Supporters join Lone Bear family in pleading for help with Olivia's search

(KFYR)
Published: Dec. 2, 2017 at 4:16 PM CST
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It's now been more than a month since Olivia Lone Bear disappeared from the Fort Berthold Reservation.

Lone Bear's family spoke out Saturday morning on the progress of the search—with support from another family that knows their pain all too well.

More than a month after Olivia Lone Bear's disappearance, her family is not giving up on finding her.

"We're gonna still look. We're not gonna quit," said Harley Lone Bear, Olivia's father.

Supporters joined the Lone Bear family in a special press conference in New Town—including the family of the late Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who traveled to the reservation to help search and show solidarity.

"My husband and I are here today to bring awareness. Get the Lone Bear family the support that they need," said Norberta LaFontaine-Greywind.

Supporters urged people to head to the reservation to help search.

"If you can’t show up at 8:30, you show up whenever you can," said Lissa Yellowbird-Chase.

"We can acknowledge and recognize the power we each have," said HolyElk Lafferty.

Others spoke critically of the search's progress, and said Olivia's case shines light on the lack of attention to the cases of missing indigenous women and girls.

"Don't wait for law enforcement because people have this false sense of security that when you file a missing person report, that all of the officers and detectives jump in their cars and run all over the place looking for this person and that's simply not true," said Yellowbird-Chase.

North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) has spoken out on this issue as well through the #NotInvisible campaign.

"Join me in making sure these women are not invisible," said Heitkamp.

Last month investigators said they received a tip of a possible sighting of Lone Bear in California but ruled it 'inconclusive.'

The Lone Bear family is offering a $10,000 reward "for the arrest & conviction of the person(s) responsible for Olivia’s disappearance or for Olivia’s safe return."

We have reached out to investigators in New Town for reaction and are awaiting a response.

Investigators have updated information on Lone Bear’s clothing. They now say she was last seen wearing a black Columbia jacket with a hot pink lining and a hot pink Columbia logo on the left shoulder. Earlier reports indicated Lone Bear had been wearing a white camouflage jacket.

Lone Bear was last seen driving a teal 2011 Chevy Silverado with a North Dakota license plate: 839-BRC. She is 5’6”, 130 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. She also has several tattoos, including Roman numerals on her right arm.

Anyone with information on Lone Bear’s whereabouts can call: 701-627-6141 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central Standard Time. Anyone with information after hours can call Tribal police at: 701-627-3617.

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