Sicangu News

ROSEBUD – The Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council reconsidered and rescinded Resolution 2022-298 to cancel an election to remove the Secretary of the Interior from the RST Constitution.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

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.

ROSEBUD RESERVATION – The federal roadway through Todd, Tripp and Gregory counties was designated as Sicangu Lakota Code Talker Highway in honor of eight World War II veterans.

SD Senator Shawn Bordeaux originally proposed that a section of US Highway 83 be designed in memory of the World War II veterans who spoke Lakota as a code during their military service. However, that highway was already named for Vietnam Veterans. The proposal was amended to a 106-mile stretch of US Highway 18 and approved by the SD Transportation Commission in 2023.

Senator Bordeaux offered the opening remarks in two dedication ceremonies on the Rosebud reservation last week. The Senator was accompanied by officials from the South Dakota Department of Transportation to deliver the special signs. This section of Highway 18 runs through the original boundaries of the Rosebud reservation, including the Upper Cut Meat, He Dog, Parmelee, Soldier Creek, Ring Thunder, Antelope, Okreek, Ideal, Bull Creek and Milks Camp communities. 

Tribal citizens and descendants of the Sicangu Lakota Code Talkers gathered in the Upper Cut Meat and Milks Camp communities for the July 12 dedication ceremonies. The Sicangu Lakota Code Talkers were represented by several family members, including relatives of Iver Crow Eagle Sr., Simon Broken Leg, Charles White Pipe Sr., Roy A. Bad Hand Sr. and Patrick McKenzie. Members of the Sicangu Lakota Warriors served as the Color Guard. They included Daryl Jones Sr., Kelly Star Chief, Harold Little Thunder and Ivan Crow Eagle. A local drum group rendered the Lakota Flag song and Veteran’s honor songs in remembrance of the late Code Talkers.

Ben Black Bear, Jr. sang a song composed for an Itancan in memory of his father-in-law Iver Crow Eagle, Sr. In addition, Senator Bordeaux acknowledged Donald Loudner Sr., a 94-year-old Korean War Veteran, who was accompanied by his daughter Donita, for attending both dedication ceremonies. Offering a welcome address at Milks Camp was Willie Bear Shield.

In 2014, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe dedicated the Annual Rosebud Fair to the memory of the Sicangu Lakota Code Talkers who served in World War II. The Sicangu Lakota Code Talkers included Clarence Wolf Guts, Iver Crow Eagle, Sr. (Wambli Kangi), Simon Broken Leg, Noah White Bird, Sr. (Cangleska Sapa), Charles White Pipe, Sr. (Wicakupi), Roy A. Bad Hand, Sr. (Tanka Wakita), Anthony Omaha Boy and Patrick McKenzie.

The following year, a Congressional Gold Medal was presented to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe at the annual Rosebud Fair to acknowledge the World War II service of the Sicangu Lakota Code Talkers. Also in 2015, family members of the eight Sicangu Lakota Code Talkers received Congressional Silver Medals during a special ceremony.

The signs are scheduled to be installed at two points on US Highway 18. One sign will be placed at the Todd-Bennett County line and another will be placed on the west end of Fort Randall Dam in Gregory County.

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.