Highland, Calif. (April 29, 2026) — Members of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (YSMN), together with allies from across the Southern California region, gathered in a powerful demonstration of solidarity to confront the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP). The fourth annual MMIP 5K, held at California State University, San
Bernardino and organized by the Tribe’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Advocacy Group, welcomed more than 200 participants to build issue awareness, advocacy and healing.
Held just days before California recognizes May as MMIP Awareness Month, the event served as a visible call to action. Participants—many wearing red face paint or traditional regalia—walked to honor stolen relatives, support survivors, and affirm that Native American communities and families searching for answers will not be left to stand alone.
“Every step taken in this 5K is in support of those who have become a victim of violence and those still missing that they have not been forgotten,” said Audrey Hernandez, Youth Committee Vice Chair and MMIP advocate for Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation. “This walk is about bringing attention to this crisis and supporting survivors and their families as a community. We are stronger together and serve as a voice to ensure these stories are told. This epidemic has gone on for far too long and we won’t stop the work until every missing person is found and families find the justice they deserve.”
The MMIP crisis is rooted in long-standing inequities in public safety, data collection, and criminal justice coordination. Gaps between tribal, state, and federal jurisdictions create opportunities for predators to exploit Native American people living on reservations, in rural communities and in urban areas. As a result, crimes often go unreported, investigations stall, and too many families are left without justice.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Indigenous people are more than three times as likely to be reported missing as the general population. Although Native people represent only about 1.1 percent of the U.S. population, they account for approximately 3.5 percent of active cases in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System—an alarming disparity that reflects thousands of missing Indigenous relatives nationwide.
Since 2019, the MMIP Advocacy Group has worked to elevate the voices of survivors and families through public education campaigns, legislative advocacy, and community-driven events. Their efforts continue to push for systemic reforms and improved data reporting to put an end to the neglect that leaves too many without answers.