Gov. Kristi Noem is calling on tribes to join law enforcement agreements with the state to combat public safety issues on reservations.
Those comments come amid tense relations between the administration and tribal governments.
Noem, who travelled to the US southern border on Thursday, is asking tribal governments to enter into mutual aid agreements to help address public safety issues and jurisdictional loopholes on reservations.
Tribal police don’t have jurisdiction over non-tribal members.
Noem made the comments during a press conference Friday, where she continues to urge tribes to banish cartels instead of her.
“It is impacting every single community in this state. I’m hopeful we can get new partnerships with tribal leaders that will want to work together to enforce tribal law and to bring law an order to areas in a way we haven’t done before," Noem said.
Some tribal leaders say Noem should apologize for comments she made in March about native children and parents.
Troy Heinert, former Democratic state lawmaker and executive director of the Inter-tribal buffalo council, said lack of public safety issues are well known and tribes need allies in advocating for federal funding.
“She’s burned so many bridges on so many other issues and hasn’t shown any type of respect to tribes," Heinert said. "The message for more funding for public safety is coming from all sides–sometimes it’s in how you say it.”
The Oglala Sioux Tribe is suing the federal government for its public safety funding formula.
