New president of Oglala Sioux Tribe won't support liquor sales

Tuesday, November 27, 2012  

The incoming leader of the Oglala Sioux Tribe doesn't support the legalization of alcohol on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Byran Brewer will take office next week. He said the tribe, at this point, won't be able to handle an increase in crime that might come with legal liquor sales.

"Until we have infrastructure and we can start educating our people and getting our people jobs and things like that -- right now I'm against it," Brewer told the Associated Press.

Along those lines, Brewer plans to ask the state of Nebraska to end liquor sales in the border town of Whiteclay. Four stores there cater to residents from the reservation.

"I believe it's killing our people. I want to meet with the people in Nebraska. I'm going to ask them to close it down, take their license away, and if they don't, you know, we're going to have to try to figure out something else," Brewer told the AP.

Get the Story:
Oglala Sioux president: Shut down Whiteclay (AP 11/26)

Related Stories:
Proponent expects Oglala Sioux Tribe to allow sales of alcohol (11/16)
Oglala Sioux Tribe could see $6M in revenue from alcohol taxes (10/19)
Letter: Alcohol prohibition isn't working for Oglala Sioux Tribe (10/16)
NPR: Oglala Sioux Tribe weighs next move on Whiteclay liquor (10/12)
Oglala Sioux Tribe could tap into revenues from sale of alcohol (10/10)
Oglala Sioux Tribe urged to end liquor sales ban on reservation (10/5)