PINE RIDGE RESERVATION, S.D. – A well-known columnist and writer who oftentimes uses controversial themes was the victim of raging vandalism on her property on this reservation.
On the evening of May 1, a person or persons drove to Charmaine White Face’s home on the Pine Ridge Reservation and, using an ax and other tools, ransacked the house. They destroyed antiques, tore off doors, broke all the windows, tore the chimney off the house and chopped holes in the walls.
“They tried to send me a very powerful message,” said White Face, who discovered the destruction the next morning. But, the bottom line is she will not quit writing.
“When I first walked in and saw the level of violence it blew me away.”
White Face wrote a book, published two years ago, that named names of tribal government officials who were corrupt and not serving the people or who were misleading the tribal membership while reaping large, financial benefits.
But the perpetrators could have been any number of people – up to hundreds, she said. “Some players are playing the same game; it’s a combination of everything.
“I must have done something really good for this to happen. It sounds incongruous. What nerve did I cut. Who did I cut?”
Many times journalists will say that if they haven’t made someone angry, they haven’t done their job.
“My writing is for justice,” White Face said.
The latest opinion piece she wrote said an outside organization is needed to help negotiate a settlement on the strife-torn Pine Ridge Reservation. It was merely speculation on her part that this may have prompted a retaliatory act.
“It couldn’t have been traditional people. All traditional items in the were destroyed. A crucifix on the wall was not touched.” She alleges that whoever it was, hated traditional people.
Mike Hayes of the BIA Criminal Investigation Division said he couldn’t release too much information because of the ongoing investigation. He did say the leads so far point to juveniles with nothing else to do and would not be related to her writing. Should arrests be made, there is consideration for federal prosecution. If not, the tribal court will handle the matter.
White Face said she is convinced the act was intended to tell her to stop writing.
“The people who did this weren’t poor people, they weren’t drunks, they weren’t robbers. They must know me, because most people don’t know where I live and it’s hard to find.”
She said the act must have occurred about 7:30 p.m. because some people who live nearby said they heard something. She added the perpetrators drove a dual-wheeled truck and left an ax which may contain fingerprints. Some prints were found at the scene, she said.
“I had a floppy-brimmed garden hat that was axed five times. The rage was directed at me.
“It was crazy where you would find things.” She said the perpetrators painted and wrote profanity on the walls.
White Face has been writing about corruption on the reservation for about 11 or 12 years, she said, which led to speculation that the rage had been festering for many years. “Some old councilmen know where I live.,”
This is not the first time she and her family have been victimized. Last July the brakes on her car were cut, “professionally,” she said. Her daughter was driving and her three little boys were in the car at the time. She said a mechanic told her the brake hoses were pinched, like a professional would do.
“They eventually find you. It’s getting kind of scary, but I won’t stop writing.”
The vandals entered the attic and threw everything onto the first floor, including White Face’s daughter’s prom dresses. Mostly the attic contained boxes with a large number of books which were thrown around the home.
The refrigerator was emptied and the ketchup, mustard and other liquids were thrown all over the debris.
Will the family rebuild? Yes. White Face said all of her children favored restoring the damaged home. Her daughter said they had gone through many things and each time got better.
The home belonged to White Face’s grandmother and she and all of her children grew up in the house.
