South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem faced a second ban from a Native American reservation in her own state recently. She had claimed that drug cartels were utilizing Indigenous land to carry out criminal activities.
During a town hall meeting in March, Noem, a Republican who was considered as a possible running mate for former President Donald Trump, faced criticism from tribal leaders. She made controversial statements suggesting that some Native American leaders were “personally benefitting” from Mexican cartels operating in their territory. Additionally, Noem claimed that children living 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 made similar accusations during a speech before the South Dakota Legislature in January. She alleged that certain cartels have been successful in recruiting tribal members to engage in criminal activity.
Chairman Ryman LeBeau denounced Noem’s remarks as “gossip and lies” during a council meeting for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. He emphasized that these accusations perpetuate stereotypes and misconceptions about Lakota students, their parents, and Tribal Councils, which are completely inaccurate and untrue.
The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe has made a motion to prohibit Noem from visiting their tribal land, as reported by Dakota News Now. The motion was passed with a unanimous vote of 12-0, with two council members not present during the vote.
In February, Governor Noem faced consequences for her remarks about alleged cartel activity on reservations. The Oglala Sioux Tribe, led by President Frank Star Comes Out, took a strong stance against her comments. President Comes Out expressed deep offense and disapproval, stating that he was deeply offended by the governor’s accusation of his tribe being associated with such groups. He issued a four-page statement to address the matter and made it clear that Governor Noem was banned from the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
The president made a declaration, stating that for the safety of the Oyate, the individual in question is now officially banished from the homelands of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
LeBeau’s email was contacted by Newsweek for further comment on Friday evening.
Noem, a strong advocate for Trump, is among several Republican governors who have emerged as vocal opponents of federal immigration policies at the U.S.-southern border. She has also supported Texas Governor Greg Abbott in his clashes with President Joe Biden over migration policies. As a show of solidarity, she dispatched numerous members of South Dakota’s National Guard to assist in the effort to reduce border crossings at Texas’ border with Mexico.
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 some Indigenous groups were displeased with her for speaking out about the presence of Mexican drug cartels on the reservations, stating, “I understand that certain individuals are upset because I revealed the truth about the activity of Mexican drug cartels on our reservations.”
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem expressed her concerns about the dangerous cartels operating in the state. In a video shared on social media, she highlighted the harmful activities carried out by these cartels, which include drug addiction, murder, rape, and human trafficking. Governor Noem emphasized the need to address this issue seriously.
According to the governor, prohibiting her from accessing the reservations does not offer any solutions to the problems at hand. She further urged the tribes to collaborate with her administration in order to safeguard their communities and preserve tribal sovereignty.
