“They shouldn’t feel like they’re being punished for being a girl.”

A close friend from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, home of over 40,000 Oglala Sioux, posted some devastating news on Facebook a few days ago.

Native newspaper men and women and Native journalists across America lost one of their best friends. Al Neuharth grew up in a small South Dakota town and he never forgot his roots, nor did he ever forget the Native Americans that made up a large portion of the state's population.

To those who have read my columns for more than 30 years I say "wopila" (thank you) for your faithful support and guidance. "30" used to be the sign off sign for ending a column or a news story. This column is my 30.