Commentaries

School Shootings at Red Lake
 March, 2005

 Grieving

I was deeply grieved by the tragedy that took place at Red Lake Reservation on Monday, March 21, 2005. I wept bitterly at the loss of innocent life and for the survivors of this terrible event.

As an evangelist I am praying for your people as they mourn the loss of their loved ones. I am praying that such a thing will not happen again.

May Native Americans of all nations pray together and ask the Great Mystery to comfort those who are mourning. We need one another's support and prayers.

You are always in my prayers.

Jaguar Thunderwolf
Los Angeles, CA


Hearts go out to all

As a Minnesotan, a current resident in Australia, former school teacher, mother, grandmother, and sister of a blood brother of the Oglala near Lake Mille Lacs, my heart bleeds for the community of man, that one of our young men was so unhappy that he has killed and wounded so many of our brothers and sisters.

I wonder what our society has done to make our young take the fate of others into their own hands. All I can do is say: Our hearts are with you and our spirits, too!

May The Great Spirit guide us to help those who need our help every day in every way and be kind also to ourselves.

Jean Mary Reisner
Sydney, Australia


Sorrow for all families

Hi, my name is Duane Cook, Sr. I'm from Red Lake Reservation. I'm writing to say to my people that everyone in the whole United States is feeling the hurt of Mondays shooting. It goes to say that anything can happen anywhere at anytime. I'm here in Denver where everyone heard about the shooting in real life - they are closely related to what happen not too far from here in Columbine. It is front page news here.

When I first heard about it I had a scared feeling cause I couldn't get through on the phone for two days and I was wondering who all got hurt. I just want to say to my people that everyone cares about what happened, and everyone wants to help in some way. I know there were some heroes in Monday's shooting and I feel for them. I'm still not believing it, but I know it is for real and I know everyone in the state of Colorado feels sadness for Red Lake. Friends' little ones get killed and I feel for them with all my heart.

I will miss Dash cause he always was one of the back-of-towners and he was never mad at anybody. My little boy is friends with his boy Devon and I never had the chance to thank Dash and his wife for letting my boy Duane Jr. stay overnight and hanging out at their house. I feel for all families and victims.

Duane Cook
Denver, CO


Society must look at itself

My 29 year old son in an enrolled member of the Red Lake Indian Reservation. He never lived on the reservation and grew up in the Minnesota town of Pipestone, which is a spiritual center and connection point for many tribes. Pipestone is the home of the red stone used to make ceremonial objects and religious items used to this day by many tribes.

I myself am white and was raised middle class, growing up in the National Park Service System. I have extremely mixed feeling about what happened at Red Lake and feel strongly that people should not overlook the "cultural purity" that exists there. I lived there briefly in 1975 and saw things that changed who I was then and who I am today. Some good, some bad, many things very sad. I cannot say what it is like today but have always been sad it was not at least some part of my son's life. Please remember this is only my point of view.

With deepest respect for the people who live there and the tragedy they are enduirng now, I think this country has to take a hard look at its inner heart. The figure of 40% living below the poverty line speaks for itself. In my days there commodity food was on the menu daily and sometimes there was just nothing. There are many things very different that need to be considered and deeply ingrained traditions and a way of life that must be respected if someone wants to do a comparative analysis of this tragedy to any of the others that have occured in this country in the past six years.

As for my son, I am sure there are so many other stories like his - it is tough enough for a man of mixed race to grow up anywhere and I feel that much of what happened at Red Lake reaches far deeper than any of us truly know. People who are teased, picked on, ostracized and outcast have a hard road to follow.

My son's experience was a bitter one. As a child, he was laughed at and teased by the white kids because he was half Indian, and laughed at and teased by the Indian kids because he was half white. He was accepted nowhere. I held him in my arms many times as he strugged to make it day to day while growing up. He spent his childhood giving things away (often prized possessions and toys) trying to make people like him and gain friends. It never worked for him.

Today he is a gentle hearted, lonely, isolated young man who continues to struggle with who he is. When asked about who he is or how he views his identity, he calls himself an "Earthbound Misfit." Could he have been one of those kids who went over the edge?

As a country and as people, we have got to take a look at some of the things that our young people are going through. While we cannot help everyone, we certainly have to teach our kids about respect for each other and that the differences that define us make us who we are.

We have to set a good example ourselves and consider that there is so much more about each person that gives them unique qualities and gifts - everyone has them - little ears hear many things, little eyes sometimes see too much... and hearts are broken in many ways.

Janeen Hansen
Pipestone, MN


Geography separates us, humanity binds us

It is with regret I read of the terrible tragedy at Red Lake. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the dead and injured. The Native Americans have suffered enough stress in their lives without this type of treatment. I think of them often and sincerely hope that one day they will be able to put this behind them - it will be more difficult for the children.

In May of last year my father died as the result of an accident, I know the sorrow these people are going through at this time.

God Bless everyone in Red Lake.

Pearl Finney
Belfast, Northern Ireland
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