Fourth Tribe Bans S.D. Gov. Kristi Noem From Its Reservation

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The Rosebud Sioux Tribe announced Thursday that Kristi Noem is banned from its tribal lands, making it the fourth tribal nation to ban the South Dakota governor, South Dakota Searchlight reported.

In February, the Oglala Sioux Tribe banned Noem after she alleged during a speech to the Legislature that Mexican drug cartels had infiltrated some reservations. The Cheyenne River Sioux followed suit on April 2, after she alleged during a town hall meeting that cartels may be “personally benefiting” some tribal leaders. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe announced Wednesday that it had banned her for her town hall comment.

Five other tribes have demanded the governor apologize, which she has not done, according to the Searchlight.

But on April 2, Noem, who has been named as a potential vice-presidential running mate for former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, said in a press release, “I call on all our tribal leaders to banish the cartels from tribal lands.”

“Tribal leaders should immediately banish the Mexican drug cartels that are responsible for murders, rapes, drug addiction, and many more crimes on tribal lands,” she said in an emailed statement to the Searchlight.

Noem, continued, pushing back on the tribes’ actions: “The people in the communities live with unspeakable horrors and tragedy every day but banishing me for telling the truth about the suffering does nothing to solve the problems. It may play well for the leftist media, but in reality, it’s pointless. The real question you should be asking is: ‘Why won’t tribal leaders banish the Mexican drug cartels who are responsible for this devastation?’”

In its press release announcing Noem’s ban, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe said its actions stems from a continuously tenuous relationship since the governor initially took office in 2019.

“Governor Noem claims she wants to establish meaningful relationships with Tribes to improve solutions for systemic problems,” the release read. “However, her actions as Governor blatantly show otherwise. The recent racial disparaging allegations made against Native students, parents, Tribal Councils, and Tribal leaders have led to further division and distrust of Tribal-state relations.”

Noem’s spokesman, Ian Fury, told the Searchlight that the governor’s administration will continue efforts to work with tribes.

“Gov. Noem has consistently shown up, welcomed conversations, and offered solutions. And she’ll continue to do that for as long as she’s governor,” Fury said.