Two Indigenous Tribes, the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and the Yankton Sioux Tribe, have banned Governor Kristi Noem from entering their Tribal land adjacent to South Dakota due to recent disparaging comments made by the governor. Noem had insinuated that Tribal leaders were benefiting from cartels in the area and accused them of attacking her regularly. This led to a series of bans from multiple Tribes including the Standing Rock Sioux, Cheyenne River Sioux, Rosebud Sioux, and Oglala Sioux Tribes. The decision to ban Noem came after years of witnessing the governor’s harmful actions against Tribes, according to Yankton Sioux Council Member Ryan Cournoyer.
Noem has not apologized or shown remorse for her insulting remarks towards Native people, prompting the Tribes to take action in solidarity with the Great Sioux Nation of South Dakota. The bans were put in place to send a message that disrespectful behavior towards Native communities will not be tolerated. In response, Noem has tried to connect her past comments to the Biden administration’s handling of crime and border security, suggesting that Tribal leaders should take action to ban cartels from their lands and partner with her to restore law and order.
Despite the bans and backlash, Noem has doubled down on her comments against the Tribes, calling for action against cartels and accusing the Biden administration of failing in their responsibilities. However, a spokesperson for Noem stated that banishing the governor does nothing to solve the underlying problem and instead called on Tribal leaders to banish cartels from their lands. Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Chairman J. Garret Renville denounced Noem’s comments as baseless, offensive, and harmful to the Native American community, citing her perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and misinformation.
Noem, who has faced increased scrutiny in recent weeks, was once considered for former President Donald Trump’s 2024 shortlist for vice presidential candidates. However, her name had already fallen off the list before the release of excerpts from her book, “No Going Back,” which drew criticism from various groups. Despite the backlash, Trump has expressed his support for Noem, stating that he likes her “a lot” even after the rough days she experienced following the release of her book. The ongoing clash between Noem and Tribal leaders highlights the deep-seated tensions and divisions between the governor and Indigenous communities in South Dakota.
