T'Saya June Jessica Yapuncich

T’saya June Jessica Yapuncich, DeekashBia (Eagle Woman, One with the Earth, Little Huntress, was born in Portland, Oregon December 7, 2008 to Alicia Yapuncich and Derrick Barber.  She was adopted by her grandparents, John Stephen “Steve” and Jessica Costa Yapuncich at the age of 23 months.  She left this realm early  by her own choice for one much better on March 18, 2024.  She was meth addicted at birth and her life was marked by tragedy and accomplishment. When she arrived to live with her grandparents she was unable to talk but could scream for hours.  Through years of loving care, tears, good times and bad times the sweetest girl emerged.

T’saya loved to run and at the age of four won all the races at the Wyola School Open House.  She loved animals and when 10 years old, at the Wyola Christian Cowboys Youth Rodeo, strode out and on to the back of a steer when no others would get close to the animal.  She won the competition several years in a row.  She played basketball for the Wyola Wildcats and on the court, she was a little thief and could steal the ball from any opponent who got too close. She was banned from playing Indian Football because as the boys said “she was just too tough”. She was guardian of her little Zaiden “Charles Bronson” and beat up older boys who were picking on him on the school bus.  T’saya was baptized, confirmed and received her First Communion at Blessed Kateri Takewitha Parish in Wyola, and St. Dennis Parish in Crow Agency.  She went into her first Sweat with her mother when she was only 2 years old.  She loved to help gather wood, get the rocks out and sometimes she and Charles Bronson would get everything ready to surprise her papa.  She prayed every morning.  She went to the hills with her Papa, Uncle Kenny Wyles and Charles Bronson, shooting her first deer at the age of 10. In Crow Tradition, she gave it to her Clan Auntie Pamela BackBone who prayed for her and she was blessed by that prayer.  With the help of Ted Allison and Justin Taylor she shot her first elk.  She shot many antelope and was very proud the day she took two bucks one morning.  T’saya was a cook and was known for her chili, roast beef, peanut butter cookies and brownies.  T’saya’s plans for her future were to attend MSU Bozeman and major in criminal justice hoping to one day be a FBI agent.  She also wanted to model and had already received offers. She had “headshots” ready to be viewed and picked up at the Robin’s Nest.

Survivors include her parents, her birth parents, of Portland, Oregon; her Kaalas Verna, Louise, Mary and Avalon Turns Plenty; her brothers Eric (Marina) Plain Bull, Sr., Latesheis Stephen Barber, Jackie P. Coversup, Sr., Stephen PR Caplett; all the Springfields especially Woodrow, Francis, and Josh, James (Susie) Seabolt, Garrett (Christina) Costa, Sr., Scott (Patti) Wiatrek, Jason Kaline, Dennis (Antionette) Old Dwarf Gonzalez,  EJ Plain Bull, Ross Adney, Andrew Doney, Cameron, Joshua and Uriah Backer, DarDan Tink (Paula) Kobieliez, Ashley Garner, Michael Cuthbert, Codie Yapuncich, Ralph Costa, Kaden Harris and Victor Costa, Sr. ; her sisters Olivia Plain Bull, Kimberly Campbell, Yasway White Wolf, Laura (Jace Real Bird) Plain Bull, Patricia Smart Enemy, Rita Rose (Key) Klompien, Jessica (Ross) Adney, Savannah, Jan, Delayna Springfield, Elizabeth (Earl) Old Chief, Mayiki Plain Bull, Patti Medicine Horse, Ne’Veah Plain Bull (to whom she was so attached) Lenaya Costa, Toni Ann Bell, Lisa (Tyler) Left Hand, Andrea Doney, Wahela Castro and Hannah and her son Silas Wilson; two little ones, Charles Bronson (Zaiden Blaze Bowers) and Spike (Zediah Blessing Enemy Hunter) the sons of Yasway who Juneberry helped raise and both called her “Mom”; her aunties Lucy and Bertha Gone, Crissy Farwell, Lorraine (Larry) Klompien, Rebecca, Marian and Kathleen Yapuncich, Ann, Andrea and Lavern Costa, Linda Bulltail, Jackie Yellowtail, Veronica Springfield,  Ruby (David) Thigpen and her clan aunts Pamela (Billy) Backbone and Margo Real Bird; her uncles Bruce (Marge) Waldron, Harold (Connie) Male Bear, Sr., Kenny Wyles, Victor (Kate), George (Sonia) Jim (Carol) and Fred (Pamela) Yapuncich, Ron (Carol) Dube, Ben (Victoria) Cloud, Ezekiel and Arnold Coyote Runs, Jethro (Rose) Diebert, Wallace (Elaine) Seabolt, Richard (Tina) Potts, Tilton (Sarah) Old Bull, Johnny Boy (Victoria) Chattin, Dennis and Mike Turley, David Small, Clan Uncles Jack Old Horn, Burton Pretty on Top  and all her Tsi-ga-mo-gi relatives. Her extended family included the Yapuncich, Costa, Turns Plenty, Stewart, Yellowtail, Bull Horse, Takes Enemy, Moccasin Top, Nomee, Bear Cloud, Medicine Horse, Adney, Klompien, Gets Down, Comes Up, Little Light, Barber, Real Bird, Coyote Runs, Gone, Door, Bull Tail, Old Bull, Jefferson, Good Luck, Iron and Bad Horse.  Our family is large, please accept our apology if you have not been mentioned. Life is hard and we hope the young people will talk about their problems with someone, that adults will protect every child anywhere and that all of us will trust the Creator in all times.

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