Indigenous Justice

06/11/2026

❗️Update: AB1581 passed ✅🙏 🎉

We are excited to share that AB1581 passed the Senate Education Committee unanimously!! A big thank you to Angelina Hinojosa of Native Sisters Circle for her personal testimony as a student witness to the challenges and importance of Native visibility in schools. "Accurate data isn’t just able numbers; it’s about making sure Native students receive support, opportunities, and resources necessary to succeed”

“We should enter the system Native American, and graduate Native American. AB1581 is a meaningful step toward equity, accountability, and honoring California’s First Peoples.”

You can find the recording of the hearing here, under Senate Education Committee, Time 49:25: https://www.senate.ca.gov/media-archive

Thank you all!

06/11/2026

"My bill, AB 1581, to ensure an accurate data count of Native American students in California schools cleared its first Senate committee today on a unanimous, bipartisan vote. It is estimated that as many as 90 percent of Native youth are not counted which means they and their schools do not receive the resources they deserve and need. I appreciate all the State Senate education committee members who approved the measure.
Pictured in the photo to the left are Morning Star Gali, a supporter and Angelina Hinojosa, Youth Leader and Member of Pinoleville Band of Pomo Indians. Angelina testified today along with Chad Mays who appeared as a witness on behalf of AB 1581's sponsor, the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians. Pictured in the photo to the right, are a few of the supporters who also joined us this morning. Thank you all for taking the time to come and express your support!" Assemblymember James C. Ramos Native Sisters Circle

06/11/2026

Morning Star Gali of Indigenous Justice said the discussions are part of a broader effort to build a support network for Native communities and families in Shasta County, helping them prioritize key information when issuing Feather Alerts and community notifications.

“The effort here is to build a base, a volunteer base, and for the attendees to have the information," Gali explained. "It’s knowledge sharing, it’s resource sharing, so that when a person does go missing, that they understand.“

Local activists are looking to create a shasta county coalition focused on missing and murdered Indigenous people in the areaAnd are holding trainings for the

06/09/2026

Shared heritage is a gift. Because of a loophole in the state’s data collection system, when students check other races in addition to Native American in their school ethnicity forms, their Native identity is not counted. This has resulted in students being denied extra services they’re entitled to as Native students that better support them in school.

AB 1581 would allow Native American students to write in the name of their tribe on school forms and identify as Native American plus another race (if applicable) to hopefully provide a more comprehensive, more nuanced view of California’s Native American student population. AB 1581 works to address the major undercount of Native American presence in the state, and has the potential to impact the public perception of Native Americans, by not rare or even peoples of the past.

Native people are still here, and we are everywhere. Vote YES on AB 1581 to advocate for a truer picture of Native American presence in our California schools.

If you are in the Sacramento area and can attend in person, the hearing is set for June 10th at 9 am, O St Building, Room 2100.

06/09/2026

Building power means building it together. Indigenous Justice works alongside our communities to strength our collective action toward justice. Sharing this upcoming gathering held by Next250 on June 27th to connect our people to the Mobilization. RSVP here to join the movement https://www.next250.us/rsvp.

06/05/2026

Morning Star Gali, sponsor of the bill and chief executive officer and founder of Indigenous Justice noted on Monday, "Today’s floor hearing on AB 1881 was about affirming that Indigenous peoples in California should not have to fight for the basic right to practice our religions, protect our sacred places, and carry forward our cultural lifeways without state interference. AB 1881 strengthens protections for Tribal religious freedom, including ensuring there is no unnecessary state interference with Indigenous religious practice on state lands. This bill is about respect, accountability, and protecting future generations by honoring Tribal sovereignty, ceremony, and sacred sites."

California Assembly members approved a measure establishing enforceable protections for the free exercise of California Indian religious and spiritual practices on state lands.

06/05/2026

AB 1881 has successfully passed the California State Assembly and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

As AB 1881 enters the Senate process, we encourage continued engagement and support to help ensure California upholds and respects the religious freedom of Indigenous peoples.

This important legislation would establish enforceable protections for the free exercise of California Indian religious and spiritual practices on state lands, helping ensure that Native peoples can continue practicing and protecting our traditions, ceremonies, and sacred places for future generations.

06/03/2026

A two-day gathering to support the repatriation of Indigenous Peoples' sacred items & human remains in California.

Click here ⬇️ or Scan QR Code to register.
https://forms.gle/FaS3PFdcm1p6AQ7F6

06/02/2026

Please join us in congratulating Gabrielle Lira on graduating from California State University, Fresno, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Behavioral Science.

Gabrielle has also earned certifications in:

Victimology

Serving At-Risk Youth

Administration of Justice

As a Central Valley MMIP Fellow, Gabrielle continues dedicating her work to supporting Tribal communities throughout the Central Valley. Through her education and advocacy experience, she plans to utilize her degree to strengthen community support systems, advocate for Indigenous families, support at-risk youth, and continue raising awareness surrounding Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.

We are incredibly proud of all her accomplishments and look forward to seeing the continued impact she will make through her advocacy and service. As a Central Valley MMIP Fellow with Indigenous Justice
Gabrielle remains dedicated to supporting California Tribal communities through advocacy, education, and community engagement. Through her educational journey and advocacy experience, she plans to use her degree to strengthen community support systems, advocate for Indigenous families, provide ongoing support to system impacted youth, and continue raising awareness and advancing solutions to address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) crisis.

Congratulations, Gabrielle Lira

05/29/2026

Register today for our Community Training Sessions for Families, Advocates, and Community Members addressing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) Crisis.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1O_S_LzPt5H32EIvcpVKGpUJN3FEyg4yQdYNvwYCwBFQ/edit

These trainings are designed to strengthen advocacy efforts, increase awareness, and provide tools and resources to support families impacted by MMIP. Through a more informed and collective response, we can work together to bring our relatives home, support survivors and families, and advance justice, safety, and lasting change for our communities.