Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Chairman Bruce Renville, left, presents his case to the tribal council with his attorney Brendan Johnson on September 18, 2015. Photo from Facebook

Bruce Renville was reinstated as chairman of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate in South Dakota on Friday by a vote of the tribal council.

Renville had been suspended for ordering drug tests on all tribal employees. He took action after seeing the devastating effects of substance abuse on the reservation.

But employees weren't happy after being forced to line up for the tests on August 17. Complaints led to Renville's suspension and the removal hearing that eventually resulted in his reinstatement.

“Your voice has been heard," Renville wrote on Facebook following the decision.

According to The Sioux Falls Argus Leader, between 15 and 36 employees failed the drug tests although some of those results were false positives.

Get the Story:
Sisseton tribal chairman keeps job after drug dispute (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 9/19)
Tribal chairman, who made drug testing mandatory for its workers, wins reinstatement (The Grand Forks Herald 9/19)
Tribal Chairman Who Mandated Drug Testing Reinstated After Oust (South Dakota Public Radio 9/18)
South Dakota tribal chairman faces impeachment for drug testing his employees (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 9/18)
Ex-U.S. Attorney seeks unity in Sisseton tribal dispute (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 9/17)

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