Days after Justice Department boosts tribe funding, Noem calls for more • South Dakota Searchlight

On Monday, Noem said in a press release that she had sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland asking him to “take action to improve public safety on Native American reservations in South Dakota.”

Noem’s recommendations include audits of federal funds provided to tribes in South Dakota; establishing a Special Assistant United States Attorney initiative within the state to encourage federal prosecutions on tribal lands; increasing federal support to help tribes investigate crimes; and encouraging tribes to enter into law enforcement agreements with the state.

Elected representatives from all nine tribes in the state have voted to ban Noem from their lands because of comments she made earlier this year, including her accusations that Mexican drug cartels operate on reservations and that tribal leaders profit from their activities.

Garland met with representatives of the nine South Dakota tribes about their law enforcement and justice system needs on Aug. 14 in Sioux Falls and Wagner. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, attended the Wagner meeting. Noem was not invited.

Justice disparities on South Dakota reservations must be addressed, U.S. attorney general says

Tribes across the state have treaty agreements that require federal law enforcement support, but the tribes have consistently reported they don’t have enough money. John Pettigrew, acting police chief of the Oglala Sioux tribe, said a subcommittee of the Congress in May that his department will be funded for 15% of its needs.

Noem, Rounds and other South Dakota officials have taken several steps this year to improve public safety on tribal lands.

After Garland’s visit, Rounds sent a letter urging the head of a federal department to change the funding formula for tribal law enforcement and advocating that the federal government open a tribal law enforcement training center in South Dakota.

Noem recently partnered with South Dakota Republican Attorney General Marty Jackley to launch a new tribal-focused law enforcement training program, which has produced eight recruits. Noem’s Department of Public Safety recently signed an expanded law enforcement cooperation agreement with the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, and Noem hosted a Tribal Public Safety Crisis Summit and appointed a tribal law enforcement liaison in her office.