RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) — Last week, a native, teenage girl went missing from the Rapid City area.
Thankfully, her disappearance was brief, and she has returned home with her family. For Lily Mendoza, founder of the Red Ribbon Skirt Society, each case must be met with the same response.
Mendoza said a lot of the notices come through Facebook. Her organization typically addresses about 15 to 20 tips “on a daily basis.”
“We need to take each and every one of those seriously until they’re found,” Mendoza said.
The Red Ribbon Skirt Society focuses on highlighting cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, children, and two-spirit (#MMIWC2S).
Mendoza, who frequently carries a large knife for her own protection, encourages other Indigenous people to consider courses or tools to protect themselves as well.
The Red Ribbon Skirt Society works very closely with local law enforcement, and Mendoza said the organizations share a strong working relationship.
Susan Fast Eagle is still missing, last seen in the Rapid City area months ago. Fast Eagle is 5’3 and roughly 150 pounds. Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts are encouraged to contact law enforcement.
Red Ribbon Skirt Society representatives will begin making regular appearances on the Rapid City Morning News to provide updates on cases as they are made available.
(CJ Keene, KOTA, contributed this report.)
