Remembering Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind: Honoring a Life and Seeking Justice for Missing Indigenous Women
August 19th recently marked a bittersweet day for the family and friends of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind. Over 50 individuals gathered at MB Johnson Park in north Moorhead to commemorate the life of the 22-year-old on the sixth anniversary of her tragic passing. The event aimed to raise awareness about the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women. As the First Nations Women’s Alliance Executive Director, Sandra Bercier, led a prayer in remembrance of the slain mother, she hoped for her presence during the mile-long walk and for strength to guide her family towards the future.
Organized by Ruth Buffalo, an advocate and special projects coordinator for the First Nations Women’s Alliance, the walk coincided with the annual Native American Picnic for the Fargo-Moorhead region. The event offered a range of activities including barbecues, inflatable games, and other forms of entertainment.
The significance of August 19th extended beyond the remembrance of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind. It also marked the sixth birthday of her daughter, Haisley Jo. Joining the march around the park, Haisley Jo, her grandmother Norberta Greywind, and other relatives led the procession of approximately 50 individuals. The participants wore red as a symbol for missing and murdered Indigenous women, embodying solidarity as they walked. Accompanied by the rhythmic beating of a Native American drum and the heartfelt song of one of the participants, the walk became a moving tribute.
As a member of the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe, Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind was residing in Fargo when she was tragically killed on August 19th, 2017. Brooke Lynn Crews, now 44, testified that she lured the 22-year-old to her apartment and proceeded to cut LaFontaine-Greywind’s child from her womb, with the intention of presenting the baby as her own. Despite being eight months pregnant, LaFontaine-Greywind received no medical attention and subsequently lost her life.
Nearly one week later, Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind’s body was discovered in the Red River. Brooke Lynn Crews pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to kidnap a child, and providing false information to law enforcement. She is currently serving a life sentence. Crews’ then-boyfriend, William Henry Hoehn, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap a child and providing false information to investigators. However, he was acquitted of the conspiracy to commit murder charge after denying any involvement in the killing of LaFontaine-Greywind. In 2018, Hoehn was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Currently, at the age of 38, he is incarcerated in an Oregon prison as confirmed by online inmate records.
The tragic death of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind sparked action at the national level, leading Congress to pass Savanna’s Act in 2020. The legislation aimed to confront the crisis of missing and murdered Native Americans by requiring increased reporting and consultation between the U.S. Department of Justice, Department of the Interior, and tribes in developing national law enforcement guidelines.
However, despite the passage of Savanna’s Act, First Nations Women’s Alliance advocate Ruth Buffalo states that the law has not been implemented throughout the United States. The walk on August 19th aimed to shed light on the existing gaps preventing the full implementation of the law and reignite efforts to seek justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women. Buffalo expressed her hope that the event would bring people together and further raise awareness about this pressing issue.
In addition, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Taskforce of Fargo established a gift registry for Haisley Jo as she prepares to attend kindergarten this year. Those who wish to donate can visit the registry at shorturl.at/chA14 until it closes on August 26th.
The remembrance walk for Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind provided an opportunity for the community to honor her life, remember the ongoing struggle faced by missing and murdered Indigenous women, and call for justice.
