Indigenous groups have formally forbidden South Dakota’s far-right governor, Kristi Noem, from visiting any tribal territory in her native state.
The broad ban is the latest move in Noem’s problematic relationship with Indigenous tribes, following recent remarks by the governor linking tribal leaders to international drug gangs.
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It is just the latest incident for Noem, a long-time Trump supporter who sparked uproar after the Guardian reported on her book, in which the governor admitted that she had slain her family dog and goat in cold blood.
The Flandreau Santee Sioux tribe (FSST) of South Dakota became the last of the state’s nine legitimate Native American tribes to ban Noem on their grounds on Tuesday.
Several FSST members reportedly petitioned tribal officials to ban Noem and were “uncomfortable and upset” that she had yet to be barred from their reservation despite bans from other tribes, according to South Dakota newspaper The Argus Leader.
“We need to stand in solidarity with our fellow tribes in South Dakota, the Oฤhรฉthi ล akรณwiล,” Tyler Rambeau, executive administrative assistant of the FSST Homeowners Assistance Fund, told the Argus Leader.
“We do not want to come up on the wrong side of history in this moment,” he declared.
Noem was considered a candidate for Trump’s running mate in this election, but her depiction of shooting the animals may have hurt her chances. She alleged in March that tribal chiefs were “personally benefiting” from international drug gangs, causing outrage.
“We’ve got some tribal leaders that I believe are personally benefiting from the cartels being there, and that’s why they attack me every day,” Noem explained. “But I’m going to battle for the people who live in such situations, who phone and text me every day, saying, ‘Please, dear governor, come help us in Pine Ridge. “We are afraid.”
Separately, Noem claimed that Indigenous children suffer harder in school because their parents “don’t show up” for them, according to Keloland News.
Noem did not explicitly comment on the prohibition in a statement to CNN, but she did say she hopes to work with tribal leaders in the future.
“I only want to speak truth to the real challenges that are being faced in some areas of Indian country,” she added.
Several tribes banned Noem earlier this year after accusing him of using divisive language to seek favor with Trump.
“Our people are being used for her political gain,” said Frank Star Comes Out, president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, in an interview with the Associated Press.
