JUSTICE FOR MAYA ????

The Sacred Healing Lodge for MMIW families now carries the imprint of the the Tabalanza Family to acknowledge their pain in this loss and offer healing on this grieving journey. MAYA forever remembered in such an honorable way.

The Power of Prayer in all its unique expressions From Local Vigils, to Native Ceremonial Prayer Runs across tribal lands, Prayer Rise hikes, organized Marches that spilled into the streets calling out for justice and rallies that ignited the hearts of people to keep us going when there were no answers.

The beautiful intersection of not only raising awareness for MAYAs story but highlighting the stories of thousands of Sisters… Gone missing, by honoring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Native American Women from all over embraced Maya, an indigenous Filipina, as their Sister Missing at worse Murdered like so many of our Women’s stories that are never heard of.

Celebrating the interfaith Prayers of the Community, Maya’s niece, Rica offering the Saint Anthony Prayer along with the families Catholic Novena Prayers, Christian Biblical passages and songs by Hanna Medina. The Prayer songs from Time immemorial sung by the Bird Singers, original people of Kumeyaay Ancestral Homelands sowing reverence and compassion for the family.

All of these efforts brought the beauty and love for MAYA to a place where her story can be heard. The photos, videos on social and news media kindled the fires ? that kept this story aflame. They should not be forgotten.

When CVPD were nowhere to be seen for months, while I covered weekly SOLO searches like so many unnamed community members, while Liliana Burke and her partner, Juan Miguel took to the grind and researched forensics, purchased their own equipment, coordinated and collaborated daily with community, creating inroads by more advanced searches by establishing cooperative relationships with Paddle Warriors, San Diego County Sherifs, BLM and like myself Border Patrol pulling out all stops in efforts to responsibly search for MAYA and bring her home…

Now that Chula Vista Police Department has endured the scrutiny of Public Pressure and criticism, public Comment at City Council Chambers and felt the ongoing presence of people and media shinning the light on this story as a result from a collaborative call for justice… they don’t get to just waltz in and take over and take credit for the selfless sacrifice, footwork of the community and the leaders who spearheaded these efforts.

It would be deplorable to dismiss and silence the voices of those organizing efforts. It has been observed on the larger media outlets that the recaps on the story are beginning to tell a different tale, completely omitting the real story of this journey to Justice. Maybe there is a need to manicure the story to make it more sensationalized for a National stage but no justice can be served when the truth is manipulated.

I came across a disturbing post that read that CVPD will be taking over the searches. I didn’t read “in Collaboration with Liliana Burke and the Search Warriors.” I did read Maricris Tabalanza Drouaillet and Richard would be working alongside CVPD in their efforts. This newly found relationship with CVPD is what we’ve been fighting for but not at the expense of loyal people who have been there from the beginning for Maya and the family.

And so here I am writing this post wondering why is our sister’s voiced being silence here. She has been an honorable in every way and an outstanding spokesperson in the media for the family in regards to the searches. Humble, eloquent, and serving. These kind of tactics to write someone out of the narrative and takeover the foundation and footwork they have done hurts my ♥️.

Now that MAYA’s case has traction and after peacefully organizing efforts to bring attention to her story, how this story goes forward matters. All we want is to ensure MAYA gets justice but to discard the very people who brought you closer to obtaining that is a form of injustice within itself.

The question raised is now that CVPD is joining more assertively in the search efforts does this elevate MAYAs case from MISSING Persons status to finally a Criminal investigation. If so any of the searches from here on out will be DARK spaces for the community once again as anything involving CVPD is withheld information. The good news is that the family seems to be confident and content with this now unified effort.

What we care about most is that MAYA’s case sees the light of truth and justice is served in the legacy of her story and how her beautiful spirit brought a diverse community of people together.; from her family and friends to Kumeyaay Indigenous Tribal People of these territories, Natives all across Turtle island, local City Community members and supporters that reach worldwide.

In the collaborative efforts of all… Justice is beginning to see the light of day as Larry Millete, Maya’s Husband has been arrested for the Murder of his Wife. It is certain that the impact of the recent Missing case of Gabby Pittito added more pressure to Missing cases as the disparities of treatment and media coverage between White women Missing cases and Women of Color.

As voices were raised all over the country exposing the inequities it is without question that every Law Enforcement agency understood they would be held into account to ensure they better start making our cases a priority as well.

Thank you CVPD for finally brining in Larry Milliete and working diligently behind the scenes on this high profile case. Understanding that we needed overwhelming circumstantial evidence to see Justice.

For those of us who were there from the beginning and had a front row seat we know the truth. Yet, we are all grateful that in the end MAYA’s story will get the chance for Justice she and her family deserve.

We are just getting tired of having to fight tooth and nail to get our Missing and Murdered Women’s cases seen and heard. INVISIBLE NO MORE. WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED.