Christian Smith
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem was ostracized by at least six of the nine Native American tribes in her state on Wednesday after making comments earlier this year that the tribes find offensive.
Relations between the governor and tribes have been strained since she took office in 2019, but her comments, including saying tribal leaders benefit from drug cartels, prompted tribes to vote to ban it in recent months.
The most recent tribe, the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, voted Tuesday to ban Noem, and the vote of one tribe, the Yankton Sioux Tribe, is still up in the air. However, Noem may soon be unable to set foot on about 20% of the land in the state he governs.
Here’s what you need to know about the bans.
Tribes Vote to Ban Noem
The Oglala Sioux tribe became the first tribal nation in South Dakota to banish Noem from her land in early February. The tribal chairman released a statement banning Noem after she made comments about the U.S.-Mexico border in late January.
Noem made comments to the state Legislature during which she said South Dakota would send more resources, such as South Dakota National Guard troops, to Texas as it deals with the influx of migrants arriving at its border, calling it “ invasion”.
The tribal president also pushed back at Noem for blaming President Biden for the border crisis.
In April, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe became the second tribe to banish Noem from their reservation. Tribal council members were frustrated when Noem showed up unexpectedly at Pe’ Sla’s quarterly meeting on March 29 in Rapid City.
The tribal president stated that Noem attended the meeting with cameras to use it for “her agenda.” Indian Country Today Reported. He also criticized Noem for her comments about drug dealers.
“We have some tribal leaders who I believe are personally benefiting from the presence of the cartels, and that is why they attack me every day,” Noem said at a town hall in Winner, The Associated Press reported.
The intergovernmental affairs officer for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe told The Hill that many tribes believe Noem does not respect or “fully understand” tribal sovereignty.
Days later, the Standing Rock Sioux tribe banned Noem for her “racially charged” comments. The tribal chairman said in a statement that Noem’s comment linking tribes and Mexican cartels was “irresponsible” and a “sad reflection of her fear-based politics.”
In mid-April, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe became the fourth tribal nation to banish Noem. Officials said the ban is justified not only because of his recent comments but also his relationship with tribes since he took office. South Dakota floodlight reported.
The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Council voted unanimously on May 7 to ban Noem, saying it was important to protect the tribe’s values and ensure a safe and inclusive environment, as well as prevent the “further marginalization of tribal nations,” the tribe said in a statement to Dakota News now.
The Crow Creek Sioux Tribe voted tuesday to ban Noem, the most recent ban on her comments.
On Friday, the Yankton Sioux Tribe’s Business and Claims Committee voted to ban the governor, but the ban would not be final and enforceable without the vote of tribal members. USA Today reported.
A tribal secretary said the tribe did not officially vote to banish Noem, according to a KELO-TV history. When The Hill reached out to the tribe by phone via The Hill, he could only confirm the KELO article.
Noem doubles down on comments
Tribes often seek an apology from the governor, which doesn’t seem likely. In an April statement to The Hill, after four tribes had already banned her, Noem doubled down on her comments.
She urged tribal leaders to “immediately ban the Mexican drug cartels that are responsible for murders, rapes, drug addiction and many other crimes on tribal lands.”
Noem said that “the real question you should be asking is: ‘Why don’t tribal leaders ban the Mexican drug cartels responsible for this devastation?’”
The Hill reached out to Noem’s office for an updated statement, but a spokesperson said Tuesday after the vote in Crow Creek that banning her does nothing to resolve the issue.
Crow Creek Sioux Tribe Chairman Peter Lengkeek rejected Noem’s accusation, saying the tribe has “cartel products like guns and drugs” but the products go over state highways to get to the reservation, so comparing all tribes involved “really shows the ignorance of the governor’s office.
Noem said regardless of the bans, she will take steps to increase public safety on reservations. She launched a “history-making opportunity” by creating a law enforcement training course that will take place in the coming months for the state’s tribes.
She also said she is looking for help at the federal level. She called on the Biden administration to fund tribal law enforcement and create agreements for law enforcement and highway patrol to enforce tribal law.
Noem, who was considered a possible running mate for former President Trump, has been in the spotlight in recent weeks after receiving criticism for writing in her memoir that she shot and killed her misbehaving 14-month-old dog, and was found the book to have several inaccuracies, including allegations of a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
