Rosebud elects women to lead

ROSEBUD – The Sicangu Oyate elected Lakota women Kathleen Wooden Knife (President) and Lisa White Pipe (Vice-President) as their new leaders to serve Rosebud Sioux Tribal government.

Wooden Knife has served nearly 3 terms on the tribal council. She made history as the first woman ever elected as tribal president. She was currently serving as the Soldier Creek tribal council representative.

Wooden Knife received 1,192 votes to top her opponent Steve DeNoyer Jr., who finished with 870 votes. A special election will be held to fill the tribal council vacancy at Soldier Creek.

Voters also chose Lisa White Pipe as their vice-president. White Pipe is the second Sicangu woman to be elected into the vice-president position. She also served nearly 3 terms on the tribal council. White Pipe received 1,131 votes to win the seat over Russell Eagle Bear, who finished with 919 votes.

Tribal voters also chose 10 council representatives to serve them over the next 3 years. Unofficial tribal council and school board election results are listed as follows.

ANTELOPE: Dolores Totes Waln (1,316) won over incumbent Jordan Rahn (724).  

CORN CREEK: incumbent Stanley P. Wooden Knife Jr. (1,018) won a second term over challenger Arlene R. Old Lodge Black Bear (1,008).

HE DOG: Royal Yellow Hawk (1,091) won over Clifford T. Chums Lafferty (932).

RING THUNDER: Alvin Bear Heels Sr. (1,018) won over Rose Two Strike Stenstrom (970).

ROSEBUD: incumbent Shere Wright Plank (1,081) retained her seat over Rodney N. Bordeaux Jr (971).

ST. FRANCIS: Michael R. Boltz Sr. (1,028) won over Sharon L. Swift (992).

SWIFT BEAR: William Willie Kindle (1,024) won over Foster Cournoyer Hogan (1,021).

UPPER CUT MEAT: Marian Little Thunder (1,059) won over incumbent Dwight D. Spotted Tail (848).

BULL CREEK: Todd J. Bearshield (1,178) won over Everly D. Lunderman (881).

HORSE CREEK: Robert Rattling Leaf (1,428) won over Charlie B. Fallis (595).

Tribal voters also elected Nicole Marshall, Roger Crow Eagle Sr. and Sharon Swift to the Sicangu Oyate Ho, Inc. School Board. Also receiving votes were Verlyn Walking Eagle, Lori Waling Eagle and Shauna Running.

Approximately 2,000 registered voters cast a ballot in the August 22 General Election. The formal swearing in of newly elected representatives is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at the RST Council Chambers.