All nine South Dakota tribes have officially endorsed the banishment of Governor Kristi Noem from their lands. The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe’s executive council voted in favor of banishing the governor from their reservation after she made disparaging remarks against Native American parents during a town hall, where she stated their children “have no hope”. Governor Noem has also made claims about Mexican drug cartels having a presence on South Dakota Indian reservations, putting pressure on tribal leaders to respond to her comments. Prior to the decision, tribal citizens urged council members to banish Noem, expressing discomfort and upset with her remarks.
The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe is the last of the state’s Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota tribal governments to endorse Noem’s banishment and the eighth to make it official. Tribal members had urged for solidarity with other tribes in South Dakota, stating that they did not want to end up on the wrong side of history in this moment. The decision to endorse the banishment came after a meeting between tribal leadership and Noem in Pierre, which was characterized as respectful and productive. Noem stated that her intent was never to cause offense and that she wanted to focus on solutions to challenges faced in Indian country, such as safer communities, better educational outcomes, and declining addiction numbers.
The Yankton Sioux Tribe’s Business and Claims Committee also voted unanimously to support Noem’s banishment, although the general council has yet to adopt an official measure. Governor Noem’s rhetoric about cartels on tribal lands dates back to January, when she described the Texas-Mexico border as under an “invasion” by migrants and alleged that cartels were using reservations to spread drugs throughout the Midwest. She continued to make unfounded claims in March and April, suggesting that tribal leaders were “personally benefiting” from cartels and calling on tribes to banish them. Despite the banishment measures, Governor Noem emphasized her claims about cartels using Indian lands as safe havens to distribute drugs and stated that banishing her would not solve the problem.
The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe’s council office was busy on the day of the executive council’s meeting, with tribal members entering the meeting chambers for a heated discussion before stepping outside for a break. Executive council members Ross and Schrader Sr. indicated that the council remained undecided on the banishment, with a decision expected later. The controversy surrounding Governor Noem’s remarks and the banishment measures have sparked conversations within the South Dakota tribes about standing in solidarity and addressing the issues raised by her comments. Despite the disagreements and tensions surrounding the banishment, the tribes are focused on finding solutions to the challenges faced by Native communities and working towards a better future for all.
