When Keisha Kootswatewa disappeared from the Navajo Nation in March 2022, her family’s ordeal in reporting her missing exposed systemic issues in addressing such cases. Yolanda Bydonie, a relative, expressed frustration at the bureaucratic obstacles they faced. “We weren’t taken seriously,” she lamented.
Kootswatewa, a Hopi mother of three, vanished from Teesto, sparking a prolonged search by her family. Initially, the Hopi Police Department hesitated to take their report, citing jurisdictional reasons, and directed them to the Navajo Nation Police Department. However, they referred the family back to the Hopi authorities, leading to weeks of delays. “We lost time,” Bydonie reflected.
This experience reinforces Bydonie’s support for a proposed alert system aimed at missing Indigenous individuals. “They don’t have to be forgotten,” she said, emphasizing the need for timely public notifications to aid in search efforts.
The Legislative Push
Arizona’s proposed Missing Indigenous or Endangered Person Alert System seeks to address gaps in current alert protocols. Inspired by existing Amber and Silver Alerts, this system would notify the public about missing Indigenous or endangered persons through the federally authorized Emergency Alert System.
Sponsored by Rep. Teresa Martinez, House Bill 2281 has received unanimous support in the Arizona House and Senate committees. Martinez argues that the new alert can fill a crucial gap for missing individuals aged 18 to 55, a demographic currently underserved by existing systems.
In a poignant committee meeting, Martinez cited the tragic case of Emily Pike, a 14-year-old San Carlos Apache girl. Despite her disappearance, no Amber Alert was issued, and her remains were tragically discovered weeks later. Martinez is considering naming the new alert in her memory.
Filling Critical Gaps
Currently, Arizona employs Amber Alerts for abducted minors and Silver Alerts for missing seniors or individuals with cognitive impairments. However, adults aged 18 or older are often left without a public alert system. According to the FBI, over 10,600 Indigenous people were reported missing in the U.S. in 2023, spotlighting this gap.
Valaura Imus-Nahsonhoya, coordinator for Arizona’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Task Force, highlighted the systemic challenges families face when reporting missing adults. “The biggest thing is that we’re not believed,” she noted. This proposed alert system aims to bolster law enforcement response and ensure swift public notification.
Community Momentum
Advocacy for an Indigenous-focused alert system has been ongoing since 2019. April Ignacio, co-founder of Indivisible Tohono, emphasizes the significance of this legislative progress. “We have been pushing this for six years,” she remarked, acknowledging the collaborative efforts that have brought the bill to fruition.
Elayne Gregg, another advocate, underscored the alert system’s importance in acknowledging Indigenous lives. Her personal tragedy, the loss of her daughter Rhia, fuels her dedication to this cause. “Indigenous people go missing at a higher rate than any other ethnicity,” she stated, asserting that systemic change is essential.
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