Meth March Makes an Impact in Eagle Butte

Despite a startling lack of local media interest, and a day that was cloudy and cold, the community in Eagle Butte made themselves heard last Friday in a rally to end the methamphetamine epidemic.  Over one hundred marchers from the area made their way through the town, while still more rode in a large car caravan bringing up the rear. Many rally-goers held signs emblazoned with their thoughts and feelings- and a few of the cars even had signs taped to their windows.

A Rally-goer holds a sign during the march. Photo by Charlee Witt.

“It was an awesome turn out. And it was awesome that the leaders of CRST walked right along in the front line showing their support.” said Dee Lebeau, East Lee’s aunt.

Chairman Harold Frazier marches alongside other rally-goers.

“It was a success, and I felt proud to be a part of the walk for JUSTICE4EAST LEE and against meth. It was awesome when I looked back and saw all the walkers, signs, cars, and horseback riders. I felt happy inside. We’re making a stand and helping our people- I never miss a walk or anything that has to do with my grandson, East, or for his son Kobi, family, and friends.” said Wakinyan Win, grandparent of East Lee.  

The community of Eagle Butte was out in full force on the chilly day- even the members of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Youth Horsemanship Program made an appearance to show their support.
Members of the CRST Youth Horsemanship Program (and their mounts) march alongside other rally-goers.  Photo by Carl Dupree.

Members of the CRST Youth Horsemanship Program (and their mounts) march alongside other rally-goers.  Photo by Carl Dupree.

A CRST Youth Horsemanship vehicle drives alongside marchers. Photo by Carl Dupree.

Many marchers used the opportunity to call for justice for East Lee, who was tragically killed at Brueske Lake in October 2015. His family and friends are still awaiting the closure they have been desperately seeking. As of the writing of this entry, the FBI has no leads in the case.

Sherri Turning Heart and Kobi Lee (mother and son of East Lee) at the Rally. 

Steve Lee, father of East Lee, marches while holding a photo of his son.

Khristian Banley-Johnson, a rally organizer, attempted to contact several media outlets prior to the march, but was met with a mix of indifference and being outright ignored. Of the five she contacted, only one responded. And indeed, a day before the rally, I reached out to all the previously contacted outlets and asked, politely, if they would be covering the rally. Not a single one responded. A correspondent at Native Sun News  told Khristian he would “possibly attend” but made no guarantees. Neither he, nor any other members of the press were present at the rally.

“I’m really upset that the media ignored the rally,” said Sherry Turning Heart, mother of East Lee. “You know, every town and reservation in the area suffers, not just us. Places like Pierre, Rapid City- all of them are having this problem too.”

An extensive Google search for “Eagle Butte rally” or “Eagle Butte march” yields no results- but that doesn’t dampen the spirits of those who attended.

“I just want to thank everyone who was there,” said Sherri. “It was bigger than I expected, and I can’t even put how I feel into words. Even though it was a very cold day, everyone still showed up and walked, and even more people were in a car caravan. It feels really good to know I’m not fighting this alone.”
Sherri says she is, with the help of her community and her people, learning to live again- though the process is very hard.

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Whether the media will acknowledge it or not, the methamphetamine epidemic has arrived on the doorsteps of the residents of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.  It has taken mothers, sons, fathers, and daughters- and it will not stop until it is forcibly stopped. Though the media and most of the country would prefer that the residents of the Reservation suffer behind a curtain of silence- they have made it clear that they have no intention of doing so.

Their lives matter, and they intend to prove it. 

Chairman Harold Frazier and Tribal Treasurer Benita Clark