A few of the Native lives lost in South Dakota, from top left: Andrew Jon Lufkins, Beverly Ann Ulrich, Loren Two Eagle, Victoria Jane Eagleman, Alejandro Gay Vasquez, Jessie Renae Waters, Robert Ghost Bear, Janie Sue McDougal. Photos from various online sources
Murders and crimes against Indians fly under the radar
Local and national Indian organizations fail to rally support
By Richie Richards
Native Sun News Staff Writer
www.nsweekly.com PIERRE –– When the family of Loren “Low” Two Eagle came into the offices of Native Sun News asking for help in solving the death of their relative, not a single person from federal, state, or tribal law enforcement contacted the family in response to the article published in NSN. No flag-flown marches from the American Indian Movement. No demanding rallies from the Native Lives Matter group. No strongly-worded editorials from the Last Real Indians publication. No cyber-bullying from the United Urban Warrior Society. Nothing. In fact, it was a lone relative on horseback who found Loren’s body floating in a small lake several days after he went missing in an area previously searched. Three months later and the Two Eagle family have not even received an autopsy report. This lack of response does not allow for closure for the family of Loren Two Eagle. They officially don’t know his cause of death. The Violent Crimes Act gives jurisdiction to the feds when it comes to homicide investigations, but it’s the BIA and tribal police who have boots-on-the-ground insight and information. They live in the communities with the families of the murdered and missing.
Read the rest of the story on the all new Native Sun News website: Murders and crimes against Indians fly under the radar (Contact Richie Richards at staffwriter@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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