"The SAG Awards In Memoriam segment failed to acknowledge a shining star, Cole Brings Plenty—an inexcusable omission."
The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) continues to devastate our communities, and this erasure only deepens the pain. Why We Wear Red is more than a statement—it is a movement demanding awareness, accountability, and action from our industry.
“Hollywood must do better. Representation isn’t just about who gets cast in roles—it’s about whose lives, legacies, and contributions are recognized and honored,” states Joanelle Romero, 48-year SAG member and founder CEO Red Nation Celebration Institute.
Cole Brings Plenty portrayed Pete Plenty Clouds in the hit series 1923, the second spinoff to Paramount Network’s Yellowstone. Sadly, he tragically passed away at 27 years old in April 2024. With the Yellowstone prequel returning on Paramount+, the episode opened with a tribute to the late actor. His character was not written out of the show, with Jeremy Gauna taking over the role.
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Unsolved Case: Cole Brings Plenty
REPLAY: WATCH NOW
Joanelle Romero, Founder and CEO of the Red Nation Television Network, presents an exclusive, first-ever interview with Joe Brings Plenty, former chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and father of the late actor Cole Brings Plenty.
In this powerful, in-depth conversation, Brings Plenty speaks openly about the tragic events surrounding his son’s disappearance and death on April 5, 2024. The interview examines the circumstances leading up to the loss, the status of the ongoing investigation, and the broader impact on Indigenous communities.
Grounded in truth and accountability, this dialogue also addresses the urgent crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIW/MMIP), calling for systemic change, transparency, and action.
This is more than an interview—it is a call to awareness, justice, and visibility.
On April 5th, 2024 a member of our extended Red Nation family, 27 year old actor, student and filmmaker Cole Brings Plenty, was found dead in Lawrence, Kansas after disappearing following a party on March 31. Red Nation Celebration Institute founder Joanelle Romero shared kinship with the Brings Plenty family for as long as we can remember. They are family. Cole’s Father, Joe Brings Plenty, and Uncle, Mo Brings Plenty, announced that Cole was missing after he failed to return home on Sunday April 1st. Thanks to their efforts and those of the indigenous community to rally a social media campaign demanding that Lawrence, Kansas law enforcement look for Cole, a search was finally launched on Thursday, April 4th which resulted in Cole’s body being discovered the next day.
On April 8th a worldwide call to action was launched, urging individuals to show solidarity by wearing braids with the hashtag #JusticeForCole, amplifying awareness about the pressing issue of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples in alignment with the ongoing movement #WhyWeWearRed.
Cole attended last year’s Red Nation International Film Festival to support the film “WOUNDED KNEE SURVIVORS RUN” directed by his brother Seth Brings Plenty. The film was nominated for Best Documentary Short. Cole captivated both audiences and RNCI Board members alike with his presentation at the Awards Ceremony, leaving a lasting impression with his charm and charisma. Cole Brings Plenty was best known for supporting roles in YELLOWSTONE, 1923, INTO THE WILD FRONTIER, and THE TALL TALES OF JIM BRIDGER. His career was just beginning; with multiple projects on the horizon it was clear that Cole Brings Plenty was headed for stardom.
On April 10, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office released a brief statement indicating they had found “no indication of foul play” in Cole’s death and considered the matter closed. Cole Brings Plenty became the latest unsolved case in a growing epidemic of missing and murdered Native and indigenous women and men in North America.
A 2016 study published by the National Institute of Justice found that 4 out of 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women, a staggering 84.5%, experienced violence in their lifetime. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native women experience the second highest rate of homicide in the nation, with American Indian and Alaska Native MEN at risk for the second highest rate of homicide among ALL other racial and ethnic groups combined.
Cole’s loss hit our community very deeply. Enough is enough. No more stolen or murdered indigenous people. The world must do better. Law enforcement must do better. WE must do better. In order for people to matter they must be SEEN. In order for people to be SEEN they must be represented, their stories must be told – in film, on television, on digital platforms. That is the purpose and mandate of Red Nation and #WhyWeWearRed: To bring awareness and visibility to Native and Indigenous peoples and their stories so that we can be SEEN; so that if ONE of us goes missing ALL of us care enough to demand and get answers.
Let us hold onto the hope that Cole’s death serves a broader purpose – to shine a spotlight on the pervasive presence of systemic racism, hate crimes, and prejudice that continue to afflict our world. Let it be a call to action, a reminder that Indigenous communities still face an alarming rate of disappearances and murders.
May Cole’s legacy inspire us to confront these injustices and work towards a future where EVERY life is valued and protected.
