Showdown: South Dakota Gov. Battles Sioux Tribe Over Coronavirus Checkpoints

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Chairman Harold Frazier has rejected an ultimatum from South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem that threatened legal action against the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe if the tribes did not remove coronavirus checkpoints being operated on state and U.S. highways. On April 8, 2020, a memorandum issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs made it clear the tribes must consult with the state of South Dakota and enter into an agreement before closing or restricting traffic on state and U.S. highways. According to the governor's office, the tribes have not consulted or reached an agreement with the state to operate independent checkpoints. -- More...