Actor Cole Brings Plenty, 27, was found dead in a wooded area of Kansas earlier this month.
Days after his body was found in the Kansas woods, 1923 actor Cole Brings Plenty made his tragic homecoming Sunday, and an entire community in rural South Dakota tearfully welcomed a young man whom had described as their “great hope.”
Hundreds of mourners packed a school gym in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, and walked past his open casket during a ceremony in a school gymnasium adorned with traditional teepees and drum circles.
Police believe there was no foul play in her death, but the officiant at Sunday’s ceremony told mourners that morticians had to do “a lot of work” on her body.
“When he first went missing, my little brother called me and said, ‘Pray for us, Cole is missing,'” officiant Delane Has No Horse told those present.
“Well, that phone call, I never thought it could lead me to this day.”
Cole, also known as Coco, was the nephew of Yellowstone star Mo Brings Plenty, and appeared in the 1923 prequel as sheep herder Pete Plenty Clouds. He was a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
Kevin Costner and other Yellowstone and 1923 stars did not attend the ceremony.
Kansas police have not yet revealed the cause of his death, but said they do not believe foul play was involved.
Days before he was found, police issued an arrest warrant in connection with a domestic violence incident.
Officers received reports of a “woman screaming for help” at an apartment in Lawrence, according to 12News. Cole was seen leaving Lawrence in her car, which was later seen near where her body was found.
Sioux tribal leaders have demanded a “complete and exhaustive” investigation into the actor’s death.
Mourners were seen arriving on horseback to Cole Brings Plenty’s homecoming ceremony on Sunday. An entire community in rural South Dakota tearfully welcomed home the young man they had described as their “great hope.”
The ceremony at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School began in the late afternoon when a horse-drawn carriage arrived carrying Cole’s casket, which was wrapped in a traditional Lakota star quilt. Cole, who was a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, was described as a “great hope” for the community.
The carriage was accompanied by a caravan that included his family and friends, and a string of horses. They stopped at the entrance as drums echoed and incense filled the air.
Hundreds of mourners packed a school gym in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, and filed past his open casket during a traditional ceremony Sunday.
Meanwhile, Cole’s father, Joseph Brings Plenty, has asked people to “please pray for justice for Coco,” adding: “We found my son, now we have to find out what happened and hold people accountable for what happened.” happened”.
However, at Sunday’s wake, the father focused solely on mourning his son. The father, who has deep roots in the community, met with another family at the front and hugged mourners who came to offer support.
Before opening the coffin, Delane Has No Horse advised mourners not to get too close to the body.
“Don’t touch the body,” he said, noting that the undertakers “had to work hard.”
The gathering included people of all ages, including parents with children, many of whom considered Cole an inspiration and said he showed respect for his roots even as he achieved success as an actor.
“Cole was the great hope for a younger generation of Cheyenne River and for our Native children across the country,” said family friend Bobbie Jo Kraft. ‘She was in the world making her way, while she shared our culture. ‘She was a role model for our community, showing kids that there is a whole world out there.’
The ceremony at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School began in the late afternoon when a horse-drawn carriage arrived carrying Cole’s casket, which was wrapped in a traditional Lakota star quilt.
The carriage was accompanied by a caravan that included his family and friends, and a string of horses. They stopped at the entrance as drums echoed and incense filled the air.
Inside, the coffin was placed in front of three tipis and flanked by portraits of a beaming Cole.
A program distributed at the wake, titled Coco’s Light, notes that his Lakota name was Wakiyan, meaning thunder, and that he spent most of his young life in Eagle Butte. He described him as “always happy, smiling and thinking about other people’s feelings.” He also mentioned his varied interests, which include playing the drums, dancing, drawing, poems and horseback riding. He grew up boxing with his family at the Wolves Den Boxing Club and competed in over 75 recorded fights. Later, he enjoyed modeling in fashion shows and traveling the world.
“Cole’s dad said he was the native version of Matthew McConaughey because he was great, his dad was so proud of him,” read a program circulated at the wake.
Cole’s uncle is Yellowstone star Mo Brings Plenty, 54 (right). It was her uncle who introduced Cole to acting.
Cole Brings Plenty starred in two episodes of the 1923 Yellowstone spin-off as Pete Plenty Clouds. Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe leaders have since demanded a full investigation into his death.
Mo’s Yellowstone co-star Cole Hauser, who plays Rip Wheeler on the series, shared a poster on his Instagram, urging his followers to come forward with any information if they had seen Cole since Easter night in Kansas City.
His uncle Mo Brings Plenty introduced Cole to acting.
“He was obviously a promising star,” the program states, citing several small roles in Yellowstone, followed by the recurring role in 1923.
“When his father first saw him on screen in his first episode of the series in 1923, he was shocked by his own son,” he adds. “Cole’s dad said he was the native version of Matthew McConaughey because he was so cool and his dad was so proud of him.”
Cole also participated in a podcast called Good Morning Indian Country’ which helped him become part of the native movement, to shift towards a positive narrative for our nations. Cole was becoming a spokesperson, a representative to the world of our indigenous nations.
‘Coco, the only thing we have is the good things you left us; the way family members and people should treat each other, the love and care they had for the world,’ the show continues. “We love you always Coco and we will do everything we can to live by your example.”
There will be another vigil at the school on Monday night. A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, followed by final services at Brings Plenty Family Cemetery in Red Scaffold, South Dakota.