PIERRE, S.D (KELO) — The governor’s office in Pierre has a relationship with tribal leadership that’s unlike the relationships with a city’s mayor or a county’s commission.
“They are sovereign nations that I don’t have jurisdiction over as governor,” Gov. Kristi Noem said. “I don’t have the authority to go into their lands. I can partner with them, but they really do need the federal government to step up and start doing their job.”
The daily challenges on tribal land are often considerable, and these are not new problems.
“When you look at the poorest counties in this nation, we have many of them right here in South Dakota, and they’re all our tribal areas,” Noem said. “And it’s wrong that we allow that to continue to go on.”
The governor says she has made her concerns known.
“I’ve complained to the Trump Administration when I was governor and asked them to come and help make sure that there was law and order on our reservations,” Noem said. “Did not get a response. I have complained as well to the Biden Administration and brought our concerns there. I’ve complained to our delegation.”