Sarah Lee Circle Bear, left, with her two children. Circle Bear died in a South Dakota jail cell in July. She was 24 years old. Photo from RFH
Sarah Sunshine Manning reflects on the death of Sarah Lee Circle Bear, a 24-year-old mother, in a South Dakota jail cell:
When we say, “Native Lives Matter,” we do mean all Native lives, right? The thing about Native people today is that we struggle with addictions, mental health disparities, and shattered family structures. Tracing our history, we now understand that all of this is a direct result of historical trauma and centuries of oppressive federal Indian policies. We didn’t do this ourselves, and in the words of Michelle Obama, “This didn’t happen overnight.” So now we are faced with communities struggling with addictions, incarcerations, drug overdoses, alcohol and drug related deaths, and suicides. Remember, once again, this didn’t happen overnight. Yes, it is true, Native people top the charts, so to speak, for nearly every societal ill out there. Does this mean that we are horrible people? That we are addicts and alcoholics? Lazy and weak? As compassionate and mindful people, we all know that the answer to this is clearly no.Get the Story:
Sarah Sunshine Manning: Circle Bear Autopsy Report Released, and The Questions We Must Now Ask (Indian Country Today 8/18)
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