A leader in the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe is pushing back on South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s demand that the Native Americans remove checkpoints they had set up along highways that help prevent the coronavirus from spreading.
Noem, a Republican, sent letters to the leaders of the Oglala Sioux and the Cheyenne River Sioux tribes on Friday. She told them they had 48 hours to clear their coronavirus checkpoints from state and federal highways, or they would face legal action, according to CNN.
“We are strongest when we work together; this includes our battle against COVID-19,” Noem said. “I request that the tribes immediately cease interfering with or regulating traffic on U.S. and State Highways and remove all travel checkpoints.”
Noem never implemented stay-at-home orders, so the tribes did. Tribal residents are permitted to travel in the state to areas that are not considered “hot spots” for essential activities but are required to complete a questionnaire at the checkpoints. South Dakota residents also must fill out the questionnaires to enter a reservation for essential activities.
In April, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs said that the Sioux tribes needed to consult with South Dakota before limiting travel on the highways. Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Chairman Harold Frazier hit back on Noem’s request that the tribes abandon the checkpoints and took issue with the consultation order.
“The English definition of consultation is ‘a meeting with an expert or professional, such as a medical doctor, in order to seek advice.’ In the Lakota language, wóglaka means ‘to speak about something.’ In meeting with county commissioners, municipal, South Dakota Department of Transportation, public schools, and federal agencies, we have met the definition of consultation in both of our languages,” the leader said.
“We will not apologize for being an island of safety in a sea of uncertainty and death,” Frazier continued. “I absolutely agree that we need to work together during this time of crisis. However, you continuing to interfere in our efforts to do what science and facts dictate seriously undermine our ability to protect everyone on the reservation.”
