Lindberg Shongutsie is an Eastern Shoshone elder who has been charged with allegedly assaulting a federal officer earlier this month.
On March 4th, Austin John-Hill said that he didn’t know that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) police were coming to investigate a tip of child endangerment until they were at his house on the Wind River Reservation near Riverton. John-Hill lives with his co-parent, Bobbi Shongutsie and her father Lindberg along with eight kids.
After the household requested a search warrant, John-Hill said that the situation escalated until Lindberg Shongutsie, who was recovering from a knee injury, was arrested for allegedly assaulting a federal officer. He was later moved to a hospital in Casper. According to court documents, Shongutsie has been released from custody.
John-Hill helped organize a protest Thursday afternoon during Shongutsie’s arraignment. Protesters held signs that said “Respect All Elders” and “Hold BIA Accountable” as an Eastern Shoshone drum group played in the background. Many talked of their own personal experience with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) police.
“Well, the reason why we're kind of here is basically the police brutality that happened to one of our family members, or one of our elders into the community and it happened through the BIA,” John-Hill said.
The protest was held during the arraignment of Lindberg Shongutsie pleaded not guilty during his arraignment and a jury trial has been set for June 6th.
The BIA did not respond in time for publication.
Dashcam footage provided by Bobbi Shongutsie. Taken on March 4, 2022 when BIA officers arrive on Shongutsie property.