Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Politics
Oglala Sioux Tribe election plagued by complaints


Election Day was a day of confusion and complaints on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

Members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe voted for president and council members. But supporters of former president Alex White Plume, who was removed from the ballot days before the election, allegedly interfered with the removal of ballot boxes for the South Dakota general election.

Tribal election board member Maretta Champagne called the incident was a "misunderstanding" with the Shannon County sheriff. But she said other complaints about the election have been filed, including allegations of voter interruptions.

An office manager for the election board also acknowledged that White Plume does not technically have a felony conviction on his record. But since he was originally charged with a felony before he pleaded to a misdemeanor, he is still barred from office under tribal law, the manager said.

Voters elected former president John Yellow Bird Steele. He easily defeated former president Cecilia Fire Thunder, who was ousted earlier this year for criticizing the state's abortion ban.

Get the Story:
Sheriff: Tribal poll dispute a 'misunderstanding' (The Rapid City Journal 11/10)

Relevant Links:
Oglala Sioux Tribe - http://www.lakotamall.com/oglalasiouxtribe

Related Stories:
Fire Thunder unofficially defeated at Pine Ridge (11/9)
Fire Thunder faces Yellow Bird Steele at Pine Ridge (11/7)
Fire Thunder back on Oglala Sioux ballot for now (11/6)
Oglala Sioux Tribe votes to proceed with election (11/1)
Oglala Sioux Tribe primary results nullified (10/26)
Fire Thunder defends stance at ACLU conference (10/17)
Fire Thunder in running for Oglala Sioux president (10/9)
Oglala Sioux Tribe election results too close to call (10/6)
Fire Thunder fails to make cut in unofficial count (10/5)
More than a dozen seek Oglala Sioux presidency (08/31)
Fire Thunder worried about delay in ouster case (08/07)
Fire Thunder asks tribe's top court to reinstate her (8/4)
Fire Thunder waits for court date to get job back (7/31)
Court hearing on Fire Thunder impeachment delayed (7/27)
Fire Thunder faces July 28 impeachment hearing (7/21)
Fire Thunder suspended after being reinstated (7/19)
Fire Thunder reinstated after being impeached (7/18)
Opinion: South Dakota abortion ban goes too far (7/14)
Fire Thunder impeached after abortion controversy (6/30)
Fire Thunder set for impeachment hearing (6/26)
Petition seeks to outlaw abortion at Pine Ridge (6/22)
Fire Thunder fights for job as Oglala Sioux president (6/14)
Oglala Sioux Tribe bans abortion, suspends prez (5/31)
Opinion: Native woman's power and responsibility (05/26)
Protest planned against Pine Ridge women's clinic (5/24)
Native teens said to take part in pro-life rally (04/25)
Column: Fire Thunder plans genocide of own people (04/12)
Fire Thunder challenged on abortion clinic plan (4/10)
Opinion: Tribal law and abortion clinic at Pine Ridge (4/10)
Column: Fire Thunder, strong woman on the plains (4/6)
Fire Thunder plans women's clinic on reservation (3/31)
Opinion: Oglala Sioux to massacre their children (3/29)
Fire Thunder vows fight for women's health rights (3/28)
Fire Thunder joins fight against state abortion law (3/27)
Fire Thunder creates stir with abortion law comments (3/24)
Giago: Oglala Sioux president on state abortion law (03/21)
Fire Thunder reinstated as Oglala Sioux president (01/09)
Fire Thunder removal hearing delayed a second time (12/20)
Opinion: The life story of Cecilia Fire Thunder (12/19)
Fire Thunder removal hearing delayed a week (12/13)
Oglala Sioux president confident of future (10/31)
Pine Ridge president suspended by council (10/26)
Fire Thunder: 'At times I feel like George Bush' (10/21)
Pine Ridge president disputes latest complaint (10/18)
Pine Ridge president faces another complaint (10/17)
Oglala Lakota College assumes control of Head Start (09/20)
Cecelia Fire Thunder survives suspension complaint (07/01)
Oglala Sioux Tribe secures $38M loan from tribe (06/20)
Hearing into Fire Thunder suspension delayed (6/14)
Fire Thunder defends record in advance of hearing (6/10)
Hearing set on suspension of Oglala Sioux president (6/8)
Oglala Sioux Tribe president has not been suspended (6/3)
Means loses lawsuit against Oglala Sioux election (03/09)
Oglala Sioux Tribe inaugurates Cecilia Fire Thunder (12/13)
Russell Means sues after losing Pine Ridge election (12/03)
Pressure is on Fire Thunder as Pine Ridge president (11/15)
Fire Thunder credits women for Pine Ridge victory (11/08)
Fire Thunder calls election at Pine Ridge symbolic (11/4)
Cecilia Fire Thunder declared winner at Pine Ridge (11/3)
Harjo: Pine Ridge election about character (10/29)
Russell Means arrested for missing court date (10/25)
Pine Ridge Election: Profile of Russell Means (10/22)
Pine Ridge Election: Profile of Cecilia Fire Thunder (10/21)
Russell Means, Fire Thunder to debate in Pine Ridge (10/18)
AIM leader, nurse face off in Pine Ridge election (10/8)
Russell Means top vote-getter in Pine Ridge primary (10/7)
Means says South Dakota GOP needs to do more (8/9)