Violent crimes across the Pine Ridge Reservation have increased in recent years. The Oglala Sioux Tribe says there are only 33 officers and eight criminal investigators responsible for over 100,000 emergency calls annually. The tribe sued the federal government in July, alleging the federal government is not complying with its treaty obligations by providing inadequate law enforcement. Holly Wilson’s 6-year-old grandson was killed in her home in a drive-by shooting last year on the reservation, and family friends down the road were killed soon after. She is among the reservation residents seeking justice. After two days of court proceedings last week, a judge said he would take the issue under advisement.
A new museum exhibit infused with Alaska Native values, history traditions and language is now open at the Grand Rapids Michigan Children’s Museum. “Molly of Denali: An Alaskan Adventure” opened Jan. 28 and runs through May 14. “It’s an opportunity for our community to see representation of the Indigenous community,” said Maggie Lancaster, CEO of the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum. The museum partnered with The Magic House St. Louis Children’s Museum to bring the acclaimed PBS KIDS series to life. Guests can explore the great outdoors of Alaska and learn all about Alaska Native life by pretending to fly a bush plane, drive a snowmobile, navigate a maze in snowshoes, care for sled dogs and go ice fishing.
Those are your headlines at this hour. I’m Colette Keith in the KIPI News center.