At the Bismarck Tribune, Amy Dalrymple reports in Tribal leaders call for action after LaFontaine-Greywind's death:
The United Tribes of North Dakota are calling on North Dakota’s congressional delegation to take action after the killing of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind.
A letter approved during the recent Tribal Leaders Summit in Bismarck seeks justice for the slain Fargo woman’s family and the families of missing and murdered Native American women.
“During the gatherings and prayers for Savanna, we heard story after story from families who also have women in their families missing or with unsolved murders,” the letter states. “The murder of Savanna illustrates a much larger problem of epic proportions.” . . .
LaFontaine-Greywind was born at the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, where her mother is a tribal member, and grew up at the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation where her father is a member. The 22-year-old who was eight months pregnant was last seen alive by her family on Aug. 19 and her body was discovered in the Red River eight days later. Two people have been charged with conspiring to kill her.
Leander “Russ” McDonald, president of United Tribes Technical College, said LaFontaine-Greywind’s death is an example of tragedies that have been happening to Native American women for generations.
“It is a call to action,” McDonald said of the tribal leaders’ letter. “To ask our North Dakota delegation for specific things that could help to decrease these numbers, and that would help in some cases ensure justice occurs when individuals are murdered.”
Meanwhile, Bismarck’s inaugural First Nations Day scheduled for Oct. 6 will focus on the theme of justice for murdered and missing indigenous women across the United States and Canada.
The event, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the North Dakota Heritage Center Auditorium, will feature Bismarck and Mandan chiefs of police, the Indian Affairs Commission, tribal and local advocates addressing the issues of murder and missing women cases, drug trafficking, human trafficking and domestic violence issues.
Painting: "Still Dancing," by Jonathan Labillois, a member of the Listuguj Migmaq First Nation Band in Gaspe, Quebec. The painting honors murdered and missing Native women.
Bluestem's editor recently relocated to Summit, SD, a small town on the Lake Traverse Reservation of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, which is part of the United Tribes of North Dakota.
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