Representative Stephanie Herseth-Speaker at General Council

(Photo courtesy of Steven Dahlmeier)

Democrat Representative Stephanie Herseth was a guest of honor and guest speaker, November 5, 2005, at the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe’s General Council meeting.  The quarterly meeting was held at the Royal Room, Royal River Casino.  Representative Herseth asked to be on the agenda at 11:00 am with time for questions and answers allotted after her speech.

Herseth thanked the Tribe for allowing her to come.  The Representative ’s last visit with the Tribe was during the annual Wacipi and grand entry July 16th.   Herseth stated: “It is an honor to represent South Dakota.  I was elected one and a half years ago to the Senate and I had to take stock of the issues effecting South Dakota and the Tribes.  I will be visiting the all the (SD) Tribes. The United States is obligated to help the Tribal Sovereign Governments under the Treaties in the areas of Health, Education, and Law Enforcement.  I respect tribal sovereignty and want to meet treaty obligations.

One of our basic challenges is economic development.  The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe has done a tremendous job with Economic Development.  The Royal River Casino has proved its role as a thriving economy.  I congratulate you on celebrating recently your 15th Anniversary. “

Representative Herseth went on to say the issues she has been working on in Indian Country are health care and meth abuse.  Herseth stated: “Indian Health Services historically has been under funded; the budget increase for 2006 is $100 million, which is an increase of only 4%.  Under funding of services is a chronic problem.  There needs to be a rethinking of the  IHS system and reorganization of the IHS Act.  There will be a re-evaluation in the House on Health Disparities to re-establish Indian Health Services as an agency of Health Services and have demonstration programs under the Self Determination challenges.”

The areas Representative Herseth outlined for health care services in the rural settings, including Indian reservations were: clinical care, emergency care and services, primary care, long term care, prevention, behavior problems and methamphetamine abuse.  Meth and drug abuse according to Herseth, are testing our Law Enforcement agencies and treatment programs.  Herseth stated: “Flandreau is lucky to have the Flandreau Meth Coalition and their Great Plains Summit held here last month, congratulations on their 1st Anniversary.  I want to commend them for pulling their resources together to halt the battle and the effects of Meth.  Meth in Washington, DC, is up for legislation to help Tribal communities.” 

Some of the questions addressed to the Senator from the membership were on the topics of State of South Dakota compact negotiations and Ellsworth Air Force Base.  Senators (Thune, and Johnson along with Representative Herseth were in support of the rezoning and redevelopment of Ellsworth but not with Tribal/State compact negotiations and asked why were  we being abandoned.  Herseth stated that she had not abandoned the Tribe and disagreed that she abandoned the Tribe in Economic Development.  The Air Base and State/Tribal Gaming Compacts were separate entities.

A member asked about video lottery, the Tribes cannot compete with South Dakota video lottery machines numbers. 

Other questions directed to Representative Herseth were about the National Indian Gaming Commission and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and IGRA opening up more Class II gaming devices to Indian Tribes. Tribes have every right to Class I and Class II without compacting with the State Governors.   She said she would contact Phil Hogen, Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, at Washington, DC. 

Herseth pledged to continue to work with the Tribe in the areas of race relations, equitable treatment, respecting sovereignty-all challenges in South Dakota.

Herseth pledged to continue to work with the Tribes in the areas of race relations, equitable treatment, and respecting sovereignty. “I recognize your frustrations. Criminal Justice, Education and Gaming are areas that I want to help you with.”

 The question of Bird Flu Pandemic, Katrina disaster, and according to Spiritual leaders, something is wrong with Mother Earth, it is sick.  Representative Herseth said it was threatening to all of us and a pandemic would put all of us in danger.  She recently met with 3-M at Brookings about helping communities prepare an emergency plan, community response teams to include local, state and Tribal governments. 

Herseth stated that: “I met with Mayor Munsterman of Brookings and he is involved with the state of South Dakota in Wind Energy and the I-29 Corridor that involves economic development for rural communities and the Tribes.”