{"id":4413,"date":"2020-11-11T08:50:10","date_gmt":"2020-11-11T14:50:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=4413"},"modified":"2020-11-11T09:04:54","modified_gmt":"2020-11-11T15:04:54","slug":"they-want-to-see-change-voters-of-oglala-sioux-tribe-elect-new-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/11\/11\/they-want-to-see-change-voters-of-oglala-sioux-tribe-elect-new-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;They want to see change&#8217;: Voters of Oglala Sioux Tribe elect new leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\r\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Z8xQa2w4Y_8?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Kevin Killer: <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/Z8xQa2w4Y_8>Revolutionize Sovereignty<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h1-responsive\">&#8216;They want to see change&#8217;<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Oglala Sioux voters choose Kevin Killer for president, Alicia Mousseau for vice president<\/div> \r\n<div class=\"date\">Wednesday, November 11, 2020<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By <A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk\">Kevin Abourezk<\/A> <A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk\"><I aria-hidden=true class=\"fab fa-twitter\"><\/I><\/A><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe newly elected leaders of the <a href=http:\/\/www.oglalalakotanation.info\/>Oglala Sioux Tribe<\/a> are already facing the first crisis of their administration following the weekend arrest of the  outgoing president, who has previously faced accusations of drunkenness and sexual harassment.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nOn Saturday night, Rapid City police were called to Cheers Sports Bar &#038; Casino after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BearRunnerForOglalaNationPresident\">Julian Bear Runner<\/a>,  the sitting president, allegedly fought with a private security guard at the bar. Police arrested Bear Runner for failure to vacate and took him to the Pennington County Jail, according a statement from the police department.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe department referred further questions to the Pennington County State Attorney\u2019s Office, which could not be reached for comment.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nLast week, <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/THEOGLALANATION\/posts\/1221808978191943>Bear Runner lost his re-election<\/a> bid to challenger <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/withkevwecan\">Kevin Killer<\/a>, a 10-year South Dakota state legislator. Reached recently by Indianz.Com, Killer said he is ready to go to work on December 1, when he and newly elected Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AliciaMousseauforOSTVP\">Alicia Mousseau<\/a> take office.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"fb-post\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/THEOGLALANATION\/posts\/1221808978191943\" data-width=\"552\" style=\"background-color: #fff; display: inline-block;\"><\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nLike so many tribal leaders, they will face spiking <a href=\/covid19\/>COVID-19 cases<\/a> on the sprawling Pine Ridge Reservation in southwest South Dakota. On Tuesday, the tribe announced <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/THEOGLALANATION\/posts\/1226373911068783>65 new cases and 144 total active cases<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nKiller, 41, said he supports continuing the reservation mask mandate, despite the fact that non-Native communities all around and beyond the tribe\u2019s borders don\u2019t have such mandates.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAnd he raised the specter of further reservation-wide lockdowns.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cWhen lockdowns are needed, we need to really consider that,\u201d he said. \u201cMentally those are really stressful on people.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nHe said he will focus on educating reservation residents about the need for additional lockdowns.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"fb-post\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/THEOGLALANATION\/posts\/1226373911068783\" data-width=\"552\" style=\"background-color: #fff; display: inline-block;\"><\/div>\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nKiller said he decided to run for tribal president after having a spiritual experience that convinced him to do so.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAfter eight years in the South Dakota House of Representatives and two in the state Senate, Killer said he felt like he had certain skills and experience that could benefit the Oglala Lakota people.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cI have gifts to offer people as well because of my experience and basically because of what I learned in the legislature,\u201d he said.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nHe said he also decided to slow down after seeing his own father die of a heart attack caused by stress and diabetes at the age of 53.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nHe said he was proud of his <a href=https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kevin_Killer>work in the South Dakota Legislature<\/a>, including his efforts to educate new senators about tribal issues. When he was first elected, decisions on tribal issues were usually decided along party-line votes, but after several years of educating state legislators about Native issues, many of those policymakers began demonstrating deep respect for tribal sovereignty.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Not a delegate but South Dakota Rep Kevin Killer (Oglala) is &quot;here to support the Democratic Party&quot; <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/DemsInPhilly?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#DemsInPhilly<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/CHrRVczKT2\">pic.twitter.com\/CHrRVczKT2<\/a><\/p>&mdash; indianz.com (@indianz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/758437036260990976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 27, 2016<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nIndeed, the state Senate president and lieutenant governor now know certain Lakota phrases, Killer said.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nHe said he\u2019s confident the remaining Native legislators will be able to ensure their colleagues continue to respect tribal sovereignty.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAs tribal president, Killer said he plans to work to be proactive about ensuring the state of South Dakota and the federal government respect the tribe\u2019s sovereignty. And he plans to ensure Lakota youth are given a voice in decisions affecting the tribe.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nHe said he plans to establish a youth council out of his office that he will regularly attend.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cI think people will start to take it serious,\u201d he said.\r\n<p><\/p><div class=\"mt-1 mb-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8411603009680747\" data-ad-slot=\"6394965691\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div><p><\/p>\r\nLast week, South Dakota approved the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana, a vote that likely will impact tribal communities.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nKiller said he plans to begin researching the way tribes in other states where marijuana use has been legalized have established marijuana commerce.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cWe need to start thinking about that because there is demand there,\u201d he said. \u201cWe just want to be sure we\u2019re doing it in a good way, in a legal way.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nHe said he will focus on rebuilding citizen trust in tribal government and fulfill residents\u2019 hopes.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cThey want to see change,\u201d he said. \u201cHopefully we will be able to do that.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<figure>\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" data-attachment-id=\"4418\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/11\/11\/they-want-to-see-change-voters-of-oglala-sioux-tribe-elect-new-leaders\/aliciamousseau\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/aliciamousseau-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1708\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;ILCE-7RM2&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1600441706&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;55&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00025&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"aliciamousseau\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/aliciamousseau-1024x683.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/aliciamousseau-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"aliciamousseau\"  class=\"alignnone img-fluid wp-image-4418\" \/>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Alicia Mousseau. Courtesy photo\r\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nNewly elected   Vice President <a href=https:\/\/victoryfund.org\/candidate\/mousseau-alicia\/>Alicia Mousseau<\/a> said she is looking forward to finally being able to serve her people through public service.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nMousseau earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in psychology and political science from Creighton University in Omaha and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Wyoming.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nShe now works for the University of Montana\u2019s National Native Children\u2019s Trauma Center. Prior to that, she worked for the University of Colorado doing research.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nShe also serves on the board of directors for Red Cloud Indian School and for the Oglala Sioux Tribe\u2019s Research Review Board, which requires her to examine proposed research projects.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nShe said she hopes to establish a reservation training and research center. The tribe should conduct its own research into the impacts of COVID-19 on the reservation, Mousseau said.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cIt would be awesome if we could do our own research,\u201d she said.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"fb-post\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AliciaMousseauforOSTVP\/posts\/152312119919721\" data-width=\"552\" style=\"background-color: #fff; display: inline-block;\"><\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nShe said she is also interested in initiating efforts to begin helping tribal citizens heal from trauma and implement restorative justice programs. She said it will be important for tribal leaders to lean on the tribe\u2019s many skilled and talented residents in order to accomplish those efforts.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of good people doing good things in our community,\u201d she said.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAs for the current tribal president, Julian Bear Runner, she said she hopes he receives support for his personal issues.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nIn May, Bear Runner was accused of driving while intoxicated and verbal assault after a tribal officer pulled him over in his pickup truck. And in September, Bear Runner barely survived an impeachment vote after a young Lakota man accused him of coercing him into have sex with him when he was 17 and later when he turned 18.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cI do hope that he receives help,\u201d Mousseau said. \u201cIt seems that he needs help for sure.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAnd while she and Killer will be facing many difficult challenges, including fighting the spread of COVID-19, she is hopeful they will be able to protect their people and improve their lives.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cI\u2019m just very excited for this new team,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have a lot of lessons learned.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cI\u2019m excited to get to work.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/kevinkiller.jpg\" alt=\"kevinkiller\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\" class=\"invisible\">","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Kevin Killer, a former state lawmaker, and Alicia Mousseau, an expert in health and wellness issues, will be leading the Oglala Sioux Tribe.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4426,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,13,1,14],"tags":[4,800,5,101,56,509,99,495,507,97,98,220,44],"class_list":["post-4413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-law","category-national","category-politics","tag-4","tag-alicia-mousseau","tag-coronavirus","tag-crime","tag-elections","tag-hemp","tag-julian-bear-runner","tag-kevin-killer","tag-marijuana","tag-oglala-sioux","tag-south-dakota","tag-sovereignty","tag-women","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/kevinkiller.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-19b","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4413"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4413\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4426"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}