Sicangu News

ROSEBUD – Sixty-eight citizens filed nominating petitions with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s Election office declaring their candidacy for tribal president, tribal vice-president or ten tribal council vacancies.

Successful candidates must be certified by the Election Board in order to be placed on the Primary Election ballot. The Election Code allows tribal voters to challenge the eligibility of any candidate. A challenge period is open through Friday, June, 7, 2024. To file a challenge, the tribal voter must pay a filing fee of fifty dollars and submit an affidavit to the Election office by the deadline. The Election Board will consider all challenges filed by the deadline.

Candidates filing affidavits for tribal president include: Muriel Fast Horse, Calvin Hawkeye Waln, Steve L. DeNoyer Jr., C. Steve Brave, James A. Iron Shell, Kathleen Wooden Knife, Wayne Frederick, Philimon D. Two Eagle, Harold P. Thompson, Louis Wayne Boyd, James A. Scott and Pamela Jean Kills In Water. Incumbent Scott Herman did not file an affidavit.

Candidates filing affidavits for tribal vice-president include: Elizabeth Lisa White Pipe, Glen Yellow Eagle, Eileen Shot, Henry Quick Bear Sr., Russell Eagle Bear, Jo A. Colombe and Craig Lafferty. Incumbent William Willie Kindle filed to run for tribal council.

Candidates filing affidavits for tribal council representatives include: ANTELOPE: Sherman Wright, Tenille Selwyn, Shawn L. Bordeaux, Dolores Totes Waln, Jordan Rahn (incumbent), Thorne Oliver, Josh Wilson, Colin Whirlwind Soldier, J.D. Traversie and Esther Blue Horse Moore.

BULL CREEK: Everly D. Lunderman and Todd J. Bearshield. Incumbent Elizabeth White Pipe filed to run for tribal vice president.

CORN CREEK: Stanley P. Wooden Knife Jr. (incumbent), Olivia Wooden Knife, Arlene R. Old Lodge Black Bear and Michael D. Witt.

HE DOG: Royal Yellow Hawk, Micah Lunderman (incumbent), Clifford T. Chums Lafferty and Zollie Stone Moran.

HORSE CREEK: Robert Rattling Leaf and Charlie B. Fallis. Incumbent Freemont Fallis did not file an affidavit.

RING THUNDER: Alvin Bear Heels Sr., Rose Two Strike Stenstrom, Raine K. Eagle Cloud and David Chief Blue Thunder. Incumbent Martha Blue Thunder has served a consecutive two-term limit and is ineligible to run.

ROSEBUD: Shere Wright Plank (incumbent), Rodney N. Bordeaux Jr., Robert Oliver, Trent Oakie Poignee, Luellen Titter Wright, Danielle Burnette, Janet Clairmont, William W. Bebe Long III and Marie Clairmont.

ST. FRANCIS: Joe Ford, Allen Wilson, Sharon L. Swift, Raymond Crow Eagle (incumbent), Keith Horse Looking and Michael R. Boltz Sr. SWIFT BEAR: Foster Cournoyer Hogan, Delano Clairmont, William Willie Kindle, Dera Iyotte (incumbent) and Dale R. Wooden Knife Sr.

UPPER CUT MEAT: Dwight D. Spotted Tail (incumbent), Marian Little Thunder and Lance Neck Jr.

The Primary Election is scheduled for Thursday, July 25, 2024. You must be registered to vote in the community where you reside. The final day to register to vote in the Primary Election is Thursday, July 11, 2024. The top two vote getters in each race will advance to the General Election, slated for Thursday, August 22, 2024. The last day to register to vote in the General Election is Thursday, August 8, 2024.

In order to register to vote, you must be at least eighteen years and an enrolled citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe residing within your community boundaries. A valid (unexpired) state or tribal identification card is required to register. You may call the Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s Election Office at 605-747-3187 for more information.

MISSION, SD – A language app recently launched at Wakanyeja Ki Tokeyahci school was designed with the Oyate in mind and to help students improve Lakota speaking fluency.

According to a Siċaŋġu Co press release, Uŋčí Wóslolye was created by a Lakota for the Oyate and is aimed to help children in pre-kindergarten through second grade. The app was designed by Jonathan Lu of Heȟlóǧeča Wóihaŋble (Hollow Horn Visions). The app will offer engaging content enjoyable for learners of all ages, including adults on their journey to revitalize the Lakota language. Staff and students at Wakanyeja Ki Tokeyahci school hosted Jonathan and his family for the new app unveiling.

The Heȟlóǧeča Wóihaŋble organization’s mission is to promote Lakota language and culture in safe digital spaces. Uŋčí Wóslolye achieves this with twelve interactive mini-games covering a wide range of topics, from counting to sentence building. The app also features three different orthographies: a standard Lakota orthography, Siċaƞġu orthography and the White Hat orthography.

Project partners Maȟpíya Lúta Hukhúčiyela Owáyawa (Red Cloud Indian School) of Pine Ridge and Siċaŋġu Co’s Wakanyeja Ki Tokeyahci of Rosebud were highlighted during the launch presentation. These partners played a vital role in bringing in Lakota voice actors, various orthographies, funding, as well as inspiring the stories featured in the app. Uŋčí Wóslolye supports students’ Lakota language journey in and outside the classroom.

The app also features cultural representation and identity for Lakota children. That is, Lakota children can see themselves in this game from their hair, their skin, their foods and their relatives. Another goal is to add landmarks within the app that Lakota students are or will be familiar with. This is a very useful resource for our entire community. Lakota people of all ages will likely find it exciting to explore within the app.

This work serves as an example that Lakota people can be the exclusive creators of our own learning materials. There will be more to come as Jonathan has shared that he is open to feedback, suggestions and ideas as they continue to develop Uŋčí Wóslolye, with plans for season two already underway which will add more content for third through sixth grade Lakota language learners. You can follow the updates to the app at the Uŋčí Wičhóoyake Facebook page.

ROSEBUD – Tribal voters will cast a ballot in July on whether or not the Indian Health Service hospital should be compacted under the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.

The tribal council approved RST Resolution 2024-106 by a vote of eleven in favor, one opposed and one not voting at a special meeting held last month. The legislation reads in part to “authorize and direct the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Election Board to hold a non-binding referendum to determine whether or not the Rosebud Sioux Tribe should enter into a Public Law 93-638 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, to compact or contract with the Federal Government to operate, manage, directly receive federal funds and administer the Indian Health Service Rosebud Comprehensive Health Care Facility.”

A yes vote will allow the tribe to initiate, approve and enter into a Public Law 93-638 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, to compact or contract with the Federal Government to operate, manage, directly receive federal funds and administer the Indian Health Service Rosebud Comprehensive Health Care Facility.

A no vote would mean the process of compacting or contracting the operation, management and administration of the Indian Health Service Rosebud Comprehensive Health Care Facility should be suspended or terminated.

However, further discussion on the compacting issue revealed that the Sicangu Oyate Health System held a meeting in February 2024 and approved a motion to proceed with the assumption of the Indian Health Service compact. There was concern expressed about the SOHS action approving the assumption process moving forward without tribal council consent. The tribal council wants to have a clearer picture of where the compacting process is in terms of budget and planning. Thus, the tribal council also approved a motion to temporarily suspend the SOHS charter until further notice. The motion to temporarily suspend the SOHS charter was approved by a vote of seven in favor, three opposed and three not voting.

The process of compacting the Rosebud hospital was approved at a May 17, 2023 council meeting through RST Resolution 2023-143. The action approved the establishment of “a chartered tribal entity, entitled the Sicangu Oyate Health System, to function as an instrumentality of the Tribe.” The tribal council subsequently approved Resolution 2023-239 which appointed a seven-member board to oversee the chartered tribal entity.

The tribal Election Board must provide notification to the public regarding the opportunity to cast a vote in the non-binding referendum election. A separate ballot will be provided to each tribal voter who goes to the polls on July 25, 2024. For more information or to register to vote in the upcoming tribal election, please call the Election Office at 605-747-3187.

Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council meetings can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/@RosebudSiouxTribeOfficial

UPDATE 4-26-2024 added the 2020 Amendments (see pdf file: r20-101) resolution to the RST Election Ordinance

ROSEBUD, S.D. – The Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s Election Board has released the schedule for qualified tribal citizens to file nominating affidavits for two officer and ten council positions. 

Voters will choose a Tribal President and Vice-president. Tribal Council seats from Antelope, Bull Creek, Corn Creek, He Dog, Horse Creek, Ring Thunder, Rosebud, St. Francis, Swift Bear and Upper Cut Meat communities will also be filled. All elected representatives will serve 3-year terms.

Affidavits will be accepted by the RST Election office, Monday through Friday, beginning on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 8am. The closing date for affidavits is Friday, May 31, 2024 at 5pm. Candidates must meet all eligibility requirements outlined in the RST Constitution and Election Ordinance. A $150 money order must accompany the affidavit for candidates running for Tribal Council seats. A $300 money order must accompany the affidavits for candidates seeking the Tribal President or Vice-president seats. 

Tribal citizens 18 years of age and older are eligible to vote in Tribal elections after they have completed a voter registration form. The registration form must be signed in front of a Notary Public or the Tribal Secretary. The deadline to register to vote in the 2024 Primary Election is Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 5pm.

The Primary Election will be held at polling places across the Rosebud Reservation on Thursday, July 25, 2024. Any challenges following the Primary Election must be submitted in writing. Written challenges must be filed between Monday, July 29 and Friday, August 2, 2024. Challenges will be accepted at the Election Board office in the Tribal Building Annex and must be accompanied by a $50 money order.

The top two vote getters for all open positions will advance to General Election scheduled for Thursday, August 22, 2024. Polls for both the Primary Election will be open from 8am to 7pm. Polling places will be located in the Antelope, Black Pipe, Bull Creek, Butte Creek, Corn Creek, Grass Mountain, He Dog, Horse Creek, Ideal North, Ideal South, Milk’s Camp, Okreek, Parmelee, Ring Thunder, Rosebud, Soldier Creek, Spring Creek, St. Francis, Swift Bear, Two Strike, Upper Cut Meat and Sicangu Village Community Buildings.

The Election Board members are Cheryl Douville-Yellow Hawk (Chairwoman), Brenda Farmer, Bernadette Oliver and Ronald L. Neiss. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe is also seeking applicants to fill one vacancy on the Election Board. Please contact the tribal secretary’s office to apply for the Election Board vacancy.

If you have questions regarding nominating affidavits, filing fees or background investigations, please call the Election Board office at (605) 747-3187.

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.”

TURTLE CREEK CROSSING – A model home will soon be available to showcase features available to potential tribal citizens interested in financing a new dwelling on the Rosebud reservation.

The model home will also serve as the site of Sicangu Co’s Lakolya Waoniya program, a Lakota language revitalization program for local tribal citizens. A recent post on Sicangu Co’s Facebook page announced the plans to move the Lakolya Waoniya staff into the new site as soon as construction is complete on the house. When the program launched in 2020, they met in a small area within the Sicangu Co headquarters located east of Mission. The program subsequently moved to a small modular on Highway 18 in Mission, where they are currently located. Lakolya Hohpi Otipila (Language Nest), is the new name given to the house, which was blessed last month.

When construction is finished, “we want to have events for everyone to come look at [the model home],” stated Clay Colombe, Sicangu Co CEO. He spoke at a recent Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council meeting.

Ten new homes are currently in the planning stages for construction at the site, located north of the Turtle Creek Crossing Super Foods grocery store. The Keya Wakpala Woicageyapi (Turtle Creek Regenerative Development) will be a living community located just west of Mission that will nourish the Sicangu spirit and way of life. The first homes to be built at the site will include single family structures offering one to three bedrooms. Some of the homes will be sold as “grow homes.” These homes will allow for the future addition of up to five total bedrooms to a house.

“Sixty-six people have inquired about the first ten homes and we have several people already in process of getting financed [to purchase a home],” Colombe said. Prices are different depending on what the buyer wants. A wait list currently exists for the homes. The one-bedroom A-Frame home will cost the buyer an estimated $180,785. A two bedroom grow home (meaning more bedrooms can be added) will cost around $220,495. The three bedrooms grow home will be available for an estimated $244,530. Financing and subsidy options are available for qualified buyers.

More information is on the Keya Wakpala website. You may also call Sharli Colome at Tatanka Funds 605-856-8400 or email sharli.colombe@tatankafunds.org

WASHINGTON – A group of Democratic US Senators have sent a letter to US Attorney General Merrick Garland urging a compassionate release for political prisoner Leonard Peltier.

The Senators urged US Attorney General Garland “to allow for the compassionate release of Native American rights activist Leonard Peltier pursuant to the Bureau of Prison’s procedures. Mr. Peltier, who has been imprisoned for the past 49 years and is suffering from severe health conditions, should be able to return home and live out his remaining days among his own people.” The March 15 letter was signed by US Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i), Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), Edward J. Markey (D-Massachusetts), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai’i) and Peter Welch (D-Vermont).

Peltier was “convicted for his alleged involvement in the murder of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, despite evidence of prosecutorial misconduct and due process violations mounted throughout his trial,” the Senators wrote.

A citizen of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa tribe, Peltier is seventy-nine years old. He was extradited from Canada in 1976 to stand trial in federal court. He was found guilty in April 1977. He received two life sentences for a crime many have said he didn’t commit.

Former US Attorney James H. Reynolds, who prosecuted the case, has also said in the past that “Peltier has served his sentence on the bases of minimal evidence, a result that [he] strongly doubt[s] would be upheld in any court today.”

“If the Director of the BOP approves a compassionate release, and the Parole Commission agrees, Mr. Peltier could be released immediately,” the Senators continued. “It is time that the federal government rectifies the grave injustice of Mr. Peltier’s continued imprisonment.”

In 2023, Peltier formally submitted a plea for clemency. “I am hopeful that President Biden will sign my clemency,” he told The Guardian in an exclusive interview.

He has received support for past clemency appeals from Rev. Jesse Jackson, Mother Teresa, Pope Francis, Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu the Dalai Lama and others.

Peltier is incarcerated at the high security USP Coleman penitentiary in Sumterville, Florida.

ROSEBUD – The Rosebud Sioux Tribal President issued a statement condemning the recent remarks by the South Dakota governor aimed at tribal nations and demanded an apology.

President Scott Herman stated Governor Kristi Noem’s statements “strayed from education into an unwarranted and untruthful attack on Tribal Nations. Her remarks were made from ignorance and with the intention to fuel a racially based and discriminatory narrative towards the Native people of South Dakota.”

The action came after Noem spoke at a town hall event held in Winner last week. “The Mexican cartels are set up here in South Dakota. They are here in South Dakota on our tribal reservations trafficking drugs and kids and sex trafficking” Noem said. “We’ve got some tribal leaders, that I believe, that are personally benefitting from the cartels being here and that’s why they attack me every day.”

Herman called her statements “defamatory and libelous.”

Noem’s remarks were a continuation of the Jan. 31 address during an emergency session of the South Dakota Legislature. She alleged “The drug and human trafficking pouring over the border devastate our people. Make no mistake, the cartels have a presence on several of South Dakota’s tribal reservations. Murders are being committed by cartel members on the Pine Ridge Reservation and in Rapid City, and a gang called the “Ghost Dancers” are affiliated with these cartels.”

Noem “should take the time to contact tribal leaders before making racist, unsubstantiated and discriminatory attacks on tribal people,” Herman stated. “The Rosebud Sioux Tribe strongly condemns the Governor’s statements, and we demand an apology.”