Leading Opponent of Lakota Honor Song at Chamberlain Graduation Running for District 26B House

Term-limited Rep. Jim Schaefer (R-26B/Kennebec) is stepping away from the Legislature (he’s leaving challenging incumbent Democratic Senator Troy Heinert to Republican Joel Koskan). Stepping into the gap in Schaefer’s single-member district so far are Democrat Debra Smith of Vivian and Republican Rebecca Reimer of Chamberlain.

Rebecca Reimer… Reimer… where have I heard that name before? Oh yeah! In my coverage of the Chamberlain School District’s resistance a few years ago to including a Lakota honor song in its high school graduation ceremonies. Leading that resistance was then-school board president Rebecca Reimer:

Near the end of discussion Monday night, Reimer thanked those who shared feedback and recognized the animosity that has arisen.

“Here we are again voting on a topic which is meant to honor all and bring people together. Instead it’s dividing a community,” she said.

She read a list of actions the district has taken to recognize Indian students and their families. The list included assemblies, staff training, the school’s Native American Club and pow-wow, a feathering ceremony, a native parent advisory council, honoring Native American Day, summer school at Fort Thompson and allowing graduates to wear Eagle feathers and drape a star quilt on their chair at graduation.

“Our district has gone to great lengths to build relationships with the Native American population of Chamberlain School District,” she said. “In fact, we’ve done more for this particular group than any other group in the 11 years I’ve served on the board.”

Reimer said the honor song discussion was not about the students, academics or even the song itself.

“It’s about control and power. It’s about control and power,” she said. “I’m extremely disappointed in a handful of people.”

Reimer also tried to put an end to the controversy, which has drawn statewide media attention.

“This agenda item has been exhausted and after tonight it’s done,” she said [Jessica Giard, “Chamberlain School Board rejects Indian honor song again,” The Daily Republic, 2013.12.09].

Chamberlain appears still not to allow a Lakota honor song in its graduation ceremony. White students make up 54% of the Chamberlain High School student body; American Indian students make up 39%. Reimer left the Chamberlain school board in 2015. This year’s Legislature passed House Bill 1252, which forbids school districts and other political subdivisions from preventing individuals from wearing eagle feathers or plumes at school events. HB 1252 is silent on inclusion of tribal songs in public events.

District 26B is the less-Indian side of the judicially mandated split District 26, so Reimer’s anti-Lakota stance in Chamberlain may not hurt her as much as it would across the district line. But it will be interesting to see what statements Reimer and her Democratic challenger Smith make with respect to state-tribal relations and prospects for reconciliation in South Dakota.