The South Dakota Education Equity Coalition expresses grave concern over President Trump’s appointment of Governor Kristi Noem as the new Secretary of Homeland Security. This choice not only disregards her failures as a state leader but also sends a dangerous signal about the priorities of our federal government. Governor Noem’s track record as South Dakota’s leader has been marked by negligence toward Indigenous rights and education, alarming inefficiencies in communication with Tribal Leaders, and exclusion of Indigenous perspectives in state education planning. These shortcomings raise serious concerns about her ability to handle the nuanced responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security, especially regarding the Indigenous communities she will impact on a national scale.
Governor Noem’s administration has repeatedly shown a lack of commitment to improving educational outcomes for Native youth in South Dakota. This negligence is evident in the state’s persistent failure to meet its educational goals for Native students. The 2023-2024 South Dakota State Report Card starkly highlights this trend: only 21% of Native students are proficient in English Language Arts, a decline from previous years, and a mere 13% meet proficiency standards in mathematics, far short of the state’s targets. This ongoing academic crisis under Governor Noem’s leadership is not just a failure to meet targets but a direct reflection of systemic neglect of Native student needs. Noem’s approach to education has dismissed Indigenous input, despite evidence that genuine tribal consultation is essential to making meaningful progress.
The Governor’s administration has also left Tribal Education Departments with a non-existent communication structure that impedes effective collaboration and educational improvements. Executive Order 2019-01 removed the South Dakota Office of Indian Education (SDOIE) from the Department of Education (SDDOE) and displaced it to the Office of Tribal Relations, segregating Native education concerns from mainstream state education planning. With this separation, Tribal Education Departments (TEDs) are now directed to work with the SDOIE, whose mandate is restricted to promoting the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings (OSEUs), rather than addressing the broader, urgent educational issues Native students face. When these broader issues arise, they are either dismissed by the SDDOE or redirected to the SDOIE, creating a continuous cycle of deflection. This intentional fragmentation has fostered mistrust, obstructed any real advancement toward educational equity, and further highlights the lack of accountability in Governor Noem’s governance.
Additionally, it is essential to address Governor Noem’s contentious relationship with South Dakota’s Indigenous nations, which has led to her being banned from all nine sovereign nations within the state. This reflects not only a breakdown of trust but also a profound disconnect from the Indigenous communities she is supposed to serve. Such a relationship is deeply concerning for someone who is now expected to oversee national security, as it speaks to her disregard for the rights and voices of Indigenous people.
“Governor Noem’s appointment to Homeland Security is troubling for Indigenous communities not just in South Dakota, but across the nation,” said Sarah White, Executive Director of the SDEEC. “Her record reflects a history of ignoring Indigenous voices, failing to meet the basic educational needs of Native students, and disregarding meaningful tribal collaboration and consultation. Indigenous communities deserve leaders who respect our sovereign rights and perspectives. We cannot afford to see this lack of accountability and dismissiveness scaled to the federal level, especially in a role as crucial as Homeland Security.”
The SDEEC believes that the well-being of Indigenous youth and communities in South Dakota is at risk under Noem’s leadership. Her appointment to Homeland Security amplifies this threat on a national scale, as it foreshadows a continued lack of accountability, transparency, and respect for Native voices. Our coalition urges a re-evaluation of this appointment and calls upon leaders at all levels to advocate for Native-inclusive, respectful, and effective policy development that does not ignore the rights of Indigenous communities.
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