ROSEBUD – The Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council took action recently to approve legislation banning the South Dakota Governor from setting foot on tribal lands on the reservation.
A press release issued by the tribe reads “the Rosebud Sioux Tribe stands in solidarity with the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in banning Governor Kristi Noem from our respective reservations. This banning is not based solely on recent allegations made against the Oceti Sakowin Oyate, Tribal Leaders and Native American students, but also from an ongoing strained relationship with Governor Noem since she took office in 2019.”
In addition, after being displayed in the Capitol Rotunda since January 10, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s Flag was recently removed. The tribal council requested the return of the tribal flag as there was never any official action from the governing body authorizing the flag to be included in a public display at the Capitol. The tribal council also requested the removal of the State Tribal Relations Director and a State Tribal Relations Commission be established with representation from all nine tribes.
Noem also “supported the XL Keystone Pipeline and increased penalties for those who protested against such pipelines.” She also worked against Tribal policy in regard to COVID precautions claiming the checkpoints established on the Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River reservations “were a violation of state law.” She also “called for federal action and stated the checkpoints affected interstate commerce and transportation of infrastructure, goods, and provisions.”
Public education also suffers under the present governor. Noem advocated for the removal of “significant sections of Native American history within the most recent social studies standards passed in 2021.”
In addition, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe was the first tribe in this state to legalize the sale of medical marijuana to boost economic development. “Governor Noem threatened the Tribe with legal action if they issued non-Tribal members medical cards.”
She also “returned $81.5 million in unused Emergency Rental Assistance (ERAP) funds to the federal government, claiming they had contacted all nine (9) Tribes in South Dakota to offer rental assistance funding. However, when asked to provide documentation about contacting the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, her office could not verify such information. Rosebud did not receive any ERAP funding from the state.”
Noem also “failed to respond adequately” to a devasting winter storm in December 2022. Four tribal citizens lost their lives during this storm. However, the governor has sent the state’s National Guard troops “to assist with issues outside of South Dakota, specifically her deployment of troops to Texas to assist their citizens with border issues on multiple occasions.”
She also advocated for a shooting range in the Black Hills and “requested federal funding for the project.” But when state officials realized there were federal regulations in place protecting land from development if there are cultural findings (i.e. Native American artifacts) resulting from required surveys, they “immediately withdrew their application for federal funding and began construction.”
“The recent racial disparaging allegations made against Native students, parents, Tribal Councils, and Tribal leaders have led to further division and distrust of Tribal-state relations. Her disingenuous nature towards Native Americans to further her federal political ambitions is an attack on Tribal sovereignty that the Rosebud Sioux Tribe will not tolerate. Moving forward, we will only acknowledge Governor Noem after she issues a public apology to the Oceti Sakowin and presents a plan of action for supporting and empowering the Lakota people through policy and legislation.”
Sicangu News 
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