Rosebud hosts October animal clinics

The RAVS 2024 season ended with an amazing trip to Mission SD at the Wamakanskan Wawokiye Oti (Helping Animal Clinic). Photo courtesy of Rural Area Veterinary Services – RAVS Facebook page.

MISSION – Local residents took their pets to the Wamakanskan Wawokiye Oti (Helping Animal Clinic) to receive complimentary medical care by the Rural Area Veterinary Services team.

The October clinic provided medical and wellness services to over 200 family pets. These clinics help animals receive care free of charge. Vaccines, grooming, emergency and surgical services are performed by license veterinarians. They are assisted by volunteer veterinarian students who commit their time by applying to help with these clinics.

According to the Rural Area Veterinary Services site, volunteers are selected based on year in school, prior experience and organizational need. Selection will be designed to provide a balance of experience and skill levels. New volunteers are encouraged to apply. More information can be viewed on their website.

The recent clinics included time set aside to provide spay/neuter surgeries to cats and dogs. Four-legged also received vaccines, exams, deworming, flea/tick medicine and any other wellness care they might need. The volunteer team also tended to sick and injured pets.

Nearly 10,000 animals cared for this year across all communities RAVS teams served. For the past 20 years, RAVS has sent volunteer teams to underserved rural communities where poverty and geographic isolation make regular animal health services unavailable.

RAVS’ veterinary teams have treated more than 170,000 animals, providing a range of services valued at more than $33 million. These services are provided at no cost to the clients or communities they serve. In addition, their field training programs have provided life-changing service-learning opportunities for more than 9,700 veterinary and veterinary technician students and professionals.

The Rural Area Veterinary Services are part of The Humane Society of the United States. These clinics were initially organized by Kathleen Wooden Knife, who was elected President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in August 2024. Currently, scheduling the clinics and other events are done by Robbie Clairmont of the Wamakanskan Wawokiye Oti (Helping Animal Clinic).

The Wamakanskan Wawokiye Oti (Helping Animal Clinic) also provides pet food distribution when donations are available. However, to the recent weather disasters in several southeastern states, there will be no complimentary pet food distribution until possibly the end of November or early December. Call the clinic at 605-856-2477 for more information.

Related links:

Bridging cultures and care: Indigenous CSU vet students serve Rosebud Reservation

Groomers Doing Good Deeds: Building a Community, Not Just a Career

Tribal Inauguration Held on Rosebud

Janet Alkire (SRST President), Kathy Wooden Knife (RST President), Cecilia Fire Thunder (former OST President) and Leana Long (Cabinet Staff member) gathered to honor elected officials at Rosebud over the weekend. Photo by Vi Waln.

ST. FRANCIS – Rosebud Sioux Tribal President Kathleen Wooden Knife was joined by other elected officials at a public inauguration held in the Hinhansun-Waphaha Oyanke (St. Francis community).

“As the first woman president of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, I’m humbled and honored to be here,” stated President Kathleen Wooden Knife. “I’m hoping to make a change. I’m hoping to make a difference. I’m about helping the people. I’m here to help all of us together with the tribal council.”

The Honorable Kathleen Wooden Knife, the first woman elected President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, addressed the people who attended the Inauguration. Photo by Vi Waln.

“I was raised by a matriarch. I was raised by a grandma. She instilled in me a lot of the moral and ethical values which I stand by today,” continued President Wooden Knife. She concluded her address with the following quote from Chief Arvol Looking Horse:

We need a great healing and we need a great forgiving but healing can’t begin without forgiveness. We must forgive each other, forgive our loved ones, forgive our friends, forgive our enemies, forgive ourselves. We need to pray even for a person who has done us wrong. In our tiospaye, in our family, when two people fight they are made brother and sister. Forgiveness itself is a powerful medicine. We need forgiveness to create peace. Mitakuye Oyasin.

Rosebud Sioux Tribe President Kathy Wooden Knife was honored by her family. Also honored by their relatives were tribal council representatives Robert Rattling Leaf (Horse Creek), Lila Kills In Sight (Spring Creek), Michelle Hollow Horn Bear (Grass Mountain), Stanley Wooden Knife (Corn Creek), Alvin Bear Heels Sr. (Ring Thunder, Marian Little Thunder (Upper Cut Meat), Chris Eagle Bear (Black Pipe) and Emily Boyd-Valandra (Parmelee). Photo by Vi Waln.

Other tribal officials honored by their relatives included Louis Wayne Boyd, RST Treasurer, along with tribal council representatives Robert Rattling Leaf (Horse Creek), Lila Kills In Sight (Spring Creek), Michelle Hollow Horn Bear (Grass Mountain), Stanley Wooden Knife (Corn Creek), Alvin Bear Heels Sr. (Ring Thunder), Marian Little Thunder (Upper Cut Meat), Chris Eagle Bear (Black Pipe) and Emily Boyd-Valandra (Parmelee).

Featured guest speaker was the Honorable Cecilia Fire Thunder, a former president of the Oglala Lakota Nation and the first Lakota woman elected to that position. The Honorable Janet Alkire, sitting president of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe also attended the inauguration and offered words of encouragement.

In her keynote address, Fire Thunder encouraged the tribal council members in attendance to educate US Congressmen and Senators about us. Some elected officials in Washington are not aware of the needs of tribes. It is up to our local tribal elected officials to educate the people who have power over annual funding appropriations about the needs of our Lakota people. It is the responsibility of elected tribal officials to lobby for funding increases.

Standing Rock Sioux Tribal President Janet Alkire also addressed the gathering. She spoke about the obstacles she has faced in her 3 years as SRST President. She encouraged tribally elected officials to support one another and to be patient with one another. She also shared teachings from her elders that it is prophecy that more Lakota women are stepping into leadership roles.

President Kathy Wooden Knife was given the Lakota name Wasu Luta Win by Russell Eagle Bear and Cecilia Fire Thunder. Pictured in the background are Pat Bad Hand, Duane Hollow Horn Bear and Jayden Rose Whiting. Photo by Vi Waln.

The Honorable President Wooden Knife was given the Lakota name Wasu Luta Win (Red Hail Woman). Her family provided an eagle plume, which was tied on by Cecilia Fire Thunder. She was also presented with a knife, a traditional woman’s tool, in recognition of her leadership role. Russell Eagle Bear and Duane Hollow Horn Bear put the knife on President Wooden Knife’s belt.

“Today we honor a young woman who stepped into a role of leadership among our people,” stated Eagle Bear. “Long time ago, the women never left their tipi without a knife because they protect the home and family. Today we’ve kind of forgotten that tradition. But those who follow their traditional ways, they always have a Mila (knife) with them.”

Pat Bad Hand Sr. acted as Eyapaha. A grand entry kicked off the day’s events. The elected officials in attendance and their distinguished guests, were led by veterans Leah Rattling Leaf and Leonard Leader Charge, who posted the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Flag and the American Flag. Local singers offered the Lakota Flag song, Veteran’s song. Prayer and honor songs were also rendered.

A meal of soup, wojapi, fry bread and soft drinks were served. Gifts were distributed to those in attendance by President Wooden Knife’s staff. The inauguration was broadcast live, courtesy of St. Francis Indian School.

RST Election Board schedules hearing

ROSEBUD – The Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s Election Board will hold a hearing to determine eligibility of a candidate who filed for the Soldier Creek council representative seat.

Tribal citizens Tamaleon Wilcox and Norman Running Sr. both filed nominating petitions to run for the Soldier Creek seat. The hearing is scheduled to hear a challenge on the eligibility of candidate Norman Running Sr.

Following the decision of the Election Board on the challenge, eligible candidates will be certified to be placed on the ballot. A Special Election to fill the Soldier Creek vacancy will then be scheduled by the tribal council.

The vacancy was created when the sitting tribal council representative, Kathleen Wooden Knife, was sworn in to serve as RST President last month. There are 2 years remaining of the 3-year term for the Soldier Creek tribal council seat.

The hearing will be held at the Webster Two Hawk, Sr. Annex building at 10am on Friday, October 11, 2024. For more information you may call the RST Election office at 605-747-2381.

Funding will bring electricity to tribal homes

SOUTH DAKOTA – A $71 million investment from the Investing in America agenda to electrify homes in 13 communities across Indian Country will help close the access-to-electricity gap.

Two Lakota tribes will receive a share of this funding to improve services in their communities. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe will receive $11.8 million in funding for this initiative. Another $2 million will go to the SAGE Development Authority, a federally chartered Section 17 corporation created by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.  

“Every family deserves to have access to reliable, affordable electricity. Now, with historic investments from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we’re honoring our commitment to deliver clean energy to Indian Country to electrify more homes,” said Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland. “This new program is building reliable, resilient energy that Tribes and communities can rely on, and advancing our work to tackle the climate crisis and build a clean energy future.” 

This second and final round of funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Tribal Electrification Program, is part of an overall $150 million commitment to provide financial and technical assistance to connect homes in Tribal communities to transmission and distribution that is powered by clean energy; provide electricity to unelectrified homes through zero-emissions energy systems; transition electrified homes to zero-emissions energy systems; and support associated home repairs and retrofitting necessary to install the zero-emissions energy systems. In addition, the program supports clean energy workforce development opportunities in Indian Country.  

“Indian Affairs’ Tribal Electrification Program continues to provide Tribes with the assistance they need to ensure their communities have safe, reliable electricity, which is essential to daily living,” said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland. “Working with Tribal governments on developing clean energy sources and bringing the benefits of dependable electricity to their communities is part of our mission of service to federally recognized Tribes.”   

In 2000, the Energy Information Administration estimated that 14 percent of households on Native American reservations had no access to electricity, which was 10 times higher than the national average. In 2022, the Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy issued a report citing that 16,805 Tribal homes were unelectrified, with most being in the Southwest region and Alaska.  

The Tribal Electrification Program advances the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 initiative, which sets the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution, including federally recognized Tribal Nations. To see a complete list of tribes receiving a share of this funding, visit

For more information, visit the BIA’s interactive map for projects in Tribal communities funded through the Investing in America agenda.  

Electric buses coming to Rosebud

ROSEBUD – The Rosebud Sioux Tribe will soon receive a $7.8 million dollar Climate Pollution Reduction Grant as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda.   

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in a press release that the Rosebud Sioux Tribe was chosen for funding, along with 13 other tribes across the country.

Tribal officials at Rosebud plan to:

(1) Install five EV charging stations with a 500-kilowatt (kW) battery storage capacity powered by 50 kW solar panels and 10 kW of wind energy.

(2) Develop two electric bus routes using three electric buses that will provide a reliable transportation option for low-income and disadvantaged communities.

(3) Reduce transportation costs and improve the community’s access to jobs and educational opportunities.

(4) Improve air quality by reducing emissions of hazardous air pollutants from the transportation sector.

(5) Provide training to Tribal community members in battery, control system, and renewable energy technologies to build a skilled workforce.

(6) serve as a catalyst for the adoption of EVs in the community.

“This is a great opportunity for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe,” said Ivan Crow Eagle, RST Environmental Director. “We are so humbled and grateful for the selection of the Rosebud Sioux Tribes Climate Pollution Reduction Grant application.” 

“Thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris’ leadership, today’s investment marks one of the largest climate investments EPA has ever made in Tribal and territorial communities. The ambitious projects selected will deploy community-driven solutions to fight climate change and protect public health,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.

“These grants offer ways for our Tribal communities to develop new services and improve local health and environmental conditions, while also being a part of progress in developing cleaner energy,” said Regional Administrator KC Becker.

EPA selected 34 applications to fund projects proposed by 33 Tribal recipients and the Municipality of Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to implement community-driven solutions to tackle the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice, and accelerate the clean energy transition.

The selected applications will target greenhouse gas pollution from six sectors of the economy with a particular focus on the transportation, electric power, and commercial and residential buildings sectors, while spurring workforce development and job creation in Indian Country and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

EPA made its Tribes and Territories Competition selections following a review of 110 applications that requested a total of more than $1.3 billion in funding. The agency expects to award funds under both the Tribes and Territories Competition and the General Competition later this year, once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. 

Rosebud Sioux Tribe Priority Climate Action PlanDownload

Tribal leaders take office at Rosebud

ROSEBUD – A newly elected tribal president, vice president, council representatives and community officers were sworn into office by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s Chief Judge Sherman Marshall.

Kathleen Wooden Knife took the Oath of Office as the first woman to ever be elected to the highest seat in tribal government. She served nearly 3 terms as the tribal council representative for the Soldier Creek community.

Kathy Wooden Knife is sworn in as Rosebud Sioux Tribal President by Chief Judge Sherman Marshall. Also pictured is outgoing President Willie Kindle. Photo courtesy of Rosebud Sioux Tribe Communications Facebook page.

“I have a lot of compassion and I feel that if we’re going to take care of the people, compassion plays a vital role in that because everything that our people need, it sits with us,” stated President Wooden Knife. “You as the [tribal council] body are responsible for the betterment, the protection of our people. We, administratively, will assist through our administration duties with our employees who are here to provide for our people. That is all of our jobs.”

Lisa White Pipe was sworn in as the new RST Vice-president. She is the second woman to be elected to the vice president seat. She also served nearly 3 terms on the tribal council as the Bull Creek representative.

President Wooden Knife also introduced her newly appointed staff. They include Lori Walking Eagle (Chief of Staff), Russel Eagle Bear (Presidential Cultural Laison), Linda Marshall (Legislative Advisor), Tonia Marshall (Office Administrator), as well as Leana Long and Shari Burnette (Office Managers).

Pictured (L-R) are Linda Marshall, Leana Long, Shari Burnette, Lori Walking Eagle, Tonia Marshall, President Kathy Wooden Knife (standing), Vice-President Lisa White Pipe and Russel Eagle Bear. Photo courtesy of Rosebud Sioux Tribe Communications Facebook page.

Ten tribal council representatives also took the Oath of Office as administered by Chief Judge Marshall. They include Dolores Totes Waln (Antelope), Stanley Wooden Knife Jr. (Corn Creek), Royal Yellow Hawk (He Dog), Alvin Bear Heels Sr. (Ring Thunder), Shere Wright Plank (Rosebud), Michael Boltz Sr. (St. Francis), Willie Kindle (Swift Bear), Marian Little Thunder (Upper Cut Meat), Todd Bearshield (Bull Creek) and Robert Rattling Leaf (Horse Creek).

Chief Judge Sherman Marshall administered the Oath of Office to 10 new tribal council representatives. Photo courtesy of Rosebud Sioux Tribe Communications Facebook page.

Community presidents sworn in for the next year include Melinda Yellow Eagle (Antelope), Marla Ferguson (Black Pipe), Trisha Chasing Hawk (Bull Creek), Michelle Montez (Butte Creek), Audie Larvie (Corn Creek), Vanessa Red Hawk Thompson (Grass Mountain), Richard Tuffy Lunderman (He Dog), Evelyn Sam Iyotte (Horse Creek), Danny Grant (Okreek), Leah Running Bear (Parmelee), Angel Eagle Cloud (Ring Thunder), Deana Haukaas (Rosebud), Johanna Brave (St. Francis), Rhonda Black Lance Meek (Soldier Creek), Darwin Walking Eagle (Spring Creek), Josephine Ryan (Swift Bear), Donna Hollow Horn Bear (Two Strike), Tessa Two Eagle (Upper Cut Meat), Rachel Andrews (Ideal). Milks Camp will elect their Community President at a later date.

The RST president, vice-president and tribal council representatives will all serve 3-year terms. The community presidents are elected to one-year terms. In 2025, the tribe will conduct an election for a tribal secretary and tribal treasurer. For more information, please call the Rosebud Sioux Tribe at 605-747-2381.

Tribe cancels Secretarial Election

ROSEBUD – The Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council reconsidered and rescinded Resolution 2022-298 to cancel an election to remove the Secretary of the Interior from the RST Constitution.

A memorandum from the RST Legislative Affairs was issued on August 28, 2024 and shared on social media following the tribal council action. The memo read in part: “the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council passed a resolution to cancel the Secretarial Election. This is due to the inadequate voter registration deadline and limited time for educating the public about the proposed constitutional amendment.”

Resolution 2022-298 likely originated through a petition resolution, which was then “reaffirmed by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Council in session on March 6, 2024 by a vote of fourteen (14) in favor, three (3) opposed and one (1) not voting.” The amendment, if passed by a majority of tribal voters, would have changed Article XI of the RST Constitution by removing all of Section 2 and replacing Section 1 as follows:

Section 1. This Constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the people of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe voting at an election called by the President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. The President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe shall call an election upon proposed amendment or amendments at the request by resolution passed by three fourths (3/4) of the members of the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council or upon petition of thirty (30) percent of the qualified voters of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in an election conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Election Board in accordance with Rosebud Sioux Tribal law. Any amendment approved in such elections shall become effective upon cortication by the RST Election Board without requiring the approval or participation of the Secretary of the Interior.

The tribe’s Legislative Affairs staff presented community and online educational sessions on what would be on the ballot. Billboards were posted around the reservation and tribal citizens with a post office box received a mailer with information about the Secretarial Election.

The mailer encouraged tribal citizens to vote in the upcoming election to change the RST Constitution & By-Laws, Article IX by removing the required approval of the Secretary of the Interior and Secretarial Election to amend the RST Constitution. A vote “yes” would allow a “proposed changed to the constitution will be put on the ballot during Tribal elections.” A vote “no” would leave the process as is and “amendments will be sent to the Secretary of the Interior for approval. The BIA will conduct a special federal election for Tribal members to vote on proposed changes to the constitution.”

In the past, Secretarial Elections have been conducted through the mail. Since these elections are conducted by mail, off reservation tribal citizens are included in the registration and voting process. There was no indication that tribal citizens living off-reservation would continue to have an opportunity to participate by mail in any future referendum elections if the Secretary of Interior approval requirement was removed from the RST Constitution.

While many tribal citizens residing both on and off the Rosebud reservation reported receiving forms to register for the Secretarial Election, others reported they did not receive a registration form. Secretarial Elections are not funded with tribal dollars, they are paid for by the Secretary of the Interior or Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The Secretarial Election scheduled for September 20, 2024 is now cancelled. For more information, please call the Rosebud Sioux Tribe at 605-747-2381.

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.

Kathleen Wooden Knife is the first woman to be elected to the Tribal President seat at Rosebud. Photo from Facebook.

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.

Lisa White Pipe served two terms on the RST council before being elected Vice-President on August 22, 2024. Photo from Facebook.

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.

Kindle is Acting RST President

ROSEBUD – A resignation letter signed by Rosebud Sioux Tribe President Scott Herman was subsequently rescinded in a memorandum appointing Vice President Willie Kindle as his replacement.

The RST Election Office Facebook page reported that on August 1 Herman “will take on a new role as the Vice President of Tribal Nations/Community at Sinte Gleska University.” An honoring was held on July 29 in the tribal council chambers with tribal and SGU officials present.

Herman’s resignation letter was dated July 23. However, the resignation was withdrawn without a stated reason on July 31. Herman issued a delegation of authority memorandum which read: “I, the undersigned President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, write the memorandum to withdraw my letter of resignation. Pursuant to Article 1, Section 1 of the By-Laws of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, I hereby appoint and authorize William “Willie” Kindle, Vice President, to act as Acting President and to chair meetings from August 1, 2024, until September 3, 2024.”

The RST Election Code also contains language in case of vacancies. RST Ordinance 86-10, Section 204. Vacancies reads: “If the Office of President becomes vacant before the expiration of the term and one year or more of the term remains, the Tribal Council, within thirty (30) days after the vacancy, shall order a special election. If less than one year of the term remains, the Vice President shall fill the unexpired term; provided, that the tenure of office of any person elected to fill the vacancy shall not extend beyond the term of office of the original incumbent.”

Tribal voters will elect a new president at the General Election scheduled for August 22. The ballot will include Kathleen Wooden Knife and Steve L. DeNoyer Jr. as they were the top two vote getters in the Primary Election.

For more information on the General Election please call Election Office at 605-747-2381.

RST Election Code – AMENDED Ordinance 86-10 April 2018Download
Election Code Amendments RST Resolution 2020-101Download
RST Constitution ByLawsDownload