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Child walks on

By R. R. Branstrom 2 min read
A bald eagle flies through a misty sky over a coniferous forest. Another eagle recently passed over a fire burning for a local child fatally wounded in an accident. Especially in indigenous cultures, eagles are often considered to be sacred messengers. (Photo by Kea Mowat)

HANNAHVILLE -- The 12-year-old boy who was struck by a vehicle last week has died, the Hannahville Tribal Police Department announced on Tuesday.

At approximately 9:10 p.m. on Sept. 15, Menominee County Central Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call that a pedestrian had been hit by a car near the Potawatomi Heritage Center at N15756 Hannahville B-1 Rd. Harris Fire Department and other units responded.

The driver was not intoxicated, has been “fully cooperative” with law enforcement, and “there is no evidence of negligence,” according to a press release. However, an investigation remains ongoing.

Lifesaving efforts were performed on scene. The child, Elijah McMillan, was first transported to OSF St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba and later was transferred to Children’s Wisconsin, a pediatric acute care hospital in Milwaukee.

For several days, the boy’s family and friends prayed for his recovery. Tribal members in first Hannahville then Escanaba lit healing fires to encourage McMillan’s soul to find the right path while his mother and others were at the bedside in Milwaukee. The Daily Press published a detailed account of the Native American tradition on Tuesday under the headline “Fire burns for Elijah.”

A few days ago, when it was determined that the little boy was braindead, arrangements were made to donate his organs.

Now that his life has ended, fellow Sault Tribe members are tending a walking-on fire in Jeff and Angie Lindstrom’s backyard on the 19th block of First Avenue South in Escanaba, where community members are welcome to pay respects.

In addition to Hannahville Tribal Police Department, Harris Fire Department and Menominee County Central Dispatch, also assisting on Sept. 15 were the Menominee County Sheriff’s Department, Delta County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police Accident Investigators, U.P. Health Systems and Rampart.

Hannahville Tribal Police Department released its statement on Sept. 22, extending “condolences to the families and everyone involved in this tragic accident.”

Starting at /week.