Northern Cheyenne Tribe praises efforts of two citizens in Las Vegas shooting

Tuesday, October 3, 2017  

Two citizens of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe helped victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, President L. Jace Killsback said.

Shawnta Flatness, who is a nurse at an Indian Health Service hospital in neighboring Arizona, provided medical assistance during the shooting at a music concert on Sunday night, Killsback said. She provided a brief update about the incident on Facebook.

"This was the most horrible thing I’ve lived through. Helped who I could but as you can see from the news many we could not," wrote Flatness, who previously worked at a hospital in Montana, where the tribe is based. A friend also credited Flatness with saving lives.

"I am so grateful for my best friend Shawnta (Flatness), and her being a nurse, we were able to help pull so many victims out who needed medical attention," Tracy Jo Schweigert wrote on Facebook, MTN News reported.

Tony Chavez, another Northern Cheyenne citizen, also assisted during the incident, which claimed the lives at least 58 people and left hundreds more injured. He helped load victims into ambulances for two hours, Killsback said.

"As the President of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, I ask that our communities, districts, and families near and far come together to offer prayers and gratitude for the safety of our Cheyenne warriors — Miss Flatness and Mr. Chavez," Killsback said in a press release on Monday.

A significant number of tribal leaders and citizens were either on their way to Las Vegas or were already in the city when the shooting occurred. They are attending the Global Gaming Expo, which began on Monday and concludes on Thursday.

"Our hearts are heavy with this loss. Let's all come together to support each other," National Congress of American Indians President Brian Cladoosby wrote on Facebook on Monday. He was scheduled to appear at a panel at the conference earlier in the day.

The conference is being held at Sands Expo, a convention center about 3 miles north of the shooting site.

Read More on the Story:
Two Northern Cheyenne members helped victims of Las Vegas massacre, tribal president says (MTN News October 3, 2017)
Columbus grad, Billings woman recount bravery of people in Las Vegas shooting (MTN News October 3, 2017)