Rapid City, South Dakota – President Star Comes Out of the Oglala Sioux Tribe criticized Governor Kristi Noem’s remarks regarding Indigenous people arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. Comes Out emphasized that many of those arriving are Indigenous people seeking opportunities and a better life. He expressed concern over the treatment of these individuals, referencing the Trump Administration’s policy of separating families and the use of razor wire at the border.
Comes Out also addressed Governor Noem’s comments about a gang called the Ghost Dancers, allegedly affiliated with border-crossing cartels and operating on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The President found the reference disrespectful and insulting, highlighting the sacred nature of the Ghost Dance in Oglala Sioux culture. Additionally, he asserted the tribe’s sovereignty and stated that it does not belong to the state of South Dakota.
In response to Comes Out’s remarks, Governor Noem expressed her commitment to addressing the effects of the federal government’s failure to enforce laws at the southern border and on tribal lands. She emphasized the importance of building relationships and working together to solve these issues. Noem has deployed National Guard troops to the Mexican border three times and faced criticism for accepting a large donation to fund a two-month deployment of troops in 2021.
Comes Out previously declared a state of emergency on the Pine Ridge Reservation due to increasing crime. While a judge ruled that the federal government has a treaty duty to support law enforcement on the reservation, funding remains a point of contention. The interaction between state and tribal authorities regarding security and law enforcement on tribal lands continues to be a sensitive and complex issue.