Two Indigenous Tribes have recently banned Governor Kristi Noem from entering their Tribal land in South Dakota. The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe and the Yankton Sioux Tribe voted to bar Noem from their land in response to comments she made that were viewed as disparaging towards Tribal leaders. Noem alleged at a community forum that Tribal leaders were benefiting from cartels and that they were attacking her every day. As a result, several other Sioux Tribes have also banned the governor from their lands.
In an email to CNN, Yankton Sioux Council Member Ryan Cournoyer stated that the governor has not apologized or shown remorse for insulting Native people. The decision to ban Noem came after years of witnessing her harmful actions against Tribes. The Tribal leaders want to send a message that disrespectful behavior towards their communities will not be tolerated. The bans highlight the unity of the Great Sioux Nation and their determination to stand up against harmful actions directed towards them.
Noem has attempted to connect her remarks about Tribal leaders to the Biden administration and its handling of crime and border security. She suggested that Tribal leaders should take action to ban cartels from their lands and partner with her to restore law and order. However, a spokesperson for Noem stated that banishing the governor does not solve the problem, and she calls on all Tribal leaders to banish cartels from Tribal lands instead. The Tribal leaders view Noem’s comments as baseless, offensive, and harmful to their community, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and spreading misinformation.
The governor’s recent comments have led to increased scrutiny, particularly after excerpts from her book, “No Going Back,” drew criticism from various groups. Noem, who was once considered a potential vice presidential candidate for former President Donald Trump in 2024, has faced backlash over her handling of the situation. Trump has expressed his support for Noem despite the controversy surrounding her book and comments about Tribal leaders. The bans imposed by the Indigenous Tribes reflect their commitment to standing up against disrespectful behavior and harmful actions directed towards their communities.
