Preparations are being made to put flags from each of the American Indian tribes in South Dakota permanently on display in the State Capitol Building, but at least one tribe says their flag will not be part of the display.
Crow Creek Sioux Tribe chairman Lester Thompson, Jr. says his tribe’s flag will not be displayed in the state Capitol until Gov. Kristi Noem and the State Legislature respect his people, their shared history and their traditions.
Thompson says over the past year, the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe has worked to build a new relationship with the State of South Dakota through initiatives to establish open access to traditional lands in the State Park system and agreements between tribal and state law enforcement agencies to ensure safety at public events and to stop the illegal transport of goods and people.
Thompson cites instances of disrespect such as:
- the Senate State Affairs Committee voting down a resolution asking the South Dakota Congressional delegation to introduce legislation to Repeal the Dakota Removal Act of 1863 (SCR 10), an outdated law that established their reservation as a prison for the Dakota peoples removed by force from the State of Minnesota. Minnesota passed a similar resolution in 2009.
- without consultation with a single Tribe Gov. Noem introduced two bills, through a Suspension of the Rules, intended to “intimidate protestors and suppress the right to speak out against the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline, limiting our right to free speech and assembly in protection of our water and land.” He says Gov. Noem omitted Tribal Nations from any consultation or discussions over these bills, but did hold private sessions with TransCanada officials and a multitude of other stakeholders, including state legislators.
Details of the ceremony are still being worked out.
