Governor Kristi Noem says she doesn’t think her ban from the Pine Ridge Reservation will impact efforts to meet a federal assistance threshold from natural disasters.
She says the state was proactive in providing resources during recent flooding.
“As soon as they asked, we had the national guard down there delivering clean drinking water in several communities,” Noem says. “We had task forces deployed down there with equipment and individuals and swift water rescue and helping individuals get out of dangerous situations. I’ve been down there several times visiting affected communities. I was just most recently down there with another group talking about violence-free zones and what we can do as a state to facilitate creating communities that support our youth.”
Last week, the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council voted to ban the governor from the reservation until she rescinds support for two pipeline related bills that pass through the legislature quickly this session.
Noem says it’s unfortunate tribal president Julian Bear Runner turned off lines of communication.
Tribal officials say they weren’t consulted on her pipeline package, which was introduced the first legislative day after Tribal Relations week.
The American Civil Liberties Union is challenging one of the governors bills, which targets what’s called “Riot Boosting.” The ACLU says it threatens protected free speech.