Wright sworn into tribal council

ROSEBUD – Evastine “Cowboy” Wright was sworn into office by President Scott Herman to represent Butte Creek as the newest member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council.

Wright was named winner of the Special Election after votes were tallied and certified by the Election Board. He will serve a three-year term on the tribal council.

The reservation wide election saw a total of 641 registered tribal voters go to the polls on October 26th. Other candidates who ran for the open council seat were Brandi Bettelyoun (174 votes), Arnetta Rosie Montoya (131 votes) and Paul Joseph (75) votes.

The Special Election was scheduled when the tribal council seat for Butte Creek community, located within the reservation boundaries in Mellette County, was declared vacant after Travis Wooden Knife declined the position after winning the General Election. The public was not given a reason as to why Wooden Knife, an employee at the RST Court House, didn’t accept the position.  

In the General Election held in August, Wooden Knife received 1,191 votes over challenger Brandi Bettelyoun, who finished with 734 votes. Former legislator Steven Brave, who was initially elected to office in 2017, could not seek re-election because the Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s constitution limits council representatives to serving two consecutive terms.  

The General Election saw an estimated 1,977 registered tribal voters cast a ballot last summer. According to the 2020 Census, there are approximately 26,000 tribal citizens living on the Rosebud reservation. In order to be eligible to vote in local elections, citizens must be tribally enrolled, 18 years old and reside within the exterior boundaries of the reservation. There are no provisions set in the Election Ordinance allowing for absentee ballots or early voting. An estimated 7,000 tribal citizens are registered to vote.

The Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council will hold their next regular meetings on November 8 and 9, 2023 at the council chambers. Tribal Citizens who use Facebook can follow the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council page for updates.

Tribal citizens can call the Election Office at 605-747-2381 for more information on how to register to vote.