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Two additional Indigenous tribes have prohibited Governor Kristi Noem from entering their tribal land adjacent to South Dakota, escalating an ongoing clash between Noem and tribal leaders over the governor’s previous remarks about Native communities.
The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe voted to bar Noem from their land on Wednesday, and two days later, the Yankton Sioux Tribe followed suit. These bans stem from recent comments by the governor that many found disparaging. Noem alleged at a community forum last month in Winner, South Dakota, that tribal leaders were “benefiting from cartels being there and that’s why they attack me every day,” according to the Associated Press.
The Standing Rock Sioux, Cheyenne River Sioux, Rosebud Sioux, and Oglala Sioux Tribes have also moved to banish the governor from their lands.
Yankton Sioux Council Member Ryan Cournoyer told CNN in an email that the governor has neither apologized nor shown remorse for insulting Native people. He stated, “We answered our people’s call for us to stand up and take action against Governor Noem, showing that we are united with the Great Sioux Nation of South Dakota. We wanted to send a message that this disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.”
Cournoyer added, “This decision does not come after one or two incidents but after years of witnessing the governor’s harmful and aggressive actions against tribes.”
Noem has attempted to link her past comments about tribal leaders to the Biden administration and its handling of crime and border security. On Thursday, she appeared to double down on her past comments against the tribes, writing on X, “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.”
In response, a spokesperson for Noem said in a statement, “Banishing Governor Noem does nothing to solve the problem.” The spokesperson called on all tribal leaders to banish the cartels from tribal lands.
Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Chairman J. Garret Renville told CNN, “The governor’s comments are not only baseless and without merit but also deeply offensive and harmful to the fabric of our community. By perpetuating harmful stereotypes and spreading misinformation, Governor Noem has demonstrated a blatant disregard for the dignity and well-being of Native American people.”
Noem, once considered for former President Donald Trump’s 2024 vice presidential shortlist, has faced increased scrutiny in recent weeks after excerpts from her book, “No Going Back,” drew criticism from pet owners and world leaders. Despite this, Trump has said he likes her “a lot” despite the “rough” few days she’s experienced after her book was released.