MMIP summit brings tribes and state leaders together in California

Tribes from across California will gather in Wheatland this week for the 4th annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Summit, according to KCRA 3. The two-day event begins Tuesday at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and will bring together tribal leaders, community members, state legislators, law enforcement, victim advocates and families affected by MMIP cases. Organizers said discussions will focus on the factors driving the crisis and efforts to address it.

According to a media release cited by KCRA 3, the summit’s theme is “Justice, Healing, and Sovereignty: Tribal Solutions to the MMIP Crisis.” Tribal leaders and state lawmakers are expected to discuss two proposed bills, SB 891 and AB 1574. SB 891 would create a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Justice Program within the California Department of Justice, while AB 1574 would establish a Tribal Foster Care Prevention Program. Organizers expect about 1,000 people to attend.