All nine South Dakota tribes have officially endorsed the banishment of Governor Kristi Noem from their lands, following disparaging remarks she made earlier this year about Native American parents during a town hall in Mitchell. The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe’s executive council voted in favor of banishing Noem from their reservation after pressure from their citizenry to punish her for her comments. Tribal citizens urged council members to take action, with some expressing discomfort and frustration over the delay in making a decision.
The decision to banish Gov. Noem comes after she continuously pushed claims that Mexican drug cartels have a presence on South Dakota Indian reservations. During a press conference at the South Dakota State Capitol, she discussed the alleged cartel presence in tribal lands, leading to further outrage and calls for her banishment. The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe was the last of the state’s Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota tribal governments to officially endorse Noem’s banishment, with tribal leaders emphasizing the need to stand in solidarity with other tribes and avoid being on the wrong side of history.
Following a meeting between tribal leadership and Gov. Noem in Pierre on May 19, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe released a statement characterizing the meeting as respectful and productive. Noem stated that it was never her intent to cause offense and expressed a desire to focus on solutions that lead to safer communities, better educational outcomes, and declining addiction numbers for all people. Despite this meeting, the Yankton Sioux Tribe’s Business and Claims Committee had already voted to support Noem’s banishment, indicating widespread support among South Dakota tribes for taking action against the governor.
Gov. Noem’s rhetoric regarding Mexican drug cartels and their alleged use of South Dakota’s Indian lands dates back to January, when she described an “invasion” by migrants and claimed that cartels were using reservations to distribute drugs across the Midwest. She escalated this rhetoric in March, suggesting without evidence that tribal leaders were personally benefiting from the cartels. Noem continued to emphasize these claims in subsequent press releases and public statements, leading to increased backlash from tribal communities and calls for her banishment from their lands.
During a press conference in Pierre, Gov. Noem reiterated her claims about Mexican cartels using Indian lands as safe havens to distribute drugs, despite the banishment measures taken by South Dakota tribes. She argued that banishing her would not solve the problem and would only benefit those perpetuating violence and crime against the people of South Dakota. Noem’s spokesman pointed to her remarks during the press conference as her response to the banishment endorsements by the tribal governments. The ongoing dispute between the governor and the South Dakota tribes highlights the importance of addressing sensitive issues and fostering productive relationships with Native American communities.
