As Gov. Kristi Noem is likely headed to Washington DC for a cabinet position, tribal leaders are calling for a reset in state-tribal relations.
That came during an annual address to the South Dakota legislature by Chairman Garrett Renville of the Sisseton Wahpeton Tribe.
In addition to changes for Gov. Noem, the US Senate is led by a South Dakotan, Republican John Thune. Renville says the state’s lone congressman, Dusty Johnson, is working well in a divided US House of Representatives.
“South Dakota is now literally at the center of the political universe," Renville said to a joint session of the state legislature. "We have an opportunity, now, to bring about real change for our people and at all levels of government. But we must work together.”
Renville said state-tribal relations have hit a series of breakdowns in government-to-government engagement. That came following comments by Noem alleging Mexican drug cartels were operating out of reservations.
“Today, let’s reset. Today, let’s rebuild. Today, let’s start to listen and actually hear," Renville said.
Renville points to areas where the state and tribes have worked together—including on a resolution in 2024 urging congress to address law enforcement shortages on tribal lands. He’s asking the state to pass another resolution urging congress rescind the Dakota Removal Act.
Renville and other tribal leaders met with Noem and Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden earlier this week. Rhoden is next in line to become governor when Noem resigns her seat in the event the Senate confirms her as Secretary of Homeland Security.
Standing Rock Chairwoman Janet Alkire also attended the meeting. She said they talked with Noem about having a tribal law enforcement training center in the northern part of the country. That training takes place in New Mexico.
"If Gov. Noem makes it through the nomination process, she’ll be in charge of all the training for law enforcement," Alkire said. "That’s one of the things we wanted to visit with her [on]. If we had some place up north, rather than sending all our folks down south. I think that’s why some folks don’t last. Locally, it’s much better.”
Alkire said she’s also looking forward to working with Lt. Gov. Rhoden, who is a West River rancher, when he becomes governor.
