Chairman Harold Frazier of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, far right, addresses a #NoDAPL rally outside of the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., on August 24, 2016. Photo by Indianz.Com (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2020
Chairman Harold Frazier statement on Bureau of Indian Affairs letter regarding Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe public health actions
Eagle Butte, SD – On Friday morning of April 24, 2020 the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe received a letter from the Bureau of Indian Affairs telling us that we have not consulted the State of South Dakota, claiming the State of South Dakota “owns” the road on our reservation and our law enforcement officers are not law enforcement officers.
In the middle of March when the pandemic started the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe began talking with the County Commissioners, SD Department of Transportation, City government leaders, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service and County Sheriffs among others. The emergency plan was developed with input from all entities and agreed upon. Invitations to participate was sent to many who chose not to attend.
Show us how the State of South Dakota owns any land or interest on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe reservation and I will show you how the state has violated their compact with the United States and the second condition of the Enabling Act of 1889 as well as Article XXII of the Constitution of the United States. This is a skeleton in the closet of the oppressors that needs to be fixed to be compliant with statehood much as less qualified to govern any land on our territory set aside by treaty.
Our law enforcement officers standing on the boundaries of our reservation are duly sworn officers of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe with full authority vested in us by our Constitution that we take seriously. In light of the lack of action to protect our members and residents on the reservation we are doing the best we can with what is available and will continue to do so.
We have consulted with the state of South Dakota exactly the way the BIA consults with us. In fact, the South Dakota Department of Transportation has inspected our checkpoints and offered technical advice on set up and operation which has been very useful.