Sonia Little Hawk-Weston testifies before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C, on February 3, 2016. Photo by SCIA
Little Hawk-Weston To Seek Reelection
By Brandon Ecoffey
Lakota Country Times Editor
lakotacountrytimes.com PINE RIDGE -- Sonia Little Hawk-Weston will attempt to reclaim her seat that was taken from her by a vote of council last month. "I just got done turning in my papers and I am running for representative for tribal council for Wakpamni district," said Little Hawk-Weston. Sonia says that she was motivated to run after an elderly woman spoke to her and encouraged her to run again for office. "I feel like I owe that to the people of Wakpamni District," she said. On August 2, the Oglala Sioux tribal council voted 14- 2-1 to accept a complaint against Sonia Little Hawk Weston and to suspend her without pay pending a hearing. The hearing itself would never take place as the four term council representative from Wakpamni District who serves as the chair of the council’s Health and Human Services Committee opted to resign instead of fight the charges that she says were brought without merit. The charges stem from a complaint filed by OST Treasurer, Melanie Two Eagles Black Bull. Sonia declined to fight her charges and says that the recent death of her mother contributed to her decision to not run again, but also that the vote from council would have fell along political lines and not on the facts. She declined to go into details of the charges nor what was discussed in the executive session of council where the charges were debated.
Visit the Lakota Country Times and subscribe today
A week later a another complaint filed by the Treasurer's office would result in the suspension of the other Wakpamni District representative, Jackie Siers. Her suspension would result in the second largest district on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation being without a vote on the council. Siers just recently had her charges dismissed but not before many Wakpamni District residents voiced concern over their apparent lack of voice on council. Now ready to "throw her hat back into the ring" Sonia says that she owes a debt of gratitude to the people of her district. "I really want to thank the people of Wakpamni District for standing by my me and for believing in me." (Contact Brandon Ecoffey at editor@lakotacountrytimes.com) Find the award-winning Lakota Country Times on the Internet, Facebook and Twitter and download the new Lakota Country Times app today.
Join the Conversation
