South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has recently faced a setback as two additional tribes have banned her from entering nearly 20% of her state. This decision comes in response to comments she made earlier this year regarding tribal leaders benefiting from drug cartels.
The ongoing tribal dispute has seen some recent developments, which coincided with the backlash faced by Noem for sharing a story about her experience with a misbehaving hunting dog in her latest book. It remains uncertain how these controversies will impact her prospects of becoming Donald Trump’s running mate, as it is difficult to predict the former president’s actions.
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The Yankton Sioux Tribe made the decision on Friday to prohibit Noem from entering their land in southeastern South Dakota, following in the footsteps of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Ovate tribe. This comes after the Oglala, Rosebud, Cheyenne River, and Standing Rock Sioux tribes had already taken measures to keep her away from their reservations. However, three other tribes have not yet implemented a ban against her.
In March, Noem publicly expressed her belief that tribal leaders were prioritizing the interests of drug cartels over the well-being of children and the impoverished, further accentuating the existing divide between the tribes and the rest of the state.
During a forum, Governor Noem expressed her belief that certain tribal leaders may be personally benefiting from the presence of cartels, which is why they constantly attack her. However, she remains committed to fighting for the people who actually live in these situations. Every day, she receives calls and texts from individuals in Pine Ridge who plead for her assistance, as they are living in fear and desperately need help.
Noem’s spokesman did not respond to email questions about the bans when contacted on Saturday. However, in the past, Noem has expressed her belief that despite her strained relationship with tribal leaders, she still has the support of many individuals residing on the reservations.
Governor Noem took to social media on Thursday to address the issue, sharing a link to a YouTube video that sheds light on law enforcement’s stance on drugs within reservations.
“Tribal leaders should take decisive action to prohibit the cartels from operating on their lands and accept my sincere offer to assist them in reestablishing law and order within their communities, all while safeguarding their sovereignty,” expressed Noem. “It is essential that we forge strong partnerships to achieve this objective, as the Biden Administration has unfortunately fallen short in fulfilling their responsibilities.”
During the past, the tribes have had conflicts with Noem. These disputes have included the 2016 Dakota Access Pipeline protests at Standing Rock and the establishment of COVID-19 checkpoints at reservation borders to restrict unnecessary visitors during the pandemic. In fact, there was even a temporary ban on Noem’s entry to the Oglala Sioux reservation in 2019 due to a protest-related disagreement.
The government’s relationship with Native Americans in the state has been tumultuous for many years, with a history that goes all the way back to 1890. During this time, soldiers tragically shot and killed numerous Lakota men, women, and children in what became known as the Wounded Knee massacre. This event was part of a larger effort to suppress a religious practice called the Ghost Dance.
Political analyst Cal Jillson, who is affiliated with Southern Methodist University in Dallas, believes that this particular tribal dispute has a distinct characteristic. He notes that South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem appears to be actively fueling the conflict, implying that she sees a potential political advantage in doing so.
Jillson mentioned that Governor Noem is likely not bothered by the attention given to the tensions with Native Americans in South Dakota, as it distracts from the controversial incident involving her shooting a dog.
Noem seems to be growing weary of addressing inquiries regarding her choice to euthanize Cricket, the dog that had attacked a family’s chickens during a stop on their way back from a hunting trip and subsequently tried to bite the governor. During her appearance on “Face the Nation,” she was questioned about a passage in her book that discussed President Biden’s dog, Commander, who had gained a reputation for biting individuals at the White House. In the book, Noem expresses that if she were to occupy the White House, she would introduce Commander to Cricket with the words, “Commander, say hello to Cricket.”
Governor Noem expressed her belief that the President should be held accountable for the dog incident. When Brennan asked if she meant that the President should be shot, Noem reiterated her statement, emphasizing that accountability is what the President should face.
Noem faced backlash for including an anecdote in her book that she has since requested her publisher to remove. The anecdote claimed that she had a private meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and “stared him down,” which experts found highly unlikely. It is worth noting that there is no public record of Noem visiting North Korea or having any encounter with Kim.
According to Jillson, her remarks most likely damage her prospects with Trump, as he has been considering numerous individuals for the position of vice-president.
According to Jillson, the chaos that Trump seems to enjoy is actually the chaos that he himself creates. He thrives on chaos because it allows him to divert attention away from himself.
University of South Dakota political science professor Michael Card suggests that if it’s not the vice-president position, it remains uncertain what lies ahead in Governor Noem’s political career, as she is prohibited from seeking another term as governor. Governor Noem is currently serving her second term.
Card said that she could either pursue U.S. Senator Mike Rounds’ seat or make an attempt to reclaim her position in the House of Representatives.
