ROSEBUD – The Tribal Election Board accepted a challenge to the Primary Election filed by a candidate and issued a statement on social media halting the swearing in ceremony “indefinitely.”
On Saturday, September 2, 2023, social media posts on Facebook pages maintained by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe announced the Election Board’s decision to “indefinitely” halt the swearing in of winning candidates. The announcement appeared on the KOYA FM, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Communications and the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council Facebook pages.
Candidate for Tribal Secretary, Calvin “Hawkeye” Waln, Jr., filed the challenge with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Election office last week alleging violations of the Tribal Election Code. The challenge was based on language in the Code under Section 903: Ban on Electioneering, Campaigning and Loitering. No other details on the challenge were available.
Section 903 prohibits electioneering or campaigning within one hundred feet of any voting place on election day. The section also bans loitering in the voting place on election day by anyone other than the judges, the sergeant-at-arms and formally designated poll watchers.
The Code also states that electioneering shall mean any interference or attempted interference with the election and any influence or attempt to influence the voter or community election judges by word, action or expression. A candidate’s supporters also may not influence or attempt to influence the voter or community election judges by word, action or expression.
Candidates for the two officer seats in tribal government received the following unofficial votes. Tribal secretary: Nicole Marshall (1,008 votes) and Calvin Hawkeye Waln Jr. (969 votes).
Tribal Treasurer: Louis Wayne Boyd (1,093 votes) and Dr. Luti Stone Davis (884 votes).
Candidates for the ten tribal council seats received the following unofficial votes.
Black Pipe: Christopher Eagle Bear (1,006) and Vincent “Vinnie” Charging Hawk (935 votes).
Butte Creek Community: Travis Wooden Knife (1,191 votes) and Brandi Bettelyoun (734 votes).
Grass Mountain: Michelle Hollow Horn Bear-Traversie (1,200 votes) and Gary M. Hacker (746 votes).
Ideal: Charles DuBray, Jr. (1,093 votes) and incumbent Tennille Black Feather (835 votes).
Milks Camp: Incumbent William Bill James Marshall (1,122 votes) and Byron Andrews, Sr. (798 votes).
Okreek: Incumbent Wayne Frederick (1,151 votes) and Stephan DeNoyer, III (789 votes).
Parmelee: Emily Boyd-Valandra (1,098 votes) and Archie Brown (849 votes).
Soldier Creek: Kathleen Wooden Knife (1,381 votes) and incumbent Norman Running Sr. (538 votes).
Spring Creek: Lila Kills In Sight (1,106 votes) and Darwin Walking Eagle Jr. (829 votes).
Two Strike: Ben Black Bear, III (1,049 votes) and incumbent Donna Hollow Horn Bear (795 votes).
The Rosebud Sioux Tribe elects their officials to serve 3-year staggered terms. Next year tribal voters will elect a President and Vice-President. Voters will also choose tribal council representatives from Antelope, Rosebud, St. Francis, He Dog, Ring Thunder, Bull Creek, Swift Bear, Corn Creek, Upper Cut Meat and Horse Creek.
The vote tallies from the General Election will remain unofficial until the Election Board certifies the results following the hearing on the challenge. An estimated 26,000 tribal citizens reside in the twenty communities on the Rosebud Reservation. There are an estimated 7,000 tribal citizens registered to vote. Election tallies show less than 2,000 registered voters went to the polls on August 24 to cast a ballot.
UPDATE
Election Board Schedules Hearing
Sicangu News 
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