From left: Julia Ireland Broken Rope, Anita Richards, Britt Long, Mario Standing Bear, and Ruby Standing Bear are the parents interviewed at the CAP Office in Allen. Photo by Richie Richards
AHS parents want counselors for children
Was there exploitation of the parents and children?
By Richie Richards
Native Sun News Staff Writer ALLEN –– Some American Horse School parents would like their children to receive the counseling they were promised by school officials and others during the initial weeks following the Jan. 24 incident at the Rush Hockey Game. Of late, supporting the 50 American Horse School (AHS) students and the 7 chaperones who were present on Jan. 24 for the Rush Hockey Game at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center when Trace O’Connell by his own admission, had deliberately splashed beer on kids during a “celebratory motion,” has been a call for justice and social change. This act by the visitor from Phillip has been called a hate crime by many because of the racial taunting witnesses claim O’Connell had spewed towards Indian children on that cold January evening in Rapid City. This event led to a charge of disorderly conduct for Trace O’Connell and the emotional reaction from the supporters of the “Lakota 57” (as they are now called), has caused social activism in many forms. As the treaty activists and social protestors marched the frozen sidewalks of Rapid City calling for justice, locally in Allen, families were being told counseling services would be provided and possibly transportation to those appointments if needed. This was not the case for many families. On any given day, the latest inspirational quote, relevant news article, activist slogans, American Indian art mantras, and Native American humorist depictions are posted and shared depicting the Lakota 57, but family services are needed and not just social media support. Native Sun News met with several AHS parents with their attorney Britt Long in Allen on Aug. 12 to discuss their children’s unheard testimony in court and their concerns regarding the emotional health of their students. These interviews represent only the opinions and accounts of those being interviewed and not all of the AHS families. Anita Richards, mother of Laney Thunder Bull, 13, and in sixth grade at the time of the Rush Hockey game incident, claims her daughter came home the night of Jan. 24 and “wouldn’t say much about” her experience at the Civic Center. Since the incident, Laney has been showing signs of trauma and has been “very angry and she’s real quiet now,” according to Richards. As of the time of this article, Laney has received no professional counseling. Richards claims, “They never did bring in the counselors,” school administrators had promised the parents. During the pow wow in Allen this summer, Dana Washington and Anita Richards organized a walk honoring the AHS students. Donations were made by Pass Creek district representative Jim Cross and others for the walk. In tears, Richards said, “I’m just mad. I’m really angry. These kids are suffering.”
Young tribal members march in support of the Lakota 57 during a powwow in Allen, South Dakota. Photo from The Lakota 57 / Facebook
Julia Ireland Broken Rope, an Oglala elder raising her grandson Crayton Cortez Star, 11, told Native Sun News the experience her family has been going through. During the Rush Hockey game, Crayton told his grandmother, “Some guys spilled beer on some of the classmates. Some of the men were making Indian sounds. They (three of them) were making gestures like feathers and dancing like Indians.” Sadly after the incident, Crayton told his grandmother, “I wish I was like my grampa.” Crayton’s grandfather is a non-Native, white male. Crayton feels if he was white, this would not have happened to him and his friends, according to Ireland Broken Rope. Mario and Ruby Standing Bear have been married for 16 years. Their sons, Mario Jr., 14, and Ethan, 11, were on the incentive trip provided by the 21st Century Program. When they returned home around 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 24, Mario Jr. and Ethan walked in and told their mother, “We had to leave early. Some white guys poured beer on us.” Ethan handed his mom, Ruby, his sweater and said, “Here mom can you wash this.” His sweater was “soaked”, according to Standing Bear. She washed his sweater in the sink that night and hung it out to dry in their home. “I was getting mad. It was bringing tears to my eyes when I was washing his jacket in the sink,” said Ruby. Her boys are “really mean now”, according to her. During a visit to the Kyle Health Center for counseling, Standing Bear claims, “The counselor asked us to ask the questions to our kids.” Neither Ruby nor Mario Sr. are trained in the field of child psychology or mental health. Their son Ethan was interviewed by detectives, but was not asked to testify at the trial of Trace O’Connell. The Standing Bears and other families have been having Indian taco sales and baked-goods sales to help with fundraising locally. In one taco sale, they raised $300 which has been deposited into a shared bank account used for mutual needs of families. “I kept quiet until now. But I’m not gonna be silent anymore. I’m hurt cause our children are going through this,” said Ruby Standing Bear. Their sons’ grades have dropped, according to Standing Bear. Both parents were in tears during their interview. The trauma, frustration and helplessness of not being present while your child is being victimized, allegedly, is more than some parents can bare. The child victims are at all stages of healing currently, while many are still feeling the effects of being thrown into the national spotlight and receiving the negative attention without warrant. These parents interviewed discussed the exploitation of the Lakota 57 and feel that many organizations, media representatives, local politicians, Native American activists and attorneys are taking advantage of the situation for personal gain. As the verdict of Trace O’Connell is looming, these parents would like to see more unity from the Lakota 57 parents. Some AHS parents have started their own Facebook page and fundraising efforts at: www.facebook.com/TheLakota57 and at www.lakota57.com. (Contact Richie Richards at staffwriter@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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