Shwanah Crowdog-Perez Apologizes for How Statement May Have Portrayed the Lopez Family, Asks the Public to End Threats

Shwanah D. Crowdog-Perez, who affirmed last week’s five-page statement about Thómas Lopez Jr. and the TOKALA name, sent IND a statement on Saturday and asked IND to publish it. She told IND she is speaking for herself and her mother, Joann M. Crow Dog, who issued the earlier statement.

In it, Crowdog-Perez, the daughter of the late Chief Leonard Crow Dog Sr., wrote: “I want to sincerely apologize for the way that statement may have portrayed the Lopez family in a negative light.”

She wrote that both families are “reportedly receiving threats.” “No disagreement is worth putting families or community members in danger,” she wrote. She asked the public to “step back, refrain from making threats or escalating this situation.” She wrote that her family will “come together with our own relatives and community members to discuss how this situation can be addressed respectfully.”

On the family relationship, she wrote: “I do not consider myself to be in a húŋka adopted relative to the Lopez family. To my understanding, neither was my father. He referred to Sharon Lopez as his daughter, but I am not aware of a formal ceremony establishing that relationship.”

She also called on Lopez “to come forward regarding his efforts to help our youth and to follow through on the commitments he has made.”

In an interview with IND last week, Lopez said Crow Dog was their Húŋka grandfather.

IND shared the statement with Lopez on Saturday evening, before publication. Lopez replied that “out of respect for our family I want to wait while an official statement is released later this week.” IND makes no finding on kinship or identity. Last week’s report is here.

The statement in full

IND is publishing Crowdog-Perez’s statement in full, at her request. As she asked, IND corrected spelling, including the spelling of Thómas Lopez Jr.’s name.

A Public Statement from Shwanah D. Crowdog-Perez

Hello, my name is Shwanah D. Crowdog-Perez, daughter of the late Chief Leonard Crowdog and First Lady Joann Crowdog.

I was raised on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, in Crazy Horse Canyon, where I learned the importance of family, respect, humility, truth, and responsibility to our people.

I know my father likely would have advised me to keep this matter off the Internet. He was a man who believed in addressing situations directly and confronting issues head-on rather than allowing them to continue unaddressed. This statement is not intended to disrespect the Lopez family, nor was it ever our intention to create division, hostility, or harm. Our intention was to bring awareness to a situation that, from my understanding, has been ongoing since 2022—something our family was previously unaware of.

My father stood for the youth, for truth, and for accountability. He did not take kindly to dishonesty, and he believed in addressing concerns when they arose. When this situation came to our attention, we felt it was important to speak up and seek answers. We were asked questions, and in response, a statement was made.

However, I want to sincerely apologize for the way that statement may have portrayed the Lopez family in a negative light. Regardless of the circumstances, I recognize that words carry weight and that public statements can have consequences beyond what was originally intended.

I also want to clarify my understanding of the family relationship being discussed. I do not consider myself to be in a húŋka adopted relative to the Lopez family. To my understanding, neither was my father. He referred to Sharon Lopez as his daughter, but I am not aware of a formal ceremony establishing that relationship. I share this not to diminish anyone’s personal connections or feelings, but to clarify my understanding of the circumstances.

As Lakota people, we are taught the importance of respect, humility, compassion, and love for one another. These values should guide us, especially when disagreements arise. Unfortunately, this situation has escalated beyond what anyone should have intended. Both families are now reportedly receiving threats, and that is deeply concerning.

I want to make one thing clear: bringing awareness to a concern should never result in threats, intimidation, or the possibility of someone getting hurt. No disagreement is worth putting families or community members in danger. I ask the public to step back, refrain from making threats or escalating this situation, and allow us the opportunity to address these concerns in a more constructive manner.

Moving forward, we intend to take a different approach. We will come together with our own relatives and community members to discuss how this situation can be addressed respectfully and how we can move toward a resolution. Our goal should be understanding, accountability, and a path forward—not further division.

I would also like to call upon Thómas Lopez Jr. to come forward regarding his efforts to help our youth and to follow through on the commitments he has made. Our communities have children and young adults who are struggling with gun violence, drug and alcohol use, mental health challenges, and physical and sexual abuse. These are serious issues that require real attention, meaningful resources, and consistent action.

Our youth deserve more than promises. They deserve support, protection, guidance, and opportunities to build a better future. They need people who are willing to stand beside them, listen to them, and help create lasting change. Whether you live within our community or are looking in from the outside, there is a role you can play in making a difference.

I ask everyone to take a step back and reflect—not only on this situation, but also on ourselves. We must ask what we can do to help one another, take accountability for our actions, and treat each other as relatives rather than adversaries.

Across Turtle Island, we have the ability to do better. That begins with honesty, accountability, respect for boundaries, and a willingness to resolve our differences without causing further harm. We may not always agree, but we can choose how we respond to one another.

My intention is not to create enemies or encourage anyone to take sides. It is to bring attention to concerns, protect our people, and encourage a more responsible and respectful path forward. I hope that, in time, this situation can be addressed through meaningful conversation, mutual understanding, and actions that benefit our communities—especially our youth.

To everyone who has been affected by this situation, I offer my sincere apology for the hurt, stress, or conflict this may have caused. I never wanted this to become an environment where families feel threatened or where anyone fears for their safety.

May we remember who we are, the values we were taught, and the responsibility we carry to the generations to come.

Let us choose truth without hatred, accountability without humiliation, and change without violence. Our youth deserve that much from all of us.

Respectfully,

Shwanah D. Crowdog-Perez Daughter of the late Chief Leonard Crowdog and First Lady Joann Crowdog