Highway signs recognizing Yankton Sioux Tribe raise concerns

Wednesday, July 17, 2013  

The Yankton Sioux Tribe will meet with officials in Charles Mix County, South Dakota, on Thursday to discuss highway signs that recognize its presence in the state.

The tribe requested the signs from the South Dakota Department of Transportation. They don't carry legal weight but some local officials are concerned because the federal courts have ruled that the reservation has been diminished.

“We had a meeting with the state DOT officials about six months ago, and we requested that our signs be put back up in light of the (U.S.) Supreme Court refusing to hear the jurisdiction dispute for the umpteenth time,” Secretary Glenford “Sam” Sully told The Yankton Press & Dakotan.

The courts have ruled that the reservation consists of land held in trust for the tribe and for individual Indians.

Get the Story:
Deal Sought For Tribal Boundary Signs (The Yankton Press & Dakotan 7/17)

Related Stories:
Supreme Court won't accept Yankton Sioux diminishment case (6/21)