Patricia "Trish" Martinez

Patricia "Trish"Martinez is a fierce advocate in Diegueno, Luiseno, and Kumeyaay Territories also know as the San Diego - Tijuana Border Region of California. Trish directs Justicia Digna's work related to Missing & Murdered Women and Relatives Movement (MMIW/R), protecting children under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), and coordinating support and services for survivors of crimes including trafficking, domestic violence, and gender violence. 

 

Trish dedicates her time to addressing human trafficking in Indian Country and serves as serves as her Tribal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Representativethe Native Liaison to San Diego Regional Human Trafficking/CSEC Advisory Council. She was recently recognized for her work with an award from the San Diego Human Trafficking Advisory Council. Trish Martinez’s passion for equality, justice and community fuel her advocacy for the disenfranchised, the abused and forgotten; on and off tribal lands. Trish is Diegueño/Yaqui and citizen of the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians of San Diego, California. Trish’s advocacy quickly advanced her into an international community speaking at the March 2017 United Nations: 61st Commission on the Status of Women: Human Trafficking in Native Country. 

 

Patricia "Trish" Martinez works tirelessly to protect Indigenous women, girls, & TS/LGBTQ+ trafficking survivors, and victims of crime. Trish is known nationally for her work in the Missing & Murdered Women and Relatives Movement (MMIW/R) and for her work on behalf of Native children, families, & tribes protected by the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and with the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA). Additionally, Trish travels the nation to speak and attend convening related to these issues she cares so deeply about.