCEMENT, THE COURT. EVEN
LEADERSHIP AS TOO OFTEN OUR
PROTOCOLS, POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES AND EVEN BUDGETS
DON'T ALLOW TIME AND SPACE. TO
BUILD THESE CONNECTIONS. EARLY
INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION WILL
FOCUS OUR ENERGIES WHERE THEY
SHOULD BE ON THE PREVENTION OF
VIOLENCE PERPETRATED ON OUR
PEOPLE INSTEAD OF THE AFTERMATH.
AS WE ENTER A DIALOGUE WITH ONE
ANOTHER. AND WITH THE GOVERNOR
ABOUT SPECIFIC NEEDS IN OUR
EFFORTS TO PREVENT MME W M I P.
LET'S BE SURE TO FOCUS ON
PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES THAT
PROVIDE RESOURCES THAT INCLUDE
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, SOCIAL
SERVICES, LEGAL ASSISTANCE,
EMERGENCY SHELTERING AND
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS.
POOR AND TRUST, BUILDING
TRAINING AND TOOLS THAT WILL
FOSTER COLLABORATION WITH OUR
COUNTY AND STATE COUNTERPARTS,
ESPECIALLY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
LET'S ALL WORK TO IDENTIFY THE
FUNDING AND SERVICE GAPS AND
NEEDS IN EACH REGION OF
CALIFORNIA AND THEN WORK TO MAKE
SURE FUNDING IS IN PLACE TO
ALLOW AGAIN THE TIME AND SPACE
NEEDED ADVOCATE, PROVIDE JUSTICE
AND TO HOLD PERPETRATORS
ACCOUNTABLE. QUICK CONSORTIUM IS
WORKING ON AN M I B M M I W M I
P ALONG WITH THEIR COLLABORATORS
LIKE STRONG HEARTED NATIVE
WOMEN'S COALITION. UM ON A MM I
W M I P TOOLKIT THAT WE HOPE TO
DEVELOP INTO A WEBSITE THAT HAS
AN APPLICATION BASE THAT CAN BE
PUT OUT FOR INFORMATION AND
EDUCATION TO ON EVERY LITTLE
LEVEL FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO
SURVIVORS TO STATE, UM,
STAKEHOLDERS TO TRIBAL
LEADERSHIP. AGAIN THE EMPHASIS
IS THAT WE ALL MUST BECOME THE
VOICE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
FOREVER SILENCE, DESPITE HOW
PAINFUL FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
ADVOCATES AND ANYONE CONNECTED
TO A FAMILY WHO HAS LOST SOMEONE
TO THIS EPIDEMIC IS FINDING
THEIR VOICE. AND THE STRENGTH TO
SPEAK OUT ABOUT WHAT HAS
HAPPENED AND IS HAPPENING TO
THEIR FAMILY. THEIR TRIBAL
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUR NATIVE
PEOPLE. I'M GRATEFUL TO ALL THE
TRIBAL LEADERS, THE TRIBAL OR
ORGANIZATIONS, ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
RAMOS THE LEGISLATORS THAT ARE
HERE TODAY IN THIS COMMITTEE AND
MANY OTHERS FOR PUTTING FORTH
SOLUTION ORIENTED LEGISLATION
THAT SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON THE
ISSUE. EQUITY ISSUES OF SAFETY,
LACK OF RESOURCES AND THE NEEDS
OF THE TRIBAL COMMUNITIES FROM A
B 13 14 THE FEATHER ALERT TO A B
2 73 PROTECTING AND LOCATING
CHILDREN MISSING FROM FOSTER
CARE TO A B 44 TRIBAL PUBLIC
SAFETY, THE CREATION OF THE
CALIFORNIA MISSING AND MURDERED
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE GRANT PROGRAM
AND MANY OTHER EFFORT. THIS IS
MOVEMENT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THIS WORK SUPPORTS THE
EXAMINATION OF ISSUES STEMMING
FROM COLONIZATION THAT FOR TOO
LONG CREATED ENVIRONMENTS IN
WHICH NATIVE CITIZENS ARE OUR
YOUTH ARE L G B T Q. TWO SPIRITS
ARE MEN AND BOYS ARE ELDERS, AND
ESPECIALLY OUR NATIVE WOMEN AND
GIRLS HAVE BEEN MADE VULNERABLE.
I WANT TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU
DOING THIS WORK. WITHIN AND FOR
MY PEOPLE. I SEE YOU. I AM
GRATEFUL TO YOU. FOR WORKING
DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE THAT MY
LIFE THE LIFE OF MY NIECES. MY
AUNTIES, MY SISTERS, MY COUSINS
MATTER THAT WE ARE NOT
INVISIBLE. WITH THAT I CLOSE
WITH JUST THANK YOU, MAMA. NOT
TOO MUCH. THANK YOU, UM FOR THE
. ENLIGHTENING TESTIMONY THAT
TALKS ABOUT UNDERLYING ISSUES
ALSO BRINGS UP ALSO FULL CIRCLE
. UH THE VICTIM'S SERVICE BEING
ABLE TO HAVE TRAINING TO
IDENTIFY WHAT POTENTIALLY COULD
LEAD TO AN MM. I W OR SOMEONE
THAT WENT THROUGH IT. THAT'S NOT
REACHING OUT. AH AND I ALSO DO
WANT IT TO YOU MENTIONED. THAT
THE FUNDING YOU RECEIVE US 100%
FEDERAL FUNDING. FOR VICTIMS
RIGHTS SERVICES. AND I KNOW THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA PROVIDES
FUNDING ALSO, SO MAYBE REACHING
OUT TO MY COLLEAGUES, UM, WHEN
WE HEAR THOSE IN THE BUDGET FOR
VICTIM'S RIGHTS SERVICES, MAYBE
WE COULD CHIME IN AND INCLUDING
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, UM, INVOLVED
IN THAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. OUR
LAST SPEAKER WILL BE APRIL.
MCGILL DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS AND PROJECTS FROM
THE CALIFORNIA CONSORTIUM OF
URBAN INDIAN HEALTH. AND A
MEMBER OF THE RESISTANCE. MY
SISTER YUKI RESISTANCE. ALMOST
AS PART OF THAT RESISTANCE. OH
YEAH. OH, YEAH, WE ARE WE THANK
YOU, EVERYONE. THANK YOU, ALMOST
FOR BRINGING US HERE AGAIN
ANOTHER YEAR AND THEY GET
MARRIED FOR INVITING ME TO BE ON
THIS PANEL. I JUST WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE WHO HAS SHARED AND
SPOKE TODAY. UM, MY HEART IS
HEAVY. UM. MY HEART IS HEAVY FOR
MY PEOPLE IN ROUND VALLEY. I
WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE. MY
FAMILY. AND OUR PEOPLE. AND OUR
LEADERS WHO ARE ON THE GROUND
TRYING TO HELP OUR FAMILY IN
THIS CRISIS THAT'S HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW. UM THE WORK THAT I DO
FOR SECURELY ON THE RED WOMAN
RISING IS REALLY POLICY ADVOCACY
WORK AND ITS DIRECT SERVICE WITH
SURVIVORS AND FINDING WAYS TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEIR VOICES ARE
HEARD ON A STATE AND FEDERAL
LEVEL. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE'VE DONE AT THE COOLIE IS
REALLY WORK DILIGENTLY WITH OUR
D V NETWORKS SUCH AS STRONG
HEART NATIVE WOMEN'S COALITION
AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND TO
NAME A FEW, BUT OUR WORK IS
REALLY ABOUT WORKING WITH, UM
LEADERS TO CHANGE POLICY BOTH ON
WITH OUR TRAVEL LEADERS AND IN
OUR URBAN COMMUNITIES. WE
REPRESENT 10 OF THEIR URBAN
INDIAN HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS IN
CALIFORNIA, SO WE KNOW THAT
THERE'S A LOT OF OUR TRIBE
TRIBAL MEMBERS WHO ARE USING
SERVICES IN OUR URBAN
COMMUNITIES, SO WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE FIRST AND
FOREMOST ACKNOWLEDGING THE ROOT
CAUSE, WHICH IS THE HISTORY OF
CALIFORNIA AND LOOKING AT HOW
THESE LAWS WERE PUT IN PLACE TO
KILL OFF FOR INDIAN PEOPLE.
THINKING ABOUT THE BOARDING
SCHOOL SYSTEM AND HOW WE HAVE
OUR ELDERS TODAY WHO ARE STILL
SUFFERING FROM THE EFFECTS OF
BOARDING SCHOOL. MY GRANDMOTHER
WAS IN SHERMAN BOARDING SCHOOL,
SO I'M A GRANDDAUGHTER OF A
BOARDING SCHOOL SURVIVOR. MY
GRANDMOTHER WAS ALSO YUKI. SO
SHE WAS ONE OF THE LAST YUGI
SPEAKERS OF ROUND VALLEY. AND I
KNOW THAT WE HAVE THIS, UH
REALLY, UM. VIOLENT HISTORY IN
ROUND VALLEY IN THAT VIOLENCE
CONTINUES TODAY, AND SO WHEN WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE ROOT CAUSES WE
MUST LOOK AT WHY IS THIS
HAPPENING IN OUR TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES? WHY IS IT HAPPENING
IN OUR URBAN COMMUNITIES? I WANT
TO THINK ABOUT FOCUSING ON
CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES FOR
OUR PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW
WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR PEOPLE, AND
WE KNOW OUR COMMUNITIES BEST. SO
WE NEED FOLKS TO CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH US ON HOW WE PROVIDE
BETTER SERVICES. WE NEED TO
EXPAND AND PRIORITIZE THOSE
SERVICES. SO THAT THERE ARE MORE
BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING AGAIN?
LIKE I SAID, IS WE HAVE TRIBAL
MEMBERS COMING TO URBAN
COMMUNITIES THAT NEED SERVICES.
I WANT TO READ A QUOTE FROM ONE
OF OUR DV SURVIVORS WHO SAYS I
WAS REALLY TRYING TO GET OUT OF
THIS DEVI SITUATION. BUT YET I
FELT LIKE THERE WAS JUST NOTHING
OUT THERE, MEANING SERVICES
THERE FOR ME, AND I WAS JUST SO
MAD BECAUSE I'M LIKE THIS IS WHY
IT'S SO HARD FOR WOMEN TO WALK
AWAY. YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHY IT'S
EASIER FOR ME TO JUST STAY IN
THIS ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP.
BECAUSE AT LEAST I KNOW I HAVE A
PLACE TO SLEEP. SO WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MORE SAFE
HOMES FOR OUR PEOPLE, SAFE
PLACES FOR THEM TO BE. YOU KNOW
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR
RESERVATIONS WERE PURPOSELY
ISOLATED ON RESERVATIONS, AND
WE'RE PURPOSELY, UH, YOU KNOW,
ISOLATED FROM FROM SERVICES, AND
, UM, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO
CONFRONT WHAT THE REAL ISSUES
ARE, WHICH IS WHICH IS A
BARRIER, WHICH IS THE SYSTEMATIC
CHALLENGES OF DATA COLLECTION.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE COLLECTING THAT DATA
AND THAT IT'S UM YOU KNOW, BOTH
ARE URBAN AND OUR TRIBAL I THINK
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT. I WAS OUT
FRONT EARLIER TODAY AND I AND I
GRABBED THIS AGENDA AND IT WAS
ON THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND
IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT OUR
CRISIS BECAUSE WE ARE
NORMALIZING VIOLENCE THAT'S
HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND WE NEED TO STOP NORMALIZING
THIS VIOLENCE AND PRIORITIZE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
PRIORITIZED MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES FOR AMERICAN INDIAN
PEOPLE BECAUSE WE ARE SUFFERING
FROM PTSD WERE SUFFERING FROM
ANXIETY BECAUSE OF TRAFFICKING
BECAUSE OF MISSING AND MURDERED
. INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE
ARE NOT GETTING THE SERVICES
THEY NEED, AND ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES IS
THAT WE NEED OUR PEOPLE NEED TO
BE ABLE TO GET SERVICES ANYWHERE
IN ANY TRIBAL COMMUNITY AND
URBAN COMMUNITY. THEY SHOULD BE
ABLE TO BECAUSE THEY ARE IN, YOU
KNOW, A LEVEL OF POVERTY AND
MAYBE MAYBE ON MEDICAL, BUT HOW
DO WE GET THAT? THAT SERVICE TO
BE BILLABLE, UM, AND IN ALL
AVENUES, WHETHER IT BE TRIBAL,
WHETHER IT BE URBAN. WE ALSO
MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A LOT OF
TIMES ARE FAMILIES WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING THIS VIOLENCE. UM
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THESE SMALL
COMMUNITIES. SO WE HAVE FAMILIES
WHO HAVE AUNTIES THAT WORK AT
THE CLINIC AND COUSINS THAT WORK
IN DIFFERENT PLACES, AND THERE'S
A CONFIDENTIALITY SITUATION. UM
THAT WILL LIMIT OUR PEOPLE FROM
GOING AND GETTING SERVICE. BUT
ALSO KNOWING THAT THEY MAY FEEL
SAFER IF THEY GET SERVICES IN AN
URBAN COMMUNITY. SO HOW DO WE
HELP OUR FAMILIES FROM THAT?
THERE'S ALSO THIS STIGMA AND
THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING TO THAT
BECAUSE IT IS SO TRUE THAT
THERE'S A STIGMA THAT ARE WOMEN
ARE YOU KNOW IF THEY HAVE, UH
CHALLENGES WITH DRUG ADDICTION,
OR THEY HAVE CHALLENGES WITH
WITH CPS AND THEIR CHILDREN.
THERE'S A STIGMA THAT THEY'RE
NOT WORTHY. THERE'S THIS STIGMA
THAT THEY ARE BROKEN AND THE YOU
KNOW THAT THEY DESERVE THIS TYPE
OF VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIVES JUST
RECENTLY IN FEBRUARY IN SONOMA
COUNTY, A KARAOKE WOMAN WAS
RAPED AND SHE WAS ARRESTED AFTER
SHE REPORTED THE RAPE. AND IT
JUST GOES TO CONTINUE TO SHOW
YOU THAT WE NEED MORE LAW
ENFORCEMENT, SOCIAL WORKERS,
TEACHERS AND JUDGES THAT ARE
TRAINED AND MM I P AND CULTURAL
COMPETENCY AROUND OUR NATIVE
WOMAN. THIS WOMAN HAD TO SIT IN
A CELL NEXT TO HER PERPETRATOR
WHILE HE CUSSED HER OUT YELLING
WORDS AT HER AFTER SHE HAD BEEN
RAPED. THIS SITUATION IS ANOTHER
EXAMPLE. WHY ARE WOMEN DO NOT
COME FORWARD AND WHY THEY LIVE
IN FEAR AND WHY THEY CARRY THIS
VIOLENCE? WE NEED TO INVEST IN
THESE PARTNERSHIPS AND TRAININGS
AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR TRIBES
ARE MEETING REGULARLY THAT ARE
TRIBAL LEADERS ARE COMING
TOGETHER TO DISCUSS WHAT IS
HAPPENING ON OUR RESERVATIONS,
AND HOW DO THEY SUPPORT EACH
OTHER? AND HOW DO WE SUPPORT OUR
PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE URBAN
COMMUNITIES ARE AS WELL. I ALSO
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO VALUE
THAN THE KNOWLEDGE, NATIVE
KNOWLEDGE AND OUR RESPONSES TO
HOW WE RESPONSE TO, UM WHAT'S
HAPPENING TO OUR PEOPLE? OUR
TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE KEEPERS? A
LOT OF OUR SURVIVORS ARE ASKING
FOR TRADITIONAL HEALING SERVICES
. SO AS ADVOCATES WE HAVE TO
BRING IN THESE TRADITIONAL
PEOPLE TO PRAY AND TAKE CARE OF
OUR PEOPLE, BUT IF WE WANT TO GO
BACK TO ANOTHER, UM A SYSTEMATIC
CHALLENGE. HOW DO WE MAKE THE
VALUE OF THAT TRADITIONAL PERSON
BE THE SAME VALUE AS A
PRACTITIONER OR A CLINICAL
PERSON? HOW DO WE PAY THEM AND
COMPENSATE THEM AND MAKE THAT
SERVICE BILLABLE INSTEAD OF
HAVING A THIRD PARTY FUNDING
SUPPORT THOSE, UH, SERVICES THAT
TRIBES AND URBAN'S ARE ARE
FORCED TO UH, PROVIDE. WE NEED
TO ALIGN POLICY AND FUNDING WITH
THE NEEDS OF OUR SURVIVORS AND
NEEDING MORE NATIVE
INVESTIGATORS FOR ALL OF OUR
TRIBAL, UH, UH, FOR ALL OF OUR
TRIBES AND THEN PARTNERING WITH
THE DOJ AND MAKING SURE THAT
WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I
ALSO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR YOUTH
ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
TEACHINGS TO ARGUES, BUT ALSO TO
OUR FAMILIES AND THINKING ABOUT
HOW HOW ARE WE TEACHING OUR
CHILDREN TO SOLVE PROBLEMS? HOW
ARE WE SHOWING THEM? UM THERE'S
THESE TRADITIONAL HEALING
PRACTICES GOING BACKWARDS. I
FEEL LIKE WITH THIS CRISIS RIGHT
NOW WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS. YOU
KNOW, I'VE BEEN HERE SEVERAL
TIMES TO TESTIFY, AND I FEEL
LIKE THE NUMBER JUST KEEPS
INCREASING FOR OUR PEOPLE. SO
HOW DO WE STOP THAT? AND I THINK
THAT THIS IS WHERE WE REALLY
NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND WE
REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THAT UNTIL WE ADDRESS THE ROOT
CAUSES OF WHAT'S HAPPENED TO OUR
PEOPLE, THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO
STOP THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCE. I
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM BEFORE I
AND, UM NATASHA STILL WHO WAS,
UM. MY NIECE AND SHE DROWNED IN
DEL NORTE COUNTY IN 2019. HER
DEATH WAS LABELED A DROWNING,
BUT WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT WAS
A DROWNING AS IT HAPPENED THAT
THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. I
ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY
BROTHER CAVANAUGH. MCGILL WHO
WAS ALSO MURDERED IN 20. AH 21
IN SONOMA COUNTY, AND NOTHING
HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT HIS CASE,
AND I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO
PRAY FOR AND SEND MY CONDOLENCES
TO OUR FAMILIES WHO ARE REALLY
FEELING THIS IN ROUND VALLEY AND
JUST, UM, THANK YOU, UH,
ASSEMBLYMAN RAMOS FOR AGAIN FOR
CONTINUING TO BRING THIS
SUBJECT. UM AS A PRIORITY IN
YOUR WORK. YEAH, WE THANK YOU SO
MUCH. AND YOU KNOW OUR HEARTS GO
OUT TO YOU AND ROUND VALLEY
TRAVEL PEOPLE FOR WHAT IT HAS.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN GOING
THROUGH AND CONTINUE TO GO
THROUGH. WE CONTINUE TO ELEVATE
THE AWARENESS HERE IN THE STATE
CAPITAL AND WE WILL BE OUT THERE
TOMORROW NIGHT. UM HAVING A
VISUAL TO BRING ATTENTION TO
OTHERS IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE
THAT'S NOT GOING AWAY. THIS IS
AN ISSUE THAT THE STATE NEEDS
TO, UM BE ABLE TO BRING
RESOURCES TO AND SO WE'LL BE OUT
THERE. UM, I THINK 6 30. 28 30
WITH THE LIGHTING OF THE CAPITOL
DOME. BUT AT THIS TIME I DO WANT
TO OFFER. UM UH, CATALINA
CHICAGOAN AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
ANY CLOSING STATEMENT. AS IT
SEEMS. NOW THAT CONSTRUCTION HAS
SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE BIT. UM, IF
YOU WOULD LIKE I APPRECIATE THAT
. UM I JUST WANTED TO SAY THE
COMMISSION IS DOING EVERYTHING
THEY CAN. AND I APPRECIATE YOU
ALLOWING ME TO HAVE A VOICE
TODAY. AND I WEAR TWO HATS WHEN
I COME IN HERE BECAUSE NOT ONLY
AM I SITTING AS A COMMISSIONER,
I'M ALSO A NATIVE WOMAN AND A
PROUD MEMBER OF THE PECHANGA
BAND. SO I MEAN, HEARING ALL
THESE STORIES TODAY. UM, YOU
KNOW, SHE MENTIONED HER HEART IS
HEAVY. I THINK ALL THE HEARTS IN
HERE. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE
BEING HERE TODAY, ESPECIALLY ALL
THE WOMEN AND THEIR VOICES. WE
ALL CARRY A LOT OF HATS IN HERE.
I COULD HEAR THAT FROM EVERYONE
STATEMENT TODAY WE COME HERE NOT
JUST AS MOTHERS AND SISTERS AND
GRANDMOTHERS BUT AS TRIBAL
LEADERS, AND, UM WE'VE PROBABLY
SIT ON AS MANY COMMITTEES AS WE
CAN, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR
PEOPLE. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU. I WAS TURNING TO TALK
REALLY FAST TRYING TO GET
THROUGH THAT IT WAS IT WAS HARD
FOR ALL THE WOMEN THAT WENT THAT
DID IT AND, UM, IT'S VERY HARD,
BUT THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME
THAT. EXTRA MINUTES. I
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND
WE'LL OPEN UP ANY QUESTIONS FROM
THE DAIS. IF THERE'S ANY I THINK
ALL THE PANEL UM FOR COMING
FORWARD TODAY, ADDRESSING ALL
THE ISSUES WITH THE COMPLEXITIES
IN TRYING TO EDUCATE THE
LEGISLATURE ON THE COMPLEXITIES
OF PUBLIC LAW, 2 80. SOME
MEMBERS UNDERSTAND THAT MAYBE
SOME MEMBERS OF THE FIRST TIME
WE'RE HEARING ABOUT PUBLIC CLOCK
TO 80, BUT AS INDIAN PEOPLE, UM
BEEN GROWING UP ON THE
RESERVATION. ULTIMATELY TRAVEL
CHAIRMAN WE'VE DEALT WITH PUBLIC
LAW 2 80. THEN WE MOVED FROM A
POINT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MOU S
WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. BUT
THAT'S NOT AFFORDED TO THE
MAJORITY OF THE CALIFORNIA
PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, WHO STILL, UM HAVE
TO RELY ON THE FED ISHI EVERY
RESPONSIBILITY. UM OF THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA WITH PUBLIC LAW 2
80 WITHOUT RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY ON INDIAN
RESERVATIONS WHERE MANY
JURISDICTIONS DON'T EVEN
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE THE
FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO MOVE
FORWARD. SO THERE IS GAPS THAT
WE NEED TO ADDRESS A B 44 TRYING
TO DEAL WITH THE CLEATS, UM,
COMPONENT OF IT AND TRIBAL
POLICING ABILITIES. UM, STILL
NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE
DISCUSSION HERE IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE. ON PUBLIC LAW 2 80
THOSE GAPS THAT NEED TO BE
IDENTIFIED. AND ALSO BEING ABLE
TO ATTEST TO THE. THE TRIBAL
COURT SYSTEM IN THE STATE COURSE
SYSTEM, TRYING TO MERGE THOSE
TOGETHER SO ENFORCEABILITY WOULD
BE THERE AND I THINK ONE OF THE
SPEAKERS TALKED ABOUT THE
ABILITY TO HOLD NON TRIBAL
MEMBERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR ACTS
BEING PERPETRATED ON INDIAN
RESERVATIONS, TRAVEL COMMUNITIES
WHERE THEY DETAIN A PERSON WOULD
HAVE TO WAIT FOR LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO SHOW UP AND IN
SOME CASES COULD TAKE AN AMOUNT
OF TIME GETTING THERE. SO THESE
ARE COMPLEXITIES THAT WE STILL
SEE, UM AND ULTIMATELY LEADING
TO TRIBES DECLARING A STATE OF
EMERGENCY. AND BEING ABLE TO
DIVE DEEPER INTO THAT OF WHAT IS
EXPECTED FROM A TRIBAL COMMUNITY
WHEN THEY DECLARE AN EMERGENCY
FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO
ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY'S ON THE
SAME PAGE, CERTAINLY SEEING THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA NOW IN THE
TOP FIVE OF ALL STATES IN THE
NATION OF UNSOLVED AND
UNRESOLVED. UM MURDERS. UM CASES
HERE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE
ALARMING TO ALL. TO ALL THAT'S
OUT THERE. AND, UM SOMEONE
BROUGHT UP HOW WASHINGTON STATE
HAS MOVED FORWARD AGAIN, UM,
WITH LEIA, SONS AND THOSE
THINGS, SO IT'S SOMETHING TO
LOOK AT. AND MOVING FORWARD. UM
THESE THESE ARE COMPLEX ISSUES,
BUT AS CHAIRMAN JO JAMES
MENTIONED THESE ARE COMPLEX
ISSUES THAT HAVE PLAGUED OUR
PEOPLE FROM FROM TIME IN
MEMORIAL FROM THE TREATMENT
TOWARDS OUR PEOPLE AND OUR WOMEN
. WE MOVE FORWARD ON GETTING RID
OF THE S WORD, BUT IT'S THAT
HISTORICAL TRAUMA MENTALITY THAT
STILL PLAYS OUT TODAY. AND I
THINK, UM, JUDGE ABBY OR SOMEONE
MENTIONED THAT THESE AREN'T JUST
HISTORICAL TRAUMAS, TRAUMAS THAT
ARE PRESENT DAY TRAUMAS. THAT
ARE STILL BEING INFLICTED UPON
OUR PEOPLE AND OUR WOMEN THAT
NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO BE ADDRESSED
AND AGAIN, ANYWHERE ELSE. IF
THIS WAS HAPPENING, THERE WOULD
BE TASK FORCE ASSEMBLED. THERE
WILL BE ISSUES MOVING FORWARD TO
WHY IT'S GOING ON TO HAVE TWO
FATALITIES WITHIN A TRIBAL
COMMUNITY IN THREE WEEKS IS A
PROBLEM. TO SEE THESE AREAS
CONTINUING. AH! TO HAVE TO COME
TO A POINT TO WHERE THE VOICES
ARE BEING ELEVATED WITHIN A
HEARING IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA SO THAT THOSE IN THE
ROOM GET EDUCATED ON THE ISSUES
THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
FOR YEARS. FINALLY WE HAVE A
VOICE. WITHIN THE HEARING ROOMS
TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES AND MOVING FORWARD. WE
HEARD CLEARLY THE NEED TO MOVE
FORWARD ON RED RIBBON COMPONENT.
THAT WOULD. ADDRESS FUNDING. IT
WAS ADDRESS WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
BUT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME MORE
DIALOGUE ON IT, SO THAT WE HAVE
ALL PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO HAVE A
VOICE INSIDE THAT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION MOVING FORWARD.
WE'VE HERE CLEARLY MY COLLEAGUES
AND MYSELF ON THE COMPLEXITIES
OF PUBLIC LAW 2 80 LOOKING BACK
AND HEARING FROM THOSE AS FAR AS
LOOKING AT A B 44, ITS ORIGINAL
LANGUAGE, MOVING FORWARD IN SOME
OF THOSE COMPONENTS THAT ARE
THERE. THIS IS NOT MEANT TO
SOLVE ALL THE ISSUES, BUT IT'S
MEANT TO ELEVATE THE ISSUES THAT
STILL PLAGUE OUR PEOPLE. AND TO
CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. UM AND
ONE ACCORD AS A STATE
LEGISLATURE THAT NOW, UM HAS
BEEN EDUCATED ON THE ISSUES THAT
PLAGUE OUR PEOPLE. IT'S WHERE DO
WE GO NOW? MOVING FORWARD PUBLIC
LAW 2 80 VICTIMS RIGHTS SERVICES
, RIGHT TRIBAL COURT SYSTEM AND
THE PROTECTION THAT'S THERE. AND
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
OUR COLLEAGUES ON THESE ISSUES.
BUT WE ALSO, UM WE'LL CALL OUT
TO INDIAN COUNTRY. INDIAN
COUNTRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
VOICE IS BEING RESONATED. WE'RE
GONNA BE OUT HERE TOMORROW IN
THE CAPITAL OF RED AS THE CHAIR
OF RULES WERE ABLE TO DO THAT TO
BRING ATTENTION. UH, IN
AWARENESS TO OUR ISSUES, BUT
WE'RE CALLING OUT ON ALL TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES, VERY RECOGNIZED
TRIBE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT TO START
BRINGING AWARENESS AROUND THESE
ISSUES THESE ISSUES OF MM I. W
THE ISSUES OF VICTIM SERVICES,
THE ISSUES OF EQUALITY ISSUES OF
FOSTER CARE. THESE ARE ISSUES
THAT HAVE PLAGUED OUR PEOPLE.
IT'S TIME THAT WE UNIFY AROUND
THESE ISSUES AND LET OUR VOICES
BE HEARD. I WANT TO THANK EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR
PARTICIPATING TODAY. AND THIS IS
JUST THE BEGINNING OF SEVERAL
HEARINGS THAT WE WILL CONDUCT
WHILE WE'RE IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE TO BRING AWARENESS
AROUND OUR PEOPLE IN HOPES OF
UNIFIED, ONE VOICE THAT
CALIFORNIA INDIAN PEOPLE ARE
HERE IN THESE ISSUES WON'T BE
TOLERATED ANYMORE. AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, THE REASON AND THE
PASSION THAT WE MOVE FORWARD IS
BECAUSE OF OUR ANCESTORS AND
OUTERS ARE STILL CRYING OUT.
FROM THE GROUNDS IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. TELL THEM TRULY WHO
WE ARE. TELL THEM TRULY ABOUT
THE HISTORICAL TRAUMA AND THE
PRESENT DAY TRAUMA THAT'S STILL
ISN'T ELECTING OUR PEOPLE. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED. HERE. PIECES OF YEAH.
IT'S BAD. THANK YOU. YEAH OKAY.
OKAY?
WE WANT TO GET A GROUP FIT GROUP
PICTURE OF ALL THE PANELISTS IF
THEY'RE STILL HERE. IF YOU COULD
COME UP HERE OR EVERYBODY HERE.
WE WANT TO GET A GROUP PICTURE
OF EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM. IF YOU
WANT TO COME UP HERE TO THE
DIOCESE WILL GET A PICTURE
QUICKLY. YEAH THAT MEANS YOU IF
YOU'RE HEARING ME THANK YOU SO
MUCH. YEAH IF YOU COULD COME UP
HERE, WE'LL GET A GROUP PICTURE.
YEAH, EVERYONE. THAT'S GREAT.
EVERYONE. COME ON. CHAIRMAN
TORTOISE. COME ON UP, EVERYONE.
COME ON UP, WE'LL GET A GOOD
PICTURE. EDUARDO AVELLINO JUMP
IN THERE. YEAH. HERE. PEOPLE GO
THERE. WHAT HAPPENS AROUND THAT
BACK, OKAY. OH, YEAH. AH! HEY,
MAN. THANKS FOR BEING HERE,
JEREMY. EVERYBODY COME ON UP.
COME ON UP. YOU CAN COME UP HERE
TO THE DIET SERGEANT HOTEL. YOU
CAN TAKE A PICTURE ON YOUR PHONE
CHURCH CHURCH ONE THING. YEAH
FEATURE SHARE WITH EVERYBODY IN
IT THAT WANTS TO BE IN IT. COME
ON. COME ON, CHAIRMAN JAMES.
HOLD ON EVERYTHING. JANET
CHAIRMAN NORTHPORT COMING ON UP
HERE. OKAY, SITTING IN THESE
CHAIRS. YOU READY? WE HAVE ONE.
OKAY READY RIGHT HERE. READY
123. LET ME GET ONE MORE TICKET
OFF. RIGHT HERE AGAIN. OH, WE'RE
MOVING. SORRY. OKAY RIGHT HERE.
READY? 123. PERFECT THANK YOU.
EVERYBODY GET THOSE GOOD.