Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman's Search for Justice in Indian Country by Sierra Crane Murdoch

 

Here is a chapter-wise summary of the book Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman's Search for Justice in Indian Country by Sierra Crane Murdoch:

Chapter 1: The Brightest Yellow Bird

In the first chapter, Murdoch introduces the reader to Lissa Yellow Bird, a Native American woman who was released from prison in 2009 after serving time for drug possession. Yellow Bird returns to her home on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota, which has been transformed by the Bakken oil boom. The reservation is now home to thousands of oil workers, and the influx of money has led to a surge in crime and addiction.

Chapter 2: The Missing Man

In the second chapter, Murdoch tells the story of Kristopher Clarke, a white oil worker who disappeared from the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in 2011. Clarke's disappearance is a mystery, and no one knows what happened to him. Yellow Bird becomes obsessed with finding Clarke, and she begins to investigate his disappearance.

Chapter 3: The Oil Boom

In the third chapter, Murdoch provides a detailed account of the Bakken oil boom. She discusses the impact of the boom on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, both positive and negative. The boom has brought jobs and money to the reservation, but it has also led to environmental damage and social problems.

Chapter 4: The Search for Justice

In the fourth chapter, Murdoch describes Yellow Bird's efforts to find justice for Kristopher Clarke. She meets with law enforcement officials, interviews witnesses, and searches for clues. Yellow Bird's investigation takes her into the dark underbelly of the oil patch, where she encounters violence, corruption, and indifference.

Chapter 5: The Trial

In the fifth chapter, Murdoch recounts the trial of Kristopher Clarke's alleged killer. The trial is a long and difficult process, and Yellow Bird is forced to relive the trauma of Clarke's disappearance. In the end, the jury finds the defendant guilty, and he is sentenced to life in prison.

Chapter 6: The Aftermath

In the sixth chapter, Murdoch discusses the aftermath of Kristopher Clarke's murder. Yellow Bird is relieved that the case is finally closed, but she is also saddened by the loss of life. The murder of Kristopher Clarke is a reminder of the violence and injustice that Native Americans continue to face.

Conclusion

Yellow Bird is a powerful and important book that tells the story of a woman's search for justice in the face of violence and injustice. Murdoch's book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the challenges facing Native Americans in the 21st century.