A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
By Isaac White.
Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota finds herself increasingly alienated from the communities she governs, as nearly 20% of the state's territory, controlled by Native American tribes, has now banned her. These bans are in response to a series of controversial remarks and actions over recent months, including her claims about tribal leaders' connections with drug cartels and a history of contentious statements concerning Native American communities.
The Yankton Sioux Tribe and the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate have joined the Oglala, Rosebud, Cheyenne River, and Standing Rock Sioux tribes in prohibiting Governor Noem's entry into their lands.
This decision was spurred by Noem's provocative comments at a public forum earlier this year, “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... But I’m going to fight for the people who actually live in those situations, who call me and text me every day and say, ‘Please, dear governor, please come help us in Pine Ridge. We are scared.”
Governor Noem also challenged tribal leaders via social media, stating: “Tribal leaders should take action to ban the cartels from their lands and accept my offer to help them restore law and order to their communities while protecting their sovereignty. We can only do this through partnerships because the Biden Administration is failing to do their job.”
The tensions surrounding Governor Kristi Noem have been heightened by historical conflicts such as the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protests. This major environmental and cultural controversy became a focal point for tribal activism against Noem's administration. Originating in 2016, the protests were led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, who argued that the pipeline threatened their water supply and sacred sites. The pipeline was planned to traverse close to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, crossing beneath the Missouri River, a crucial water source for the tribe.
The protests garnered national and international support, drawing thousands of activists, including environmentalists and other Indigenous groups. They collectively voiced concerns over the potential for oil spills and environmental damage that could result from the pipeline's construction and operation.
Despite temporary halts and the involvement of federal authorities, the project moved forward under the Trump administration, exacerbating tensions and leaving a lasting impact on the relationship between the state and the tribes.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Kristi Noem's already fraught relationship with South Dakota's Native American tribes further deteriorated over the tribes' implementation of coronavirus checkpoints on reservation roads.
Governor Noem responded to the tribes' acts by threatening legal action. She argued that the checkpoints were illegal and interfered with the state's ability to efficiently manage road traffic and transport goods and services. This stance was met with significant pushback from tribal leaders, who cited their sovereignty and the necessity of these measures to protect their communities from the pandemic.
This episode exemplified the ongoing tension and historical animosity between Governor Noem and the tribal nations within South Dakota. The tribes viewed Noem's threats as an infringement on their sovereign rights and a continuation of the state's historical disregard for their autonomy and well-being.
In a town hall in Mitchell, Noem made inflammatory remarks about the socioeconomic conditions within tribal lands saying, "They live with 80-90% unemployment; their kids don’t have any hope. They don’t have parents who show up and help them. They have a tribal council or president who has a political agenda more than they care about actually helping somebody’s life get better.”
These comments drew sharp criticism from tribal leaders. Janet Alkire, chairwoman of the Standing Rock Sioux, responded, “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.”
The Rosebud Sioux Tribe issued a statement refuting Noem's claims: “Governor Noem’s racially prejudiced remarks about tribal presidents and tribal councils being focused on a ‘political agenda’ are simply not true. Governor Noem’s malicious remarks that tribal officials ‘benefit’ from the presence of cartels without any evidence is made without any basis in truth and is defamatory and libelous.”
Governor Noem’s credibility faced further scrutiny following dubious claims in her memoir and public statements. She claimed to have stared down North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the demilitarized zone, a visit for which there is no public record. Additionally, she asserted a planned meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron was canceled over his comments, which French officials deny ever scheduling.
These issues have only cast doubt on her reliability and raised questions about her judgment and the authenticity of her narratives.
Amidst the political and racial controversies, Governor Kristi Noem also faced significant public backlash due to an incident described in her memoir, where she recounted shooting her dog, Cricket. Noem claimed that the dog, a 14-month-old hunting dog, became uncontrollably aggressive, leading to her decision to end its life for safety concerns.
In her book, Noem described Cricket as "untrainable" and detailed an incident where the dog disrupted a hunting trip by showing extreme excitement and aggression. The situation escalated when Cricket attacked and killed a neighbor's chickens. Noem recounted taking the dog to a gravel pit and shooting it, a decision she justified.
These ongoing controversies and the tribal banishments have clouded Noem's political future, including her prospects as a potential vice-presidential candidate in upcoming elections. Her memoir, "No Going Back," and recent media appearances intended to bolster her image have instead fueled further controversy and skepticism.
As Governor Noem grapples with these challenges, the responses from both the tribal communities and the broader public will be crucial in shaping her political trajectory and the relationships between the state government and the Native American tribes in South Dakota.
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