Restoration Magazine

Hecel Wasagyah Unyapi kte—We will stay strong

During a Four Directions Walk, more than 100 people gathered at the Sacred Heart Church hall to speak out about their loved ones who went missing or were murdered. Many tears flowed as families spoke of their experiences and trauma.

In the last five years, a number of women have gone missing or were found murdered. Organizers compiled a list of 16 names of missing and murdered tribal members. Two tribal members, Larissa Lonehill and Alex Vasquez, are still missing.

Suzanne Kills Back spoke of her little sister, Sharon Kills Back, who was abducted 32 years ago. She was found murdered in Texas.
She told the families in mourning, there is hope for closure and to remember to keep them in prayer. It took 20 years and six months before her little sister’s killer was found.

Darla Black, Oglala Sioux Tribe’s vice president, held the Wiping of Tears Ceremony for the mourners and spoke of the need for awareness and education. Recently, a young Lakota girl was almost abducted by a truck driver near Rapid City when she tried to catch a ride home to the reservation. Fortunately, she managed to get away and find safety.

Larissa Lonehill, 21, was last seen on October 2, 2016, in Rapid City. She has not been heard from since. Lisa Lonehill, Larissa’s mother, who attended the event said, “I miss my daughter every day and hope they will be able to find her.”

Donna Salomon, Oglala Sioux Tribe’s secretary, spoke for the family of Jessie Waters, who died on April 30, 2015. Jessie was with child and a young mother with two sons, a very caring woman. “How she was taken from us is what hurts the most,” said Salomon.

Sam Long, father of Hanna Harris, spoke of the pain of losing a loved one and said Hanna would be 25 years old on that day. He spoke about what Hanna loved to do— fancy dance, rodeo—and her plans to join the military. “We chose today to honor and remember our loved ones,” said Long. “All over, people are doing events such as this for awareness and to remember them.”

Two miniature dresses representing Emily Blue Bird and Hanna Harris were present during the event.

The traveling display is being developed by Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains as one of their projects to build awareness and education in grassroots communities regarding the epidemic of missing and murdered Native women and the need to establish a protocol for when a loved one goes missing.

“We need to keep saying their names and seek justice for their families. Their lives mattered,” said Amanda Takes War Bonnet, Education Specialist for Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains. “There is no real data on the number of women who go missing in Indian country; we need to be their voice.”

Karen Red Star, the tribe’s health education director, who collaborated with the tribe’s employee assistance program, the vice president’s office, Sacred Shawl Society, and OST Victims Services to organize the event, also drafted a proclamation that was signed by the president of the tribe. The proclamation declared May 5th as a day of remembrance for the Murdered and Missing Native Women, Children, and Men of the Oglala Nation.