South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has been banned from nearly 20% of her state by various tribal nations following controversial comments she made earlier this year about tribal leaders benefiting from drug cartels. This week, the Yankton Sioux Tribe and Sisseton-Wahpeton Ovate tribe voted to ban Noem from their lands, adding to the four other tribes that had already taken similar action. Noem had claimed that tribal leaders were catering to drug cartels on their reservations, sparking backlash and further divisions between the tribes and the state.
Noem’s comments have reignited long-standing tensions between Native Americans in South Dakota and the government, with past disputes over issues such as the Dakota Access Pipeline protests and COVID-19 checkpoint disagreements. The historical backdrop includes events like the Wounded Knee massacre of 1890, where Lakota men, women, and children were killed by soldiers. Noem has been temporarily banned from the Oglala Sioux reservation in the past due to other disputes, suggesting a pattern of strained relations with tribal communities.
Despite the bans, Noem believes that many residents of the reservations still support her, even if she is at odds with tribal leadership. She has called on tribal leaders to work with her to combat the influence of drug cartels on their lands and to restore law and order while protecting their sovereignty. Noem has criticized the Biden Administration for failing to address these issues, positioning herself as a strong advocate for improving tribal communities through partnerships.
Noem’s political future is uncertain, especially in light of recent controversies such as her revelation about killing a hunting dog in her latest book. This, along with other questionable anecdotes in her book and canceling interviews on her book tour, has raised questions about her judgment and candidacy for high-profile positions like a potential vice-presidential run with Donald Trump. Political observers suggest that these controversies may harm her chances with Trump, who is known for seeking out figures who generate their own chaos rather than being embroiled in external controversies.
As Noem navigates these challenges, her options for future political endeavors are limited, given that she cannot run for another term as governor. Speculation on whether she might aim for a U.S. Senate seat or a return to the House of Representatives arises, but the outcome is unclear. Moving forward, Noem will need to address the tribal bans and other controversies while solidifying her political standing and potential paths for advancement in South Dakota and beyond.
