I've been waiting for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate's response to Governor Noem's mention of tribe being a hotbed of drug cartel activity in her speech on Wednesday about the border. See Drug cartels have infiltrated reservations, Noem says, but some tribal voices call speech ‘political’.
While Noem was banned from Pine Ridge Reservation over remarks in border speech to state legislature, SWO's leadership has asked her in the future not to reference the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate concerning drug cartel trafficking, because Reservations should not be singled out when drugs are a problem within the State of South Dakota as a whole.
The remainder of the press release discusses the Oyate's detention, law enforcement and treatment efforts, with the hope the state will honor the tribe's jurisdiction over tribal members.
Here's the press release, from the tribe's Facebook page:
Let's hope she follows the tribe's guidance. And we'd like to see follow up on a South Dakota Searchlight story from Tribal leaders urge legislators to support reestablishment of Lake Traverse Reservation boundaries.
It would be good to see the Lake Traverse Reservation, home of the SWO Dakota, on the official map of South Dakota.
Photo: SWO tribal headquarters in Agency Village, South Dakota. My romantic partner is a tribal elder and he was not pleased to the governor singling out his reservation--or any reservation--as a cartel hotbed. From the SWO Facebook page.
Related posts
- Noem banned from Pine Ridge Reservation over remarks in border speech to state legislature
- Explaining and gaining? Noem concedes Texas costs were gift to Lone Star state; meets with two South Dakota House tribal members
- Drug cartels have infiltrated reservations, Noem says, but some tribal voices call speech ‘political’
- Noem to address Legislature on ‘potential South Dakota response’ to Mexico border situation
- No word on who paid or if she packed razor wire: Noem travels again to Texas-Mexico border
- South Dakota Searchlight: Tribal leaders urge legislators to support reestablishment of Lake Traverse Reservation boundaries
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