No changes were announced as of Monday morning, on the status of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and it not enacting any sort of ban of Governor Noem from local Tribal lands.
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No changes were announced as of Monday morning, on the status of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and it not enacting any sort of ban of Governor Noem from local Tribal lands.
An emergency meeting of the General Membership was held this past Saturday to learn more from Tribal members themselves, how they feel about every other Nation in the state enacting a ban over comments she continues to make about illegal gang and drug activity running rampant in Indian Country.
Noem has also angered Native communities across the state for comments suggesting Indigenous parents often sabotage their children’s academic opportunities.
The Flandreau Santee Sioux are the last of the state’s nine Nations to announce any sort of repercussion, if any.
This past week, FSST spokesperson Francis Wakeman released in a statement, “Our Nation has been actively monitoring the comments from Governor Kristi Noem regarding reservations in South Dakota being havens for criminal activity, as well as the respective responses from our fellow tribal nations and leaders.
According to our laws, banishment from our lands is strictly tied to criminal activity, unlawful behavior, and other activity that threatens the Tribal Community. We must be mindful that making disparaging comments or statements; however inappropriate, is protected speech under the First Amendment. Furthermore, our nation enjoys a government-to-government relation with the United States and it is not in our interest to respond to political rhetoric…At this moment, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe has not banished Governor Noem from its territories.”
FSST Statement
“Our Nation has been actively monitoring the comments from Governor Kristi Noem regarding reservations in South Dakota being havens for criminal activity, as well as the respective responses from our fellow tribal nations and leaders.
The Executive Committee will be addressing the Governor’s statements as well as the recommended course of action with the General Membership this Saturday. In the meantime, we are continuing our discussions with our officials, advisors and other tribal leaders regarding the matter.
