Relatives Updated on Whiteclay Slayings
 BY PAUL HAMMEL
 WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
 
 
Rapid City, S.D. - Relatives of two Oglala Sioux men found dead near
Whiteclay, Neb., emerged Tuesday from their first meeting with federal
investigators, saying they felt satisfied that everything possible was
being done in investigating the slayings.

That was a change from previous angry statements made by relatives and
other Indian activists about the probe into the deaths of Wilson "Wally"
Black Elk Jr. and Ronald Hard Heart.

One thing remained unchanged Tuesday - a vow to continue weekly
demonstrations and efforts to close down beer stores in Whiteclay.

"We will march until justice is done and until Whiteclay is closed down, so
that no other deaths will occur," said Tom Poor Bear, a half-brother of
Black Elk who launched the marches seven weeks ago. Whiteclay is adjacent
to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where alcohol is banned.

Poor Bear, Black Elk's father and three of Black Elk's brothers met Tuesday
morning in Rapid City with the U.S. attorney and the FBI agent heading up
the murder investigation.

The attorney for the Black Elk family, Charles Abourezk, said they were
satisfied with the progress in the investigation but were frustrated by the
lack of good leads given to authorities.

Neither a $15,000 reward nor a segment two weeks ago on "America's Most
Wanted" have prompted much information, said Mark Vukelich, the FBI agent
in charge in Rapid City.

"We aren't getting much feedback from the public," Vukelich said.

The family was provided autopsy reports on the two men but said they were
not releasing the information to protect the investigation. At rallies last
week, Poor Bear had criticized officials for failing to release the cause
of death and for failing to make any progress in the probe.

After Tuesday's meeting, Poor Bear said he was satisfied with the
investigation but said he still felt that the drinking and loitering
associated with Whiteclay and racism in Nebraska border communities were to
blame for the deaths.

Contrary to Poor Bear's claims, many tribal officials said they think other
Indians in South Dakota were involved. Law enforcement officials have
declined to comment on who they suspect.

The two men were last seen about 10:30 p.m. June 6. Their decomposing
bodies were found two days later in a ravine just north of the border in
South Dakota. It's an area where reservation residents walk frequently to
and from the beer stores in Whiteclay.

Vukelich said that both U.S. Attorney Janet Reno and FBI Director Louis
Freeh have inquired about the probe. He said the investigation was his
office's "No. 1 priority" and that forensic tests may provide new clues.

Stanley Star Comes Out, chief of the Oglala Tribal Police, which is also
participating in the investigation, said a couple of good leads have been
received from the public.

But, he said, the investigation has been slowed by tracking down and
dispelling the many rumors associated with the deaths, and by difficulty in
finding some people with information who have moved away.

His department has also been distracted by the June 4 tornado on the
reservation and by President Clinton's July 7 visit to Pine Ridge, Star
Comes Out said.

He said that one popular theory has been dispelled - that the two men were
beaten to death because they witnessed a break-in at a Whiteclay business
June 6.

"That rumor is not true," the chief said.

Meanwhile, Poor Bear said he is seeking legal means to shut down the four
Whiteclay stores that sell an estimated 4 million cans of beer a year.

He contends that treaties show that Whiteclay is still part of the
reservation and plans to ask a tribal court to issue an injunction against
the beer sales there. However, Patrick Lee, chief judge of the Oglala
Tribal Court, said Monday that he doubted whether his court has
jurisdiction to do that in Whiteclay.