Intertribal Life Newspaper -

DENVER, Colo.-On December 30, Colorado joined several states to start using a Missing Indigenous Person Alert (MIPA) system. Because of the large percentage of Native Americans who go missing, the system is designed to raise awareness and give law enforcement access to investigate cases sooner.

Last year, legislation passed in the state to expand the investigation of cases of missing and murdered indigenous people. State lawmakers passed Senate Bill 22– 150, and Gov. Jared Polis signed the bill into law last summer.

When law enforcement receives a report of an Indigenous person missing,...