04/08/2025
Cole “Coco” Brings Plenty was more than a name or a headline. He was a bright light, a storyteller, a bridge between generations, and a proud Mnicouju Lakota. His presence carried both the weight of his ancestors and the hope of his people’s future. As an actor and a media student at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, Cole was on a journey—not only to share his gifts with the world, but to redefine representation, identity, and truth in media. His sudden and tragic death on April 5th, 2024, in a wooded area near Edgerton, Kansas, left behind heartbreak, questions, and a family determined to uncover what happened to him.
Cole’s life was one of intention and passion. He did not just pursue acting; he embodied it as a means of cultural resilience. For Native communities, storytelling is a sacred act—an extension of memory, land, and spirit. Cole channeled that tradition in his work, bringing not only talent but authenticity to his roles. His education at Haskell Indian Nations University reflected his commitment to grounding that creative work in community and heritage.
His disappearance in early April, after missing two auditions he had been eagerly preparing for, set off alarm bells for those who knew his character and dedication. It was not like Cole to go silent. When he was found deceased days later, the grief was not only personal for his family and friends—it became collective for Native communities across the country. This loss echoes the pain too many Indigenous families have felt for too long.
There is a bitter familiarity in stories like Cole’s: a promising Native youth gone too soon, unanswered questions, and a system that does not move fast enough—or at all—for justice. Cole Brings Plenty is not forgotten because he is not alone. He joins a tragic list of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP), and his story fuels a movement that demands recognition, accountability, and change.
But Cole’s story is also one of strength. The legacy he leaves is not solely one of tragedy, but of inspiration. He was living his dream. He was showing other Native youth that their stories matter, their voices belong in every room—from classrooms to casting calls. And now, even in his absence, he speaks through the memories of those who loved him, the art he created, and the awareness his life and loss continue to raise.
His family continues to seek justice—and in doing so, they carry the flame of his spirit. They remind us that Cole’s life mattered deeply, and that his story deserves truth, dignity, and peace. In the face of silence, they speak. In the face of loss, they fight for justice.
To Cole “Coco” Brings Plenty: You are not forgotten. Your light is not extinguished. It lives in every drumbeat, in every camera flash, in every heart that dares to demand better for Native youth. Your story is a thread in the fabric of resilience that cannot be torn. And your name will be spoken—today, tomorrow, always.
Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ — We are all related.
John Gonzalez
Standing Bear Network
