MARLITA

I was once in the home of a large Lakota man, admiring the collection of beaded jewelry he had made, and was considering asking if he was willing to sell a piece, when he noticed my necklace. He asked to see the whole thing, so I pulled the turtle that was under my white t shirt out for him to see.

"Where did you get that?" he asked.

"Marlita Running Bear."

Immediately he began putting his work away.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"You have something from the best. There is no reason for you to look at my work."

I took this photo of Marlita Running Bear 7 years ago in her home in Wounded Knee, South Dakota after the floods of 2019 tore through the land. She had no running water, and even in my Toyota 4 Runner, it was difficult to get to her.

She was intelligent, kind, and loved her family fiercly.

Today, I learned from her daughter that she died two years ago.

Her turtle is still with me.