PINE RIDGE RESERVATION, S.D. (KELO) — Several Native American tribes in South Dakota are calling on Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) to take more action during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oglala Sioux Tribe president Julian Bear Runner sent a letter to Noem on Thursday.
“It makes no sense to put people at risk because you feel most people have common sense. That is an oversimplification of the threat posed by this disease,” Bear Runner wrote. “Things could not be more urgent for South Dakota’s tribal nations, especially.”
Bear Runner is calling on Noem to take stronger actions in the state.
Similar messages are being said to the north, at a council meeting on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation which is in both North and South Dakota.
“South Dakota is the state where this virus is so out of hand that there is no hope of controlling it. It’s going to just grow in that state because she [Noem] didn’t act,” said councilwoman Avis Little Eagle.
A Native American advocacy group is also starting an email campaign to protect the safety of the nearly 72,000 Native Americans living in South Dakota.
“For our communities, the elderly, and the immunocompromised, Noem’s refusal to act is governmental negligence,” said Case Iron Eye from Lakota People’s Law Project. “She’s costing lives. We need as many people as possible, right now, to help us wake her up.”
The governor previously has said she doesn’t see a scenario where a state-wide stay-at-home order would be issued.
KELOLAND News reached out to Noem’s office for a statement and will update this story when we receive a response.
Keep reading
Your Guide To
Coronavirus
KELOLAND News is covering the COVID-19 pandemic. This is your guide to everything you need to know to prepare. We also have the latest stories from across the globe feeding into this page.
LATEST STORIES
- Update: Police say speed appears to be factor in deadly crash in Sioux FallsSIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) — Police are investigating a deadly crash on the west side of Sioux Falls. The crash happened around 4 a.m. Saturday morning near 57th and Baneberry. Investigators say the driver lost control and […]
- KELOLAND On The Go Saturday, December 4SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)- Start your day with KELOLAND On The Go with everything you need to know in news and weather.
- Windy Weekend on the Way; Some Flakes Possible – Storm Center AM Update: Saturday, December 4Get ready for a lot of wind in the short-term outlook, especially as we head toward Sunday. That’s not to say that Saturday won’t be brisk. While we start off calm enough, winds gradually pick up as […]
