Kristi Noem Banished From 10% of State She Governs After Latest Expulsion
Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) has been banned from some 10% of South Dakota, the state she governs.
On Tuesday, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council voted to ban Noem from areas under its control. Combined with bans from the Oglala Sioux Tribe in February and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe last week, the Republican governor is now banned from about one-tenth of the state, according to the Daily Beast.
The banishment came in response to remarks Noem made about the Native Americans of the state, accusing tribal leaders of not doing enough to expunge the influence of drug cartels.
“Governor Kristi Noem’s wild and irresponsible attempt to connect tribal leaders and parents with Mexican drug cartels is a sad reflection of her fear-based politics that do nothing to bring people together to solve problems,” SRST Chairwoman Janet Alkire said in a press release. “Rather than make uninformed and unsubstantiated claims, Noem should work with tribal leaders to increase funding and resources for tribal law enforcement and education.”
The director of the Lakota People’s Law Project, which says on its website that it “works closely with tribal nations and nonprofit compatriots to amplify Indigenous voices” and “provides on-the-ground support when and where it is needed most,” said Noem is “prohibited from entering sovereign territory of Sioux bands.” (Read more from “Kristi Noem Banished From 10% of State She Governs After Latest Expulsion” HERE)
Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr
