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A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 8 May 2019
South Dakota governor, Oglala

Sioux in protests standoff

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The the country. The legislation cost the state $38 million
Oglala Sioux and South Da- aims to prevent costly and to police. "I gave my team
kota Gov. Kristi Noem are disruptive protests against the direction to build a
each waiting for the other the proposed Keystone plan that would protect our
side to make a move to re- XL pipeline similar to those counties and local govern-
solve a disagreement over that plagued construc- ments from expenses that
anti-protest legislation that tion of the Dakota Access come with pipeline con-

In this Jan. 2019 file photo, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem gives led to the tribe banning pipeline in North Dakota. struction and to protect our
her first State of the State address in Pierre, S.D. the governor from one of The Tribal Council on May people from the costs and
Associated Press the largest reservations in 1 voted 17-0 to tell Noem dangers that accompany
she's no longer welcome violent riots," Noem said of
on the Pine Ridge Reserva- the legislation.
tion, and President Julian The American Civil Liberties
Bear Runner informed her Union and tribes contend
by letter the following day the anti-riot law stifles free
"that you are not welcome speech, and the ACLU is
to visit our homelands." suing Noem, Attorney Gen-
"I'm going to respect tribal eral Jason Ravnsborg and
sovereignty. I'm not going a county sheriff in federal
to go where I'm not wel- court on behalf of activists.
comed," Noem told report- The Oglala Sioux is not a
ers Tuesday. plaintiff but it opposes the
Noem said she wants to pipeline that TC Energy
resolve the situation quick- wants to build to move
ly and that she's having Canadian crude through
"ongoing discussions" with Montana and South Da-
council members who kota to Nebraska, where it
reached out to her. But would connect with lines
she hadn't yet spoken with to Gulf Coast refineries.
Bear Runner, who she said The $8 billion project has
would be welcome to visit the backing of President
her any time. Donald Trump but is being
"I'm hoping that the presi- fought by opponents in the
dent will change his mind courts.
and be willing to work with Iron Eyes said Oglala Sioux
me to help face some members believe the pipe-
of the challenges that line threatens the environ-
the tribe has — dealing ment.
with economic develop- "They want a better way,"
ment, the meth epidemic, he said. "They don't want
some of the resources that a government that isn't
they've asked me for," she thinking intelligently about
said. impending ecological and
Bear Runner's spokesman existential crises."
Chase Iron Eyes said the Noem said she has talked
president would be will- to people on the reserva-
ing to meet with Noem, tion who want to continue
though "who will make the working with the state.
first move, that remains to "What I hear from commu-
be seen." nity members and other
The two bills that Noem local leaders is very differ-
and GOP leaders pushed ent than the agenda that
through toward the end the president has put out
of the legislative session in there," she said.
March allow officials to pur- Iron Eyes disputed that.
sue money from demon- "We are obviously taking is-
strators who engage in "riot sue with the idea that the
boosting" or encouraging elected leadership of the
violence during a protest. Oglala people don't reflect
Activists and American the will of the Oglala peo-
Indian tribes have been ple," he said.
planning on-the-ground Bear Runner's letter told
protests against the Key- Noem that if she ignores the
stone XL pipeline if it's built, tribal edict "we will have no
similar to Dakota Access choice but to banish you"
pipeline demonstrations in from the reservation, which
North Dakota in 2016 and is roughly the size of Dela-
2017 that resulted in 761 ar- ware and Rhode Island
rests over six months and combined.q