4/11/2005: Red Lake begins to heal
Three weeks after Jeff Weise's shooting spree that killed ten including himself, Red Lake is working hard to get back to something approaching normal.
Healing ceremonies have been held in the small mostly-Ojibwe community, and classes and other activities including prom and graduation preparations will resume Tuesday at the high school - with armed guards in place. Homeschool and other alternative arrangements have been offered for those who aren't ready to return to the school yet. FBI searched the grounds again on Thursday, saying they had tips that weapon(s) were at the school, but they found none.
On Sunday, 15-year-old shooting victim Lance Crowe took his first trip to the Metrodome, where he was able to watch batting practice from the field and got autographs from members of the Twins. He said all the attention made him a little nervous but overall it was all "pretty cool." Crowe was shot in the arm and his hand remains in a cast with probable nerve damage.
15-year-old Louis Jourdain, son of tribal chairman Floyd "Buck" Jourdain, remains in custody. Although he hasn't been formally charged, he's suspected of conspiring in planning the massacre with Weise. Buck Jourdain maintains his son is innocent, and says that he'll continue to lead the community as he was elected to do, without mixing up his public and personal priorities.
Two students remain hospitalized in Fargo. Steven Cobenais was shot in the face, losing an eye and suffering severe brain damage, but doctors say he's showing signs of improvement that are "much better than anticipated." Jeff May was shot in the head and is partly paralyzed. He reacted to the news of Louis Jourdain's arrest by writing a note that it made him "mad." Jourdain has visited both boys and contributed to their families' hotel costs and related expenses.
Red Lake has not become another Columbine in the eyes of the media or the public. This may be partly because it isn't an upscale wealthy community like Littleton, and partly because close-knit Red Lake has turned inward for support, guarding themselves from media over-exposure and limiting press access to the reservation. They have been getting advice from experts such as Bill Bonds, who was principal of the Paducah, KY school that suffered a similar event and is now a school violence consultant. He advised they re-open the high school sooner rather than later, as originally planned.
Donations or care packages for families of the victims may be sent to:
Red Lake Tribal Council
C/O Leah Perkins
P.O. Box 574
Red Lake, MN 56671
