In 2016, the Legislature established the State of the Tribes Address as a symbolic gesture of respect for our Native neighbors, as well as an opportunity for our elected policymakers to hear from the sovereign nations with whom we share our conquered land. Alas, Governor Kristi Noem has co-opted this speech to the Legislature as an extra opportunity to promote her Executive Branch’s line.
For those who want to hear from the real tribal leaders, the actual independent and soveriegn voices of the Great Sioux Nation, our tribal neighbors are offering their own event just across the river in Fort Pierre:
The Great Sioux Nation chairmen and presidents will be collaborating on an inaugural Great Sioux Nation address at the Wakpa Sica building in Ft. Pierre, South Dakota on January 16, 2020. The purpose of the event is to provide the people of the Sioux Nation a tribal leadership perspective on the challenges the Great Sioux Nation faces in the coming year.
The Sioux Tribal leaders will discuss the state of affairs in individual tribes while informing the direction of their respective tribe for the new year. Many tribal leaders will converge on Wakpa Sica for the event which is located along the Missouri across from the South Dakota state capitol in Sioux tribal treaty territory [Levi Rickert, “Sioux Nation Tribal Chairmen & Presidents to Give First Great Sioux Nation Tribal Address,” Native News Online, 2020.01.02].
The Great Sioux Nation Address is tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. Perhaps the Legislature could accommodate the tribal leaders by moving the Governor’s Tribal Secretary to a nice breakfast event, then recess to cross the river and reconvene to hear the real State of the Tribes Address on January 16.
It’s so shameful of Klueless Kristi to turn her back on these Native South Dakotans who far preceded her $ grubbing family to this land. What is does is demonstrate her clear lack of basic human decency and respect. If Klueless Kristi had a commendable sense of self-respect and humility she would welcome input from others.
By this action, Klueless Kristi humiliates herself, while the Indians radiate dignity and self-respect. The SDGOP seems to have forfeited all trace of those laudable characteristics. Shame, shame on them.
Is this event open to the public?
It will be interesting to see how many legislatures attend this other event, but Mr. H is missing that the media from where he gets his information reported that it was the top legislatures who requested that this speech be given by somebody other than a tribal chief. The bloggers here just want fabricate any reason they can to sqeeze out their hate against young Ms. Noem, but if there is angst to be had and shouting to be done, it should be directed at the speaker of the legislatures, Mr. Haugaard, who came up with this idea.
The SD Legislative leadership doesn’t do anything without the governor’s permission.
Mr. Nemec maybe selling the overgodder Haugaard short here. Or perhaps the legislatures are all puppets.
The State of the Tribes Address was a complaining session about our State’s legislature and Governors. There is no requirement to hold this address and it should’ve never happened in the first place. Does our state go to the tribal counsels and give a State of the State address? No. They are a sovereign nation. It would almost be like asking Canada to give a state of the Union here in the US. I know they are citizens of our state, which would be the only difference. We don’t ask SF to come and give a state of the City address and they are a government entity as well as citizens of our state also.
The comparison to Canada is not apt, for the reason James himself cites (Indians are SD/US citizens) and more. Canada and the U.S. are completely separate nations. The tribes are sovereign by treaty but live under practical conquest by us invaders. Our policies are intertwined in ways that American and Canadian law are not. We have made and broken promises to our Lakota neighbors. We have obligations to the sovereign nations within our borders that the U.S. and Canada do not have to each other.
The comparison to Sioux Falls also fails to apply. Sioux Falls exists as a subordinate political unit under state law. Sioux Falls can make no claim of sovereignty independent of state law the way the tribal governments can.