Myron Blaine Pourier, Jr.

This memorial campaign honors the life of Myron Blaine, Pourier, Jr. Only 19 years old, he was shot in the Grand Gateway Hotel in Rapid City, S.D., on March 19, 2022, and died of his wounds on April 3, 2022. He was the son of Myron Pourier, Sr., great-great-grandson of Nicholas Black Elk, the Lakota Holy Man whose vision was captured in the book "Black Elk Speaks," by John Neihardt. He was the last male descendant in the family lineage. If you have ever been moved by the vision shared in that book, please consider a donation to help his family recover financially while they grieve.

The aftermath of Myron Jr.'s shooting exposed the ugly racism that many Native Americans are familiar with when in Rapid City. Shortly after the shooting, a woman named Connie Uhre (once listed as the hotel's owner) suggested on Facebook that the Grand Gateway Hotel should ban all Native Americans: “Due to the killing [sic] that took place at the Grand Gateway Hotel on March 19, 2022… we will no longer allow any Native American on property. Rancher and Travelers will receive a very special rate of $59.00 per night. Book direct.” A march and rally were held in Rapid City to express disgust with the overt racism, and a federal discrimination lawsuit followed. “She judged him by the color of his skin, not who he was. That woman turned it into a race war,” said Myron Sr.

We cannot forget that at the center of this is the loss of a young Lakota man who was deeply loved. Around the time of his son's murder, Myron Sr. also lost his brother. His health has declined and he must travel from his home in Pine Ridge to Rapid City (3 hours RT) for treatment. The family has the emotional toll of the trial ahead of them, too, which is scheduled to take place November 2023. The suspect in that shooting, 19-year-old Quincy Bear Robe, is charged with second-degree murder.

I know Myron Sr. professionally, as a member of the John Neihardt Foundation's Board of Directors. My name is Marianne Reynolds, and I am the director of that Foundation. I know Myron as a humble, spiritual man, who steadfastly values the connectedness of all beings, deeply steeped in Lakota values and traditions. Your donations will help him pay off the bank note he took out to cover funeral expenses and other costs. We cannot ease the burden of his broken heart, but we can help ease the weight of the financial burden.

Mitakuye Oyasin - we are all related and all life is sacred.