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A group of Anchorage activists in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Movement say there’s unfinished business in the case of Brian Smith, convicted last month for torturing and killing two Alaska Native women.
They are calling for the arrest of Ian Calhoun, who so far has not been charged with any crime.
But as Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA reports, the Anchorage musician has been the target of an online petition drive and several protests.
Cars honked in support of about 20 protestors, who lined up alongside the road near Ian Calhoun’s home.
They stood with signs with big red letters that said “We do not feel safe” and “Arrest Ian Calhoun now”.
(Photo: Rhonda McBride)
Calhoun is a heavy metal drummer, who allegedly exchanged text and Facebook messages with Brian Smith, not long after he murdered Kathleen Henry in 2019.
At the end of Smith’s trial, prosecutors brought up something new in the case – evidence that Smith courted Calhoun to be his confidante.
The jury saw text messages between Smith and Calhoun, in which Smith tried to arrange a time to show off Henry’s body, before dumping it near railroad tracks.
“Is there a group of people out there that likes to look at the dead bodies of Alaska Native women? We don’t know unless the Anchorage Police Department investigates further.”
Antonia Commack, a Native activist and blogger – and also one of the main organizers of a series of downtown protests – says failure to report knowledge of a murder is a crime.
During the trial, Calhoun’s attorney invoked his Fifth amendment right to not incriminate himself, so he didn’t testify.
Michael Livingston, a retired police officer, is among the protesters.
“We wish that he had, so that we could have heard what it was that he witnessed. The evidence appears to indicate that he not only was aware of a crime, but rather than report the crime, he wanted to protect a now-convicted murderer.”
So far, Calhoun and his attorney have not responded to requests for comment.
The Anchorage District Attorney’s office and police have issued statements saying there is not enough evidence to charge Calhoun, but if new information comes to light, the case could be re-opened.
Protestors aren’t happy with that answer.
Their petition has now surpassed 2,000 signatures.
Lake Quinault. (Photo: Tom Harpel / Wikimedia)
A Washington state tribe is getting funding to return forest lands to tribal stewardship.
Eric Tegethoff has more.
The Washington state Legislature has approved $25 million in Climate Commitment Act funding to the Quinault Indian Nation on the Olympic Peninsula to purchase 11,000 acres of privately owned forest lands on their reservation.
Guy Capoeman, president of the Quinault Indian Nation, said the Climate Commitment Act is an important law for the state.
“It shows that the efforts of not only the Nation but the state as a whole and the concern for habitat and the environment is real.”
The Climate Commitment Act was passed in 2021 and created a cap-and-invest program to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, with 10% of revenue generated committed to tribes.
The Nature Conservancy in Washington partnered with the tribe on the purchase.
Capoeman pointed out reacquiring the forest land for the tribe is momentous.
“Repatriating your lands back, I mean, what bigger goal for a tribe is there, right? Other than the wellness of their members. Those are all things that are instrumental in our existence as a people.”
Capoeman added Indigenous people around the world have a significant role to play in combating climate change, given their connection to the land.
“Knowing how to manage and deal with those resources can show and help the rest of the world in how we mitigate and adapt to what’s happening in the world today.”
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