And so the life of a young Native man is worth one year.

Powwow Singer Nicholas (Sul) Concha

That's it. One lousy year. Plus two years of "supervised release" afterward.

This article is an absolute travesty, with its unquestioning references to "marijuana" and an much-disputed characterization of the "attack" and its warping of the facts, now cast in a wholly different light from how they were originally reported. 

So twisted now as to be unrecognizeable. Certainly nothing that could reasonably be called, with any degree of confidence, a fact.

The facts are that a young Native man, a good and talented traditional young man, one valued by his community and loved by his family, is gone, while the dominant culture does its level best to destroy his reputation posthumously. It won't work.

Of course, that's what I expect from the local rag, which is one of the reasons why we boycott it now. After they endorsed Martinez back in October, Wings swore he'd never buy another as long as the present absentee owners, who know nothing of and care less for the real community here, retain any financial stake.

But this? This is not journalism, not that I expect it. This is stenography. And it dutifully transcribes both the federal public defender's account, which I wold of course expect to try to smear the victim in order to get a win for his client. But the federal prosecutor engages in victim-blaming and victim-shaming, as well, with apparently no mention of, or regard for, the facts as originally reported. Of course, it is exactly what I'd expect of federal entities charged with "protecting" the lives and welfare of Indians (which is to say, no protection at all).

In this day of open season on men of color, it's shattering to realize that open season extends beyond law enforcement perps to the garden-variety sort, too, at least when the dead men happen to Black or Red.

R.I.P., Nicholas (Sul) Concha.