Rance Sneed Memorial Fund

On the morning of July 6, 2020. It was announced that the Dakota Access Pipeline has been ordered to shut down. That same morning, Indigenous painter, singer, actor, water & land protector, Rance Sneed. Unexpectedly passed on.

Rance started his Art Path at a young age, and saved up over his years to attend Art Seminars at College in Santa Fe, NM, and Phoenix, AZ. Passionate for helping others, he took a hiatus from the arts in 2016. Journeying to the homelands of the Lakota Sioux, to help Water Protectors Defend the Earth at Standing Rock.

Photo Below:
Rance with fellow protectors at Standing Rock.

On the frontlines Rance would help defend the elders, children, and the water. The times were hard, temperatures were in the negatives. And one cold winter day, Rance nearly lost his hands. Police intentionally overtightened handcuffs on Him. They deprived his hands of blood after an arrest as he stood against injustice. Despite nearly losing his art ability, he would continue standing as a protector.

Until early February 2017, then the US military & Police Agencies attacked. They destroyed the camps, and paved the way for the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline, that contaminated the waterways. The year after, Rance came back to his peoples homelands, in the city that is called phoenix. (He had heritage, from the Pima & Hopi.) When Rance went to help water protectors defend the water at Standing rock, he sacrificed a lot of his financial future. Instead of continuing to focus on self-gain, Rance gave so much away. Since Standing Rock, he has been attempting to financially recover these past years.  That is why we ask for your help. Rance did continue his arts journey, and advocating for the protection of the land & water, but he never got the time he truly needed to share his talents. He worked store front positions to help support himself & his father these past years, only to be attacked by a dog on the way to a job this past year. This had set him back, and only added to time lost as he got sick this past month.  Ultimately, leading to his death. It is currently unknown if Covid-19 had impacted Rance, he had gotten tested a week ago, and was awaiting results.

Now Rance's unexpected death not only brings emotional pain, stress, and agony, It also brings more financial burdens.  This fundraiser is being held to help with funeral costs, his family's expenses, as well as being a comfort fund for them. It will be going to his mother and father; Rance is their 2nd child to pass.
To further honor Rance, more excess funds will go towards an Indigenous Org, dedicated to Protection of Our Indigenous Lifeway.
Updates will be posted as donations come in, and news are shared by the family.

In these times of loss and sadness, we know finances are hard, especially with the current epidemic. The Sneed Family isthankful for any support you may be able to provide.  Even if he is no longer here with us in the physical. His strength, and his memory, will be forever remembered.

Rest in Peace, and Power, Rance.

Some photos shared are below.

(In the photo above, Rance blessed the stage by wearing his American Indian Movement badge gifted to him, when he was at Standing Rock in 2016-2017.)

Photo Below:
Rance Stood in Solidarity against Police Brutality with AIM Central Arizona, and Black Lives Matter Movement.  (Rance is in the bottom right, holding the flag.)


Photo Below:
Rance is holding the AIM Flag high and PROUDLY, as he poses with Miss ASU 1st Attendant & friends, after performing with his drum group, advocating for MMIW. Missing Murdered Indigenous Womxn.
Photo Below:
Rance is helping with leading the Water Protectors March, to stand against the destruction of the Earth. 


Photo Below:
Rance posing with a friend at one of his art showcasings. Photo Behind him is titled: Last Child's Camp. It is a rememberance of the day he was beaten by police, and nearly lost his hands. He still stood strong with water protectors.

Photo Below:
Rance at the base of Turtle Island, at Standing Rock.

Photo Below:
Rance taking a picture with his piece, that he live-painted and finished in an evening. He dedicated it to highlight the corruption within' the Police State that harms Indigenous Communities, and the Earth. The Art Of Justice Open Mic event coordinators took the picture with him at First Church UCC.