South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem faced another ban from a Native American reservation in her state this week. She claimed that drug cartels were using Indigenous land as a means to carry out criminal activities.
During a town hall meeting in March, Noem, a Republican who was once considered a possible running mate for former President Donald Trump, faced backlash from tribal leaders for her remarks. She stated that certain Native American leaders were “personally benefitting” from Mexican cartels operating in their territory. Additionally, she made claims that children residing on Indigenous reservations lacked parental support and that tribal leaders prioritized their political agenda over improving the lives of their community members.
According to local reports, the governor reiterated similar allegations during a speech before the South Dakota Legislature in January. She claimed that certain cartels have managed to successfully recruit tribal members to engage in criminal activities.
During a council meeting held on Tuesday, Chairman Ryman LeBeau of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe dismissed Noem’s remarks as “gossip and lies” about their Lakota students, their parents, and the Tribal Councils. LeBeau emphasized that these accusations only serve to reinforce stereotypes and misconceptions that are both inaccurate and untrue.
The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe has made a unanimous decision, with a 12-0 vote, to motion for the ban of Noem from visiting their tribal land, as reported by Dakota News Now. It is worth noting that two council members were not present during the vote.
In February, the Oglala Sioux Tribe banned Noem. President Frank Star Comes Out of the tribe responded to Noem’s remarks about alleged cartel activity on reservations before the state legislature. He expressed deep offense at the governor’s accusation of his tribe being “affiliated” with such groups in a four-page statement.
The president announced that, for the safety of the Oyate (people), the individual is being banished from the homelands of the Oglala Sioux Tribe with immediate effect.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, a strong advocate for former President Trump, is among the Republican governors who have emerged as vocal opponents of immigration policies at the U.S.-Mexico border. In addition, she has shown solidarity with Texas Governor Greg Abbott in his ongoing clashes with President Joe Biden over migration policies. Governor Noem has even dispatched a significant number of South Dakota’s National Guard to assist in securing the Texas-Mexico border and combat the inflow of illegal border crossings.
In a video message posted on social media on Thursday, Noem responded to the recent attempts by tribal leaders to “banish” her from their reservations. She acknowledged that certain Indigenous groups were “upset with me because I spoke honestly about the involvement of Mexican drug cartels on our reservations.”
South Dakota Governor, Kristi Noem, expressed her concerns about the dangerous cartels operating within the state. In a video shared on X, she emphasized the grave consequences of their actions, including drug addiction, murder, rape, and human trafficking.
In a statement, the governor emphasized the ineffectiveness of banning her from the reservations as a solution to the problems at hand. She urged the tribes to collaborate with her administration in order to safeguard their people and preserve tribal sovereignty.
