A combined $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the discovery of 13-year-old Sa’Wade Birdinground who vanished from her grandparents’ Montana home last October.
The FBI‘s Salt Lake City Field Office offered a $5,000 award that was matched by the executive branch of the Crow Tribe of which Birdinground is a part of.
Following a Friday press conference, members of the community held a walk and presentation of red balloons at Little Big Horn College, symbolizing collective hope and continued efforts to bring Birdinground home, Yellowstone Public Radio Reported.
Why It Matters
The teenager’s disappearance has drawn attention to the broader crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people in the United States, particularly in Montana and other states with significant tribal communities.
Indigenous women make up a disproportionate majority of missing and murdered women in the U.S., with the murder rate 10 times higher for women living on reservations, according to the organization Native Hope. Murder is the third leading cause of death for Native women, the organization added.
The Department of Justice‘s (DOJ) “Operation Not Forgotten” reflects a national push to boost investigative resources and address longstanding disparities in response to cases involving Indigenous individuals.
What To Know
Birdinground was last seen at her grandparents’ residence on the Crow Indian Reservation in Garryowen, Montana, on the night of October 6, 2024. Since then, she has not been heard from.
The reservation sits about 65 miles southeast of Billings and is near the former site of Sitting Bull’s camp, on Garryowen bend of the Little Bighorn River, according to the city’s website. The area was a traditional summer hunting campsite for many Plains Indian tribe and was the site of one of the largest Indian gatherings ever recorded in North America.
When last seen, the 13-year-old was approximately 5’4″ to 5’5″ tall, weighing 130–140 pounds, with brown eyes, curly brown hair. She is also known to wear an elk tooth necklace. On the night she disappeared, she wore a black hoodie with mushrooms, an anime T-shirt, basketball shorts, purple slip-on Skechers and may have also carried a black and purple Adidas backpack, the FBI’s release said.
Early searches by the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, local law enforcement, the community, and the Montana National Guard have led to no confirmed sightings or significant leads, according to a report from local news station KTVQ.
Federal and tribal authorities described Birdinground’s case as exceptional due to her age and the circumstances and highlighted the ongoing struggle of Indigenous communities where dozens of members are reported missing each year.
So far this year, the FBI doubled the number of special agents assigned to investigate cases on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne tribal nations. Data from the Crow Tribe showed that while about 78 missing persons are reported annually, most cases are soon resolved.
What People Are Saying
Mehtab Syed, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Salt Lake City Field Office that covers Montana, Utah, and Idaho, said during Friday’s press conference: “Eight months is an incomprehensible amount of time for any family to be without their child. For eight months, Sa’wade’s family has had to know life without her.”
He added: “Sa’Wade is not forgotten. She matters, and we are doing anything in our power to bring her home.”
Wade Birdinground, Sa’Wade’s father, said during the press conference: “It’s been a whole different life. To be honest, it’s been horrible. I just want to thank the FBI and the Crow Tribe and everybody else. Thanks for helping me out and continue to search for Sa’Wade.”
Frank Whiteclay, Crow Tribal Chairman, said during the press conference: “We wanted to match the FBI’s award so we can show not only the family, but the community, that my administration is here for the community to assist whenever a crisis comes ahead.”
What Happens Next?
Federal, tribal, and local agencies are continuing the active investigation, seeking public tips and following all available leads.
The FBI urged the public to come forward with any information and have established a dedicated tip line for Sa’Wade Birdinground at the Salt Lake City Field Office (801-579-6195). Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.
Community leaders also urged the public to remain vigilant and share information widely on social media.
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