(KRON) — On Friday, South Bay officials, health experts, and community advocates gathered at San Jose City Hall to shed light on the issue of missing, murdered, and trafficked Indigenous peoples, also known as MMTIP.
“Every day someone else is being lost in our community,” said Sonya Tetnowski, CEO of the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley. “There was just recently a 2-year-old who died while in foster care. This is not OK.”
Officials and advocates described the crisis as a public health emergency, pointing to systemic failures that disproportionately impact Indigenous communities.
“MMIP is definitely a public health crisis. The systems that are supposed to support them fall short,” said Morning Star Gali, an Indigenous justice advocate. “This is especially true for Indigenous women and Two-Spirit relatives who experience the highest rates of violence.”
The Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley, alongside elected officials and public health experts, presented new data showing the extent of the crisis in the Bay Area.
“More than half of those surveyed, 55%, reported having a murdered relative,” said Santa Clara County District 1 Councilmember Peter Ortiz. “Half have a loved one who has gone missing, and 54% reported experiencing sexual assault themselves.”
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Local leaders said improving coordination across health care systems and investing in culturally grounded care are key steps toward prevention. They emphasized the importance of centering Indigenous voices in all solutions.
“As a county, we are the keeper of a safety net, and we have a responsibility to do better,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Betty Duong. “Especially for Indigenous children and families who have been historically undercounted, underserved and overlooked.”
Advocates also pointed to recent cases that highlight the severity of the crisis. In 2025, a teenage girl from Arizona, Emily Pike, went missing. ABC15 Arizona reports Pike’s cause of death was “homicidal violence with blunt head trauma.”
“Emily Pike was close to home. She’s from my homeland, a cousin, a sister, a family member,” said advocate and community member Candy Peirera. “This is not only a red handprint for me, it’s a voice that we need to raise, not only for just our children, the elderly, those that have gone missing, but a voice for justice, a voice for peace.”
Despite increased national attention, advocates say major gaps remain in prevention, response and support for victims, especially in urban Native communities.
“Data is power, and without it, we will continue to address this crisis only at an individual level,” said Monica Arellano, vice chairwoman of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area, after closing in an Indigenous language.
Leaders say they hope continued awareness, investment, and collaboration will lead to meaningful change and better protection for Indigenous communities.