Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota is currently prohibited from visiting about twenty percent of her state.
According to the report, in addition to her prior restrictions from the reservations of the Oglala, Rosebud, Cheyenne River, and Standing Rock Sioux tribes, the governor is currently prohibited from accessing land owned by the Yankton Sioux Tribe and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate tribe.
As a result of the actions, Noem will not be allowed to enter any of the nine Native American tribes that call the state home. It comes after her divisive statements that connected tribal chiefs and drug gangs.
“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 stated at a forum.
“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,'” she continued.
“How dare the Governor allege that Sioux Tribal Councils do not care about their communities or their children, and, worse, that they are involved in nefarious activities?” Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out said in response to Noem’s remarks.
Janet Alkire, chairwoman of the Standing Rock Sioux “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.”
Before becoming governor, Noem had a tense relationship with the tribes, which started when she backed antiprotest laws in the wake of the 2016 Standing Rock protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Tensions between the governor and nearby tribes were heightened by subsequent altercations over COVID-19 checks.
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Recently, Noem faced criticism for acknowledging that she killed her dog a few decades ago due to its uncontrollable aggression. This was perceived by many as a significant setback to her candidacy as Donald Trump’s running mate.
In the face of criticism, Trump appeared to support the governor, stating of Noem, “Someone that I love.” She has long been at my side and a supporter of mine, and I have long been by hers.”
