The Crow Creek Sioux Tribe is joining six other tribes located within South Dakota in banning Gov. Kristi Noem from its reservation.
The tribe passed a resolution banning Noem from the boundaries of its reservation Tuesday morning.
The move comes following comments by the Republican governor alleging tribal leaders benefit from cartel activity. During a recent town hall, Noem also said kids “don’t have any hope.”
Chairman Peter Lengkeek said Crow Creek does not have Mexican drug cartels on their reservation.
“We have cartel products, like guns and drugs. But they pass over state highways getting to the reservation," Lengkeek said. "So, putting us all together like that and saying that all tribes are involved in this really shows to the ignorance of the governor’s office — not willing to reach out and learn, and connect, with the tribes — that’s what that is indicative of.”
Last week, the Sisseton-Wahpeton and Yankton Tribes banned Noem from their reservations.
An eighth tribe may follow suit.
The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe recently rejected banishing Noem from its reservation. But Chairman Clyde Estes said the council may revisit the idea at their next meeting in June.
Estes said he draws the line at Noem talking about native children.
“The children should be left out of any political discussion,” Estes said. “To say that they have no hope is wrong and she should not have said that.”
It’s unclear if the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe will also ban Gov. Noem.
A spokesperson for Noem’s office has not returned requests for comment.
