Hannah
We wish to express the condolences of our family at this terrible time.
We are part of a community which understands only too well the
convergence of anger and despair that results in the death of young
people. We pray that both the families and the entire community come
through this dark time, and that this horror will embolden all of us to
fight even harder for the help so many of our children need.
Salam Alaikum (May the perfect peace of God, be with you all)
Mikal and Ayesha Ali
Washington, DC
Look for someone to love, someone to help.
Look to give strength in times of sadness and anger.
Let our Creator be the source of this love and strength,
to enable each person to help each other.
Let Wisdom be provided to meet every need.
With tears of love and deep respect,
B.C.
We hope and pray for healing and a better future for those who have lost family and friends, and for those still recovering from the gunshots.
The following is the words of a song of healing written by Debbie Friedman, a well known and respected creator of original Jewish songs and prayers. Based on a traditional prayer of healing, I hope this prayer suffices for your needs:
May God who blessed our ancestors, the source of blessing for our people;
May the source of strength, who blessed the ones before us,
Help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing,
And let us say, Amen.
May God who blessed our ancestors, the source of blessing for our people;
Bless those in need of healing, with a speedy and full recovery;
Renewal of body, and renewal of spirit,
And let us say, Amen.
Mike and Valerie Bergin
I'm so sorry for the loss in your community. I hope the tragedy will
strengthen all the relations who gather to mourn....in this sacred world
our breaking hearts expand, embrace the fear, then let go.
Angela Sevin
Oakland, California
To the families of Red Lake,
My prayers are with you all today. I cried when the Columbine
Shootings took place. How awful for these young people to fear for their lives.
Today, I cry again for our beautiful youth that died a senseless death.
Parents, I cannot image your pain and loss. Your child leaves for
school like any other day, you don't expect any danger to cross their paths.
My heart aches for you all.
Adults and Elders - you may not be related by blood, but you are all
brothers and sisters - support these families that suffered a loss -
support the youth - be brave!
Young people, it is a time to put away trivial matters. Be respectful
of each other, be patient, be kind, be compassionate. Anger will burn
within you, but in time, learn to forgive. Life is too short, too beautiful
to live in darkness. Enjoy life! Embrace life! Earn your highschool
diploma, go to college, enter a career. There is so much opportunity for you in
this world!
God Bless!
Tania Cameron
Dalles Reserve, Ontario
Canada
Brothers and Sisters of the Red Lake Nation,
I would like to express how deeply saddened I am for what has happened to your community and that you are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Stay strong and may the Creator bless you always.
Jana Mashonee
member of the Lumbee Nation
Mr. Barrett,
My name is Shannon Rosenthal. I live in Eagan, MN. I am sending this to
you as a way of expressing my condolences to your community in Red Lake in
the losses suffered by your community. I would like to extend my hope to
the injured that they continue to improve and recover from what happened. I
hope that your entire community can overcome this and become stronger as a
result of this.
I was also wondering if you can forward the next part specifically to
Lance Crowe. I understand that he was shot in his left wrist and that he was
suffering from numbness in some of his fingers. I can somewhat relate
because I am recovering from a serious wrist injury myself.
Shannon Rosenthal
Lance Crowe,
Red Lake Net News has a personal message for you and I will forward it to you at your request. Just give me a call at 679-5995, or email me at
MBarrett
I am saddened by the news of the tragedy in Red Lake this week. I am
thinking of you and your community. You are in my prayers and may you
be blessed with strength to deal with this.
I will light a candle tonight in honor of those dead and injured.
Theresa
from South Dakota
Hello Mr. Barrett,
I know I wrote you earlier to send my condolences to the families involved in this tragedy of events. As I read your newsletters and obituaries I cannot help but stop to think, why is there nothing in regard to the young man named Jeff Weise? I know there is hatred in the haearts of the families he touched, may it be in such a tragic way, but he was one of your own. He deserves the same rights as others there as well. He may have had some very serious issues that he could not work out with himself or verbally with others, but God says to forgive those who do wrong. I understand he grew up in a not so normal childhood, but thats what he was.....a child!!!! There may be no one to mourn at his grave side but my prayers will be with him as well as the lives he took along with his own. He grew up as your neighbour, as your classmate, as your family, good or bad....he was one of your own. Love him as you love others. The only difference was that he was forgotten or looked over. Pray for his soul, forgive ....if not now then soon....then your hearts will be healed.
M Finch
Regina, saskatchewan
Canada
God Bless One and All
In Response to the above from rlnn.com:
Red Lake Net News apologizes for not having all the obituaries as current as they should be--I am working to resolve this. In no way is there any hatred for any person who died in this tragic incident. Jeff Weise was a member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians--he was one of us no matter what he did--just as he was a son, grandson, nephew, uncle, cousin and friend to others.
Most obituaries come from funeral homes of the deceased and sometimes they forget to send them, or they don't get here. Then again, I still have over 1200 e-mails to go through (and I am only a one-person operation), so some obituaries may very well be within them.
As soon as I have the full obituaries of everyone involved, they will be posted on rlnn.com.
MBarrett
My thoughts and prayers are with you from Orlando, Florida. also God is with you.
Bill B
Greetings and my heart is with you Great Nation.
I have known and grown with many people of the Great Nation Of Red Lake. My Cousin is Married to a distant cousin "Lussier" also from Red Lake. I am also a person of great tragedy that was on the news in the past and I see much of the same pain in the faces there. I also know that I felt that I must have done something to deserve this. I have seen this shame in the stunned and broken hearts from the people there. You did nothing to justify shame. This young person was hurting but many are. Sure there is always more we can do and be but hindsight is 20-20.
Honestly I feel Prozac inhibits some emotions that would prevent odd actions. Prozac increases suicide in young people and I feel this was the Bottom Line, suicide. I feel the People of Red Lake could perhaps consider finding an attorney to represent a class action against the maker of Prozac.
Peace and Healing To You All,
J. Brandon Steele
To the Red Lake Nation:
We offer our sympathy and prayers for the
families left behind from this sad tragic incident. This tragic
accident impacts all Indian Nations across the country. I hope you find
strength in the prayers that are sent.
Pat & Fred Ike from the Yakama Nation
Toppenish, Washington
My heart and my deepest, deepest, deepest prayers go out to the
everybody involved.
It is sad how red lake was put on the map. I pray that the community
will rebuild and grow stronger from this tragci event.
My Love
Christine White
Dear M Barrett,
On this Good Friday, I want to offer my prayers and condolences to the grieving Red Lake families in the light of the recent shooting incident and in general my love to all part of the Red Lake Nation.
It is a shame that an incident like this makes us aware of the hardships experienced on the reservation!
While on the Red Lake Nation Web site - I read the beautiful Red Nation Lake Logo and the Welcome- Aaniin. Is the Chippewa Band related to the Chippewa Indians that live around L'Anse in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan?
As to my financial effort to help - Where is the need the greatest? Who do I make a check out to, and where best to send it?
Please relate to the RLN Tribal Council that there are many, many people who do care and love American Indians as our brothers and sisters!
Thanks so much.
In His Grace, +
Jake Asma
Burke, Virginia
To the Red Lake Band
I just wanted to pass on my deepest condolences for the tragic events of this past week to all the families and friends that have been directly affected and my prayers and that of my family go out to all, you are not alone the world mournes with you.
Ken & Judi
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
I really don’t know who to contact, but I wanted your community to know I am feeling their grief.
My grandfather told me he had a Grandfather, Quam Lee (spelling) who was Chippewa Medicine Man. I have no proof on paper but keep it in my heart. When I hear of your tragedy, I am sad to think of the entire situation involving the Chippewas-or anyone for that matter. Keep the faith.
Sandee Hardy-Hagen
Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Red Lake Nation:
You are very much on the minds and in the hearts of all of your fellow
Indians. We pray for the Great Spirit's blessings upon all of you as
youstrive to find peace in the heartache you must endure at this time.
Please know we share your sorrow . . .
Lois Cunha & Family
Laguna Pueblo
Sacramento, CA
Often through the years I have thought of my childhood and the short time we lived in Ponemah and Redby. My father, Don Orton, taught at the grade school and even though I was blond and blue eyed I was never treated as an outsider. The love that surrounded me stayed with me. "Dash" Lussier may have been one of the children my brother, Micheal and I played with. The memory that stayed with me all these 50+ years was the feeling of family closeness. May that strength -- the strength of family love help all of you through the coming days. You are in my heart.
Constance Orton-Osborne
Hi , My name is Aly Quijano. I am a student at Timber Creek High School @ Orlando Florida. I am also President of the Yellow Ribbon Club here. I would like to contact the Presidents of the Red Lake High School student body about sharing information about starting a chapter at their high school.
The Yellow Ribbon Club is an organization designed to help students with depression and suicide tendencies. It is a outreach program for students. What happened at the school is a tragedy that will affect these student for a long time. I think that a club like this at their school will help them deal with this as well as prevent future problems.
Sincerely,
Aly Quijano
I would like to send out my deepest sympathy and condolences to the families and to all the people affected by the school shooting .May God reach out his hand of mercy and peace to all involved.
David Alan Coe
Dobson, N.C.
I try and quiet the turmoil inside...I'm embarrassed of my whiteness
when you're in pain...Why the Great White Father hasn't said anything
is...I haven't the words...
Gilbert
Casper, WY
We all stand as sisters and brothers to you. We send our condolences to you all.
In the Arms of the Great Spirit, may we all rest.
Lynne and Bob Cadman
California
My name is Suzanne and I live in Washington state. I just wanted to let you know that you are all in our prayers and thoughts. I cannot think of anything else to say...my heart goes out to everyone in Red Lake.
Suzanne
Please accept our deepest sympathy in this time of your sorrow. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
The Thorn Family from PA
There are no words to say that will ease your pain for your loss. Our
prayers and thoughts are with the Red Lake Community. I feel your hurt
and pain in my heart and I will be praying for all of you. I am a
ForestCounty Potawatomi Tribal Member from Wisconsin. We too have problems
and I've often said what can be done. This poem answers a few of those
questions I have often asked.
A SONG FOR THE PEOPLE
Grandfather, Great Spirit
I give you thanks
That we can sit here
In this circle of Life,
We send prayers
And the very best thoughts
Grandmother, Great Spirit
As we raise this sacred pipe
To give thanks to you
And to all of your Creation,
We give thanks
To the spirit helpers
Who came and sat among us.
Grandfather, most sacred one,
These are your prayers
That we send you
As we sit here together and pray
Grandmother your children are crying.
Grandfather you children are dying.
The hands of greed
And the hands of lust for power
Have been laid on them
And all ground is death and desolation
The gift you made, for all you children