Tribal leaders gather in Sacramento for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Month

PALA – Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Month was observed in Sacramentp by the California State Assmebly and Tribal leaders, including Robert Smith, chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, who participated on Thursday, May 5.

“On behalf of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, we thank California Assemblyman James Ramos for helping to shed light on this terrible epidemic that is plaguing the indigenous population,” Smith said.

“Bringing awareness to the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous people throughout California and the United States is an important step in the right direction,” Smith said.

In 2016, 5,712 missing and murdered indigenous cases were reported to the National Crime Information Center. Homicide is the second to seventh leading cause of death for indigenous women, and indigenous women face murder rates ten times higher than the national average.

California has the largest population of American Indians, and the sixth-highest death rate of indigenous women in urban cities. “We will continue to advocate for this vulnerable population and fight to bring them the justice they deserve,” Smith said.

The Pala Band of Mission Indians is a federally-recognized tribe whose reservation is located along the Palomar Mountain range approximately 30 miles northeast of San Diego. The majority of the more than 900 tribal members live on the 12,000-acre reservation, established for Cupeño and Luiseño Indians, who consider themselves to be one proud people -- Pala.