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Friday, December 12, 2003

Doug McDonald, director of the University of North Dakota Indians into Psychology program: "Although there is nothing funny about the topic I'm about to address, I can't help but be amused whenever some folks try to rationalize away their prejudices. The fact is, yes, there is considerably more attention being paid to the disappearance of Dru Sjodin than if she were American Indian (or any other ethnic minority, for that matter). As uncomfortable as the issue is, we learn nothing by ignoring or hiding from it. On the contrary, only by facing the reality of our weaknesses when situations such as this arise may we hope to grow toward each other as peoples of different groups.

Edward Halas: "Doug McDonald is guilty of comparing apples and oranges. The critical difference between the cases of Dru Sjodin and Francis Delabreau is not race but sex. I do remember the tragic Delabreau case and the coverage it got. But if Delabreau had been a blue-eyed, blond young man with a Scandinavian name, I honestly believe that the news coverage would not have been any greater."

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Native family's missing son got different treatment (12/04)
Mother: Police mishandled son's murder case (05/30)
Native family upset with handling of son's death (05/06)
$50K reward offered in case of slain tribal member (04/21)
Traditional funeral set for teen (11/12)
Missing tribal member found dead (11/7)
Few clues in search for missing teen (10/21)
Teams arrive for search of tribal member (10/18)
Search grows for missing tribal member (10/17)
N.D. tribal member missing as family worries (08/06)

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