ND legislators consider bill creating alert for missing indigenous people

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — A new alert could be coming to North Dakota, focused on missing Indigenous people.

It’s being called a Feather Alert, and it would be used in similar situations as an Amber Alert.

The alert system would be under the control of Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the highway patrol.

Law enforcement would activate the alert only if certain criteria were met.

The person would have to be missing from unexplained, dangerous, or suspicious circumstances, and considered either abducted or with a dangerous person.

Lawmakers heard emotional testimony from those in favor of HB 1535 who have lost loved ones, including the family of Renzo Bullhead. Bullhead has been missing since March 16.

“1535 is about ensuring that when an indigenous person goes missing, every available resource is mobilized to bring them home safely,” said Rep. Jayme Davis (D-Rolette). “This is not just a tribal issue, it is a North Dakota issue and it is our responsibility to act.”

The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the North Dakota Highway Patrol testified in opposition to the bill. However, they were more concerned over details of the bill rather than the bill as a whole.

The committee make now recommendations either for or against the bill at this time.