Standing Rock woman dedicated to bringing home missing Indigenous people

The efforts of the group, Standing Rock Murdered and Missing Indigenous People, go beyond sharing information. When volunteers reach out to her, she puts together a search team.

Her friend Carrie Long Cloud talks with the friends and family of the missing to determine where they were last seen. Cottonwood-Gabe and other group members then add the locations to a grid, which serves as a starting point for a search. She also communicates with law enforcement and relays important information back to the group.

Among the many volunteers who help with tasks when needed are two drone operators and a fundraising coordinator. Others provide prayers and food at search meetings.

But the group’s work isn’t limited to Standing Rock. With the help of other members, Cottonwood-Gabe posts about Indigenous people who are missing all across the U.S.

“She’s always first in line for when somebody needs her help,” said Billie Lester, Cottonwood-Gabe’s niece. “She’s always there regardless of her situation.”

According to Cottonwood-Gabe, nearly once a month, someone from her reservation goes missing. In other areas, such as Rapid City, South Dakota, people go missing almost daily, she says. Her passion for helping others stems from personal experience.

In December 2019, her nephew Nathaniel Iron Road was assaulted. He died of his injuries less than two weeks later.

“Everybody misses him,” Cottonwood-Gabe said. “And he loved his kids so much. He has four beautiful daughters.”

Iron Road was widely known as “Shazam” from his job as a DJ at KLND Radio. His case remains unsolved.

Shanna Eagle was Shazam’s girlfriend and the mother of his four kids.

“He would walk five miles to work every day no matter the weather conditions,” Eagle said. “Everything he did was for our little girls.”

Eagle last heard from tribal police in September 2024 when they asked routine follow-up questions. She said no arrests have been made in relation to Shazam’s death.

Cottonwood-Gabe doesn’t want any other families to have unanswered questions. On a few occasions, her group’s searches have led to the discovery of remains, she said. In May, Cottonwood-Gabe and her group coordinated the search that found the remains of Xia Brave Bull.

“The most rewarding part is the closure. At least we’re providing that,” she said. “Families call on us because we know what we’re doing.”

In her nephew’s memory, Cottonwood-Gabe hosts a radio show once a month where she advocates for victims and survivors of MMIP. People across the country have tuned in and reached out to her in support.

“There aren’t a lot of people around as dedicated as they are. Alva is one of the angels on earth,” Eagle said. “My kids call her grandma.”

Cottonwood-Gabe wants tribal police to create a national day of recognition for MMIP. She also said they could be better about working more closely with the families and improving communication.

She is currently in the process of trying to make her group into a nonprofit to get funding for her services.

Any information regarding the death of Nathaniel (Shazam) Iron Road can be sent to the BIA tip line at 1-833-560-2065.