Justice For Art Janis a Hospitalized Lakota Elder

Hi my name is Keith Janis --Arts brother.In Lakota culture, hair symbolizes strength and a connection to ancestors.

“We have part of our traditional ceremonies, one called ‘keeping of the spirit’ that's a very important rite of our people. ‘Keeping of the spirit,’ you have to take a lock of your loved one's hair when they pass… and that gets put into a bundle. And that's kept for a year until the memorial of your passing. And then the whole community comes together and hugs the bundle, prays for you. But all during this time leading up to the memorial, somebody is appointed to keep the spirit of the loved one whose hair you have. And they can't take part of ceremonies or celebrations or anything, I can't even sing… they do this for the whole year to care for the spirit of this person whose lock of hair you have. And that's taken from Arthur. He doesn't have that anymore,”

At my request. Colorado University Hospital pulled the shift nurses and supervising nurses and security and everybody together into a conference room to find out what happened to his hair and to look for video surveillance. But they just gave us a big old runaround and they're blaming Center at Lowry, where they'd been sending him for rehab.

CUH, was aggressive towards us and in denial of what they did and outright lied to me, they attempted to manipulate every concerned individual in their grief and awe showing solidarity and love for Art and our family, laying the blame on the Center at Lowry, questioning our interactions with them and condescending to us "Did you ask them if they had video showing his long hair when he got there!", sending us to a police precinct (to file a criminal report ) that had been closed 20yrs ago, adamantly stating their cultural sensitivity and policy was respectful to our culture, even giving false statements about charting his hair had been cut, and more than I care to mention outside a courtroom.

The investigator that answered my criminal report even was given a runaround until he was given a faxed approval for access of all CUH information and records pertaining to Arts stay and transfers to the Center at Lowery. The same day I did a followup interview with Denver 7 news compelling CUH to just come clean and admit what they had done.

After the media report and power given to the investigator CUH realized I was really adamant and will not quietly just go away. They called our family and admitted finally they did cut his hair.

This gofundme page is for purposes of followup investigative work. Lodging while in Denver, and litigation fees and court filings. All this in November.

Happy Native American Heritage Month

Your kindness and financial support will bring Not only Justice for Art but also may facilitate a greater respect and policy changes that can only benefit Colorado University Hospital and avoid these hardships forced on native patients in their care. Indigenous lives matter.

I have increased the funding goal upon the realization that the law (as we're learning) is slow. Retainers and attorney fees are steep. A learning curve. We will have to make this journey to Denver (hundreds of miles away from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation where we live.

Since launching this campaign several native folks came forward speaking of the same horrible experiences. I whole heartedly would like to extend my families gratitude and appreciation for the outpouring of love and support. Thank you all so very much.