Oglala Sioux Tribe calls fatal powwow shooting an ‘isolated incident’

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The Oglala Lakota Nation Wacipi and Fair took place August 1-4, 2024, on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Photo: Oglala Lakota Nation

Monday, August 5, 2024

Indianz.Com

The Oglala Sioux Tribe concluded its annual powwow over the weekend following a shooting that claimed the life of one person.

An honor run was held on Sunday for Francis Thomas “Tom” Thunder Hawk Sr. The 57-year-old father and grandfather was identified by family and friends as the victim of the shooting that took place during the Oglala Nation Wacipi and Fair late on Friday evening.

“On August 2, 2024, at about 10:20 PM, a confrontation between several males took place at the pow wow grounds in Pine Ridge,” the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety said in a post on social media. “During the altercation, a 57-year-old male was shot multiple times.”

A livestream of the event carried by Lone Tipi Productions shows teenage girls dancing in the traditional category while the shocking incident unfolds. As people become aware of the situation, participants and bystanders can be seen running away from the powwow grounds before public safety officers cross the field.

“The suspect fled the scene on foot but was later apprehended while attempting to leave the area in a vehicle,” the tribal department said.

Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out: Response to shooting at the OLN pow wow

In a video on social media, President Frank Star Comes Out acknowledged the “traumatic event” that took place on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. But with the alleged suspect in custody, he called the shooting an “isolated incident” that he said did not pose an ongoing threat to the community.

“We need to continue,” Star Comes Out said in the video on Saturday. “We need to be strong for our people, our families, and show the people out there — the public — that we stand strong in the things we do as people when we come together.”

The tribe did not identify the alleged shooting suspect. The incident remains under investigation, the public safety department said.

The powwow theme was “Unity For Our Future Generations.” The activities, many of which focused on youth, included a fry bread contest, a parade, a rodeo, a golf tournament, the inaugural “Strongest Man and Strongest Woman” competition, hand games, skateboarding and a pageant where Miss Oglala Lakota Nation (OLN) Kadence Weston, Jr. Miss OLN Baylee Bravo and Lil Miss OLN Georgianna Tsouhlarakis were crowned.

In addition to the honor run held for Tom Thunder Hawk, elders, counselors and behavioral health specialists were on site at the powwow to provide services for people affected by the incident. A tribute, prayer and mourning song took place on Sunday morning.

The powwow concluded on Sunday.

Social Media: Honor Run for Francis Thomas “Tom” Thunder Hawk Sr.