South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference CPAC 2024 at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on February 23, 2024.
Alex Brandon/Associated Press
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South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference CPAC 2024 at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on February 23, 2024.
Alex Brandon/Associated Press
RAPIDS CITY, South Dakota – The Crow Creek Sioux Tribe is banning South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem from leaving the reservation in response to her claims that some tribal leaders are profiting from drug cartel activity. is the latest tribal government to ban .
Noem, an ally of former President Donald Trump, has long focused on concerns about crime stemming from the U.S.-Mexico border, even though she governs a state hundreds of miles away.
Following Tuesday’s decision, she is now not welcome on seven of the state’s nine reservations.
“There are no cartels on the reservation,” Crow Creek Sioux Tribal Chairman Peter Lenkiek said after Tuesday’s vote.
“We have cartel products, like guns and drugs, but they cross state highways and get to the reservations. So, bringing all of us together like that, every tribe is involved in this. It really shows ignorance on the part of the governor to say that her office has not been “proactive in reaching out and learning and connecting with tribes.” I added that I thought so.
Noem’s approach reflects Trump’s message
Noem has been claiming for months that drug cartels operate on reservations in South Dakota.
Following Noem’s speech at the state Capitol in January, she made wide-ranging comments about crime on reservations in the state.
“There have been murders by cartel members on the Pine Ridge Reservation and in Rapid City, and a gang called the Ghost Dancers is affiliated with these cartels,” Noem said in a speech. “They have been successful in recruiting tribal members to participate in criminal activities.”
In the same speech, Noem said, “The sheer number of illegal immigrants coming into our country has made every state a border state now,” repeating a phrase used by House Republicans in their attacks on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Ta.
Trump, who is certain to be the Republican presidential nominee, also focused his attacks on President Biden’s immigration policies, saying, “Every state is now a border state” during a speech in a political battleground in the Midwest. ing.
Tribal leaders demand apology
Noem’s criticism of tribal leaders continued in March at City Hall in Winner, South Dakota, where he said he “personally benefits from the presence of cartels here,” according to a report in the SD South Dakota Searchlight. There are some tribal leaders who appear to be in conflict, and that’s why they are attacking me.” every day. “
Charles Ablesk, who has represented Native American tribes in the state, said he has never encountered cartel activity in the cases he has covered. Tribal courts hear civil and criminal misdemeanor cases that occur in Indian Country.
“Honestly, I don’t know anything,” Aboretsk said. “While we see regular drug use and sales in other parts of South Dakota, we have never encountered any suspicion of cartel involvement.”
The Pine Ridge Reservation, home to the Oglala Sioux Tribe, was photographed here in September 2012. Gov. Kristi Noem said cartels were infiltrating the state’s reservations and had previously banned seven It is one of the two settlements.
Christy Eaton/Associated Press
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The Pine Ridge Reservation, home to the Oglala Sioux Tribe, was photographed here in September 2012. Gov. Kristi Noem said cartels were infiltrating the state’s reservations and had previously banned seven It is one of the two settlements.
Christy Eaton/Associated Press
The Oglala Sioux, Rosebud Sioux, Standing Rock Sioux, Cheyenne River Sioux, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Yankton Sioux, and Crow Creek Sioux all call Nome their reservation. Banned from entering or exiting.
The Lower Brule Tribe refused to expel Noem from the reservation in April. Chairman Clyde Estes said the tribe is considering reconsidering the ban.
“There are a lot of unfortunate things being said that are harmful to our people, especially our children,” Estes said.
He said he hopes Noem will reconsider his comments and asks him to apologize to tribal members.
“When states and tribes respect each other, we can fly both flags high,” said Yankton Sioux Tribal Councilman Ryan Cournoyer. Not,” he said. “Our parents want a better future for their children, and our leaders want economic growth and hope.”
A spokesperson for the governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Earlier this month, Noem Posted in X: “Tribal leaders should take action to ban cartels from their lands and accept my proposal to help restore law and order to their communities while protecting their sovereignty.” We can only do this through partnerships because the Biden administration is not up to the task.” ”
But earlier this year, when the governor announced that he would fly the Standing Rock and Rosebud tribal flags in the state Capitol Rotunda to signal improved relations between the state and some tribes, It got better.
Rosebud was then unflagged as Noem continued to call on the tribe to ban cartels on her behalf.
Some of the tension stems from disputes that arose several years ago related to COVID-19 checkpoints on reservations, a state sales tax proposal, and disagreements over a series of bills that Nome supported in 2019. It originates from. The tribe objected.
“Things are just smoldering,” said Ross Garerick Bell, a lobbyist for the Yankton and Rosebud Sioux tribes at the state Capitol. “We will not hear from the governor’s team until they take action.”
The ongoing controversy comes amid a rocky launch for Noem’s memoir, “No Going Back,” which was released earlier this month. In it, she told the story of how she shot and killed her dog after her pheasant hunt failed. Noem defended her actions on her book tour, saying her dog exhibited threatening behavior.
The book initially included references to talks with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Several North Korea experts disputed this claim.
“This anecdote should not have been in the book,” Noem said on CBS earlier this month. “As soon as this anecdote was brought to my attention, I made sure to correct it.” .
