Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) authored the 2022 legislation that took effect a year ago.
“The Feather Alert is a tool to enlist the public’s assistance when a Native American might be at peril,” Ramos said. “Earlier this year, the Assembly reviewed the effectiveness of this important tool one year after it began, and listened to tribal members and law enforcement. We are committed to ensuring that this lifesaving notification system works effectively and easily for families worried about missing loved ones.”
Since the Feather Alert’s implementation, tribal communities made five requests, but the California Highway Patrol, in consultation with local law enforcement, granted activation in two instances. Of the two approved alerts, only one missing individual was found.
AB 1863 would streamline the process for activating the Feather Alert and make it more easily accessible.
The proposed changes would also expand definitions of endangered and missing for purposes of the alert notification and would require the CHP to issue a reason for denying activation within 48 hours.
“We carry the strength of our ancestors to ensure our tribal citizens are safe and protected,” said Bear River of the Rohnerville Rancheria Chairwoman Josefina Frank. “The work that has been done on AB 1863 has provided tribal nations their voices back to ensure we end MMIP.”
Chairwoman Frank continued, “We are the voice and movement for those we have lost, those who are hurting and the generations to come.”
“We are grateful to Assemblymember Ramos for introducing the Feather Alert and putting forth AB 1863 this session to directly address concerns from those at the forefront of this crisis,” Pechanga Band of Indians Councilwoman Catalina Chacon said. “Allowing our tribal governments to communicate directly with the State affirms our sovereignty, saves critical time, and will further help bring our missing people home safely.”
“I thank Assemblymember Ramos for creating this mechanism to quickly get the word out when Indigenous people go missing or are at risk,” said Yurok Tribal Chairman Joe James.
In citing his support for AB 1863 James stated, “We supported previous legislation that created this alert because it will help reduce the disproportionate rate of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People cases in California. The next generation of Indigenous California should not have to live in a world where they have to worry about family members going missing or worse. With the updates in this legislation, we will take action to address the remaining root causes of this complex crisis.”
AB 1863 is sponsored by the Bear River of the Rohnerville Rancheria, the Pechanga Band of Mission Indians and the Yurok Tribe.
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