Welcome back to Death by Champagne, the podcast here to keep you up at night! This week we bring you the final installment of our book series covering Yellow Bird by Sierra Crane Murdoch. We wrap everything up as much as possible by diving into Blackstone’s business dealings, a set of flyers that changed everything, and the eventual arrests that take place for those on and off the reservation. It’s a lot to unpack so stick with us.

This episode contains foul language and discussions about murder, drugs, addiction, and a lot of other illegal activities. We’ll do our best to stay on track but the bottles are popped.

Sources
Sierra Crane Murdoch
Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman's Search for Justice in Indian Country, Sierra Crane Murdoch, February 16, 2021
Sierra Crane Murdoch Live Event for the Lake Agassiz Regional Library, Oct 20, 2020, watched May 1, 2021
“On Indian Land, Criminals Can Get Away With Almost Anything”, Sierra Crane Murdoch, The Atlantic, Feb 22, 2013, accessed April 30, 2021
Overall History & Resources
Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, History
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Ndstudies.gov, State Historical Society of North Dakota
Arikara Pronunciation and Spelling Guide
Native Voices, Timeline of Citizenship, Services, and Sovereignty
“Sakakawea name debate good”, Sheila Robinson, The Bismarck Tribune, Sept 7, 2002, accessed April 30, 2021
“Breakdown of Relations: American Expansionism, the Great Plains, and the Arikara People, 1823-1957” Thesis by Stephen Auon, April 2019, Virginia Commonwealth University
Treaties & Garrison Dam History
“The Treaty of Fort Laramie”, ourdocuments.gov
“For the Taking: The Garrison Dam and the Tribal Taking Area”, culturalsurvival.org, June 1988, accessed April 30, 2021
“N.D. tribe asks Congress to fulfill 50-year-old promise”, June 13, 2003, accessed May 1, 2021
National Park Service, Pick-Sloan Plan
“In 1868, Two Nations Made a Treaty, the U.S. Broke It and Plains Indian Tribes are Still Seeking Justice”, Kimbra Cutlip, Smithsonian Magazine, Nov 7 2018, accessed May 1, 2021
“How the Garrison Dam on the Missouri River ruined a way of life for the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara”, Meteor Blades for Daily Kos, Dec 26, 2018, accessed April 26, 2021
“Three Tribes, a Dam and a Diabetes Epidemic”, Lisa Jones, High Country News, May 23, 2011; accessed April 20201
Environmental & Oil Boom
“Our River, Our Home, Our Nation”, MHA Nation YouTube video about the oil boom; features speakers Mark Fox, MHA Chairman (2019) Dr. Twyla Baker, President of the Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College,
“Frack Off: Kandi Mossett | Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation” , Kandi Mossett (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara) Native Energy & Climate Campaign Organizer, The New School YouTube Channel, Oct 16, 2014
The Disappearance of Kristopher KC Clarke
“The Case Against James Henrikson”, Case Timeline, The Spokesman Review, No Date Listed, first accessed April 13, 2021
“The Woman in Search of Indian Country’s Missing”, Jessica Lussenhop, High Country News, March 25th, 2019, first accessed April 13, 2021
“Mistress of alleged murder-for-hire mastermind testifies” Author: Lindsay Nadrich and KREM.com (KREM), Updated: 8:12 PM PST February 11, 2016
Trials, Sentencing, Conclusion
“In North Dakota, a Tale of Oil, Corruption and Death”, Deborah Sontag and Brent McDonald, New York Times, Dec 28, 2014, accessed May 17, 2021
“On the Trail of Missing American Indian Women”, Sophia Myszkowski, The Atlantic, October 10, 2018, accessed May 17, 2021
“Judge sentences Spokane hit man to 30 years in prison”, Author: Adem Arac, Updated: 6:54 PM PDT May 20, 2016, accessed May 17, 2021
“3 plead guilty in murder-for-hire plot”, Associated Press, The Seattle Times, Originally published September 17, 2015, accessed May 17, 2021
“Man sentenced to 22 years in murder-for-hire killing”, Associated Press, Q13 Fox Seattle, June 2, 2016, accessed May 17, 2021
“North Dakota woman sentenced in embezzlement case” Associated Press, June 6, 2017, accessed May 17, 2021
“Henrikson receives life sentence in Carlile contract killing, speaks about abortion and drugs at hearing” Kip Hill, The Spokesman Review, May 24, 2016, accessed May 17, 2021