Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

By Isaac White.

In a move that has drawn national attention, the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota has formally banned Governor Kristi Noem from entering the Pine Ridge Reservation. This unprecedented action comes in response to comments made by the Republican governor regarding her intent to bolster border security efforts in Texas and her claims about cartel activity on the reservation.

The ban was announced shortly after Governor Noem spoke about deploying additional resources, including razor wire and security personnel, to Texas to assist in deterring immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. In her speech, Noem also alleged that cartels are infiltrating South Dakota’s reservations, specifically mentioning a gang known as the Ghost Dancers involved in criminal activities on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out issued a stern rebuke to Governor Noem’s statements, declaring, “Due to the safety of the Oyate, effective immediately, you are hereby Banished from the homelands of the Oglala Sioux Tribe!” This strong language underscores the tribe’s opposition to Noem’s policies and rhetoric, which they see as harmful to their community and the broader issue of immigration.

Star Comes Out criticized the governor for politicizing border security issues, suggesting that her actions were aimed at supporting former President Donald Trump’s potential reelection bid and boosting her own political aspirations.

He highlighted the plight of Indigenous people migrating from countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico, who are “in search of jobs and a better life.”

The tribal leader expressed his disdain for the treatment of these migrants, stating, “They don’t need to be put in cages, separated from their children like during the Trump Administration, or be cut up by razor wire furnished by, of all places, South Dakota.”

The controversy also involves Noem’s portrayal of the Ghost Dancers. Star Comes Out condemned the governor’s use of the term, which refers to one of the Oglala Sioux’s most sacred ceremonies, as “blatant disrespect” and “insulting to our Oyate.” He emphasized that the tribe is a sovereign nation and not under the jurisdiction of the state of South Dakota.

In response to the ban, Governor Noem’s office released a statement that appears a weak attempt to appear cooperative and respectful, without directly addressing the concerns raised by the tribe or acknowledging the Indigenous identity of many migrants.

The banishment comes amid a backdrop of increased crime on the reservation, with Star Comes Out having declared a state of emergency last November. Despite a judge acknowledging the federal government’s treaty obligation to support law enforcement on the reservation, there has been no ruling on the level of funding the tribe has sought.

Governor Noem has been a vocal advocate for deploying National Guard troops to the southern border, having done so three times. Her actions, including accepting a $1 million donation from a Republican donor to fund a deployment, have sparked criticism and raised questions about the militarization of border security and its implications for Indigenous communities.

In his critique of Noem’s policies, Star Comes Out made a poignant reflection on his military service, stating, “I joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served honorably in foreign wars to protect the freedoms of all Americans, even Indians throughout the nation. I don’t [want] to see our Indian people and reservations used as a basis to create a bogus border crisis just to help Trump get re-elected as President and Governor Noem his running mate as Vice-President.”

This incident highlights the complex intersection of immigration policy, Indigenous sovereignty, and political rhetoric. As the Oglala Sioux Tribe stands firm in its opposition to Governor Noem’s actions, the banishment serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous communities in the United States and the contentious debate over border security and immigration reform.