South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was exiled from even larger swaths of the state after all nine tribes banned her.
The Republican who shot the dog was expelled from the Flandau-Santee Sioux Tribe on Tuesday. The tribe is the last to take such action in response to her comments accusing Native Americans of colluding with Mexican drug cartels and failing to educate their children. The Argus Leader reported.
Noem, who until recently was seen as former President Donald Trump’s 2024 running mate, had already been kicked out of about 20% of the state before the last three of the nine tribes took action.
The final decision came after Flandreau’s leadership held a “respectful and productive” meeting with Noem on Sunday, the Argus Leader added.
Tyler Rumbaugh, executive management assistant for the FSST Homeowner Assistance Fund, told the outlet that leadership was under pressure from the community to oust Noem.
“We need to stand together with our fellow tribes in South Dakota, the Oceti Shakowin. We don’t want to be on the wrong side of history at this moment,” he said.
The tribe’s official announcement included a statement from Noem claiming that “this never happened.” [her] It is meant to offend by telling the truth about the real challenges faced in some parts of India.
“I want to focus on solutions that lead to safer communities for all families, better educational outcomes for all children, and reduced addiction numbers for all people,” she added.
“I hope the Flandreau-Santee Sioux Tribe will give us the opportunity to work together in a way that is an example for all.”
Of South Dakota’s nine tribal governments, only the Yankton Sioux has not adopted any formal measures to remove the Noam from their lands.
However, the Yankton Tribe Business and Claims Committee voted unanimously on May 10 to support the governor’s punishment, Argus leaders said.
The larger rift between Noem and tribal governments began on Jan. 31 when she gave an 18-minute speech at an emergency joint session of the Legislature in which she accused tribes of supporting Mexican drug cartels.
“Drug cartels are using our reservations to facilitate the spread of drugs throughout the Midwest,” Noem claimed.
Noem doubled down on her claims in March by suggesting, despite a lack of evidence, that tribal leaders were “personally benefiting” from the cartels.
The remarks created a ripple effect, with tribes voting to ban the governor from their lands in the state.
The Yankton Sioux Tribe and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe voted in early May, and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Rosebud, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, The Lower Brule Sioux Tribes both passed similar bills earlier this year. CNN reported:.
By mid-May, Noem was banned from 20 percent of the state she governs.
“Expelling me will do nothing to solve this problem and will not help the people who have suffered this terrible tragedy,” Noem said last week.
“Yesterday, I returned home from a dangerous and dangerous battlefield on our nation’s southern border. The South Dakota National Guard is dedicated to keeping Americans safe and keeping drug cartels from drug and human trafficking out of our country. We helped the Texas National Guard build miles of border wall in 100 degree heat.”
Noem’s office did not immediately respond to The Washington Post’s request for comment.
Noem’s relationship with the South Dakota tribe fell apart when she faced backlash for writing about killing young hunting dogs in her new book.
Noem’s book also described a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but she is now asking her publisher to remove the anecdote from the book.
Political commentator Cal Jillson said earlier this month that the string of bad press may have hurt Noem’s chances of becoming Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s running mate.
“I think the chaos that Trump enjoys is the chaos that he creates. Any chaos that someone creates is just a distraction from themselves,” Jillson said.
With post wire
