July 27, 1971 – September 6, 2024
James Norris Jr., 53, of Eagle Butte passed away Friday, September 6, 2024, at Monument Health in Rapid City.
Funeral services were held September 16, 2024, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Eagle Butte. Burial was in the Clown Family Cemetery at Thunder Butte. Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg is in charge of arrangements.
On the night of July 27, 1971, Jim was born in Gettysburg to James Norris Sr. and Yvonne Kay Clown.
He was an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (Mnicoujou Band) and attended school in Eagle Butte from grades K through 12, graduating in 1989. During high school James played football and basketball. He was a member of the first team to win a championship at the Lakota Nation Invitational in 19871988. Jim received a football scholarship to Huron University. His college career quickly came to an end after a knee injury. He then returned to Eagle Butte and worked construction In 1994, Jim completed Indian Police Academy in Artesia, NM. In 1997 he completed the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center for criminal investigation in Glynco, GA. From 1994 to December of 2006 James worked as a police officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, supervisory special agent, and chief of police for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. He then accepted a position for criminal investigation on the Hualapai Reservation in Peach Springs, AZ.
In 2008, he accepted a position to be Director of Safety and Security for the Southeast Alaskan Regional Health Consortium on the Tlingit Reservation in Sitka, AK. He then moved on as a consultant providing professional training and technical assistance to Native American Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, First Nations and nonprofit organizations. Jim worked in law enforcement, safety, security and investigations for over 27 years.
Jim was the recipient of numerous awards: 2001 – U.S. Attorney’s Award for outstanding contributions for victims of crime in Indian Country, 1997 – Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Police Officer of the Year, 1995 and 1996 – certificates for outstanding contributions, and CRST LED, 1994 to 2006 – Distinguished Expert in handguns, shotguns, and auxiliary weapons: AR-15/long rifles, 1994 and 1996 – awards for course records at the Indian Police Academy in Artesia.
He considered being a descendant of Crazy Horse “Tasunka Wikto” a great honor, he loved to educate his children and grandchildren on their history and lineage. In the last two years Jim faced obstacles which he was exonerated from on July 2, 2024.
Jim is survived by his four daughters: Jordan, Alexa, Gabrielle (Cheristine Moussea) and Quinn; three sons: Tyus, Isaiah, and Itanchan; grandson Apollo Prince; granddaughter Alahei Clay; mother Yvonne; brother Edward Sr. (Berdina) (Xavier, Ivy, Xandria, Meleena, Xzander, Isis, Zoe, and Liam); Norris family from Ohio: Sue and Tom Norris, Debbie and Ray Norris, Bill and Shirley Norris, Sharon Norris, Brenda Norris, Jeff Norris, and Michelle Norris.
He is preceded in death by his father, James Lewis Norris Sr.; brothers Floyd LeCompte, Willie Tiller, and Doce Merculief; grandpas Thomas Norris and James “Tsunka Wikto” Clown; grandmas Velma Norris and Anna Red Bird Clown; uncles True Clown, Carlin Clown Sr., Stewart Clown, Richard Clown, and Roland Larry Clown; aunts Alma Bowker, Betty Crow, Mary Clown, Phoebe Brings Plenty, Carol Clown, Patricia Adams; and Brenda and Frank Veit.