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How a racist law is causing more missing and murdered indigenous people in California

Opinion BY JAMES C. RAMOS SPECIAL TO THE SACRAMENTO BEE

California has the fifth-highest number of missing and murdered Indigenous people cases in the country. How did we get here?

After passing Public Law 280 in 1953, Congress essentially washed its hands of funding law enforcement and criminal justice on tribal lands in six states: Alaska, California, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon and Wisconsin. That meant much fewer resources for public safety and significant obstacles to preventing or resolving cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people in these states.

CA Lawmaker Wants Office of Suicide Prevention To Protect Young People

Democratic California Assemblyman James Ramos has a bill that he says would create an Office of Suicide Prevention to reduce suicides, particularly among vulnerable groups like adolescents, seniors, veterans, and LGBTQ people.

"Suicide is a horrific tragedy that affects too many, and now we are seeing youth at a much younger age taking their own lives," Ramos said. "AB 2112 will assist California to renew our efforts to prevent suicide and stem the devastation."

50 Inland teachers celebrate California Native American Day at conference hosted by San Manuel

Brian Whitehead with the San Bernardino Sun published a piece on the educational workshops for teachers and students in conjunction with California Native American Day.

Ramos, a former San Manuel chairman, said the annual gathering aspires to “undo decades of misinformation that has been told in textbooks.”

“These conferences,” he added, “are an important part of healing from these tragedies and retelling the history of California Native Americans for future generations to come.”