Can the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Elected Officials Police Themselves or Do We Still Have a Double Standard?

 The Oglala Sioux Tribe has publicly aired a recent press release regarding the Treasurer of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.  This public press release has also been published and discussed on every major media branch in South Dakota.  According to the press release from the Oglala Sioux Tribe Presidents office, the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Treasurer allegedly was charged with possession and ingestion of Methamphetamine and allegedly caused over $37,000.00 in damage to Oglala Sioux Tribal property.  The troubling thing is, this gives the Government of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe a serious black eye for all to see. In situations like this you can see Tribal Members calling for accountability and you see support for the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Treasurer.  

In a serious situation of this nature put the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Administration and Tribal Council in the spotlight.  Historically, we have all seen the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Government establish a double standard when it pertains to accountability for elected officials.  The double standards have been, turning a blind eye to the issue, politically dismissing the issue, and using political influence to make the issue go away with the famous old political stall tactic.  It appears we may heading down that same old road again.

The Rosebud Sioux Tribal Elected Officials can single out Tribal program directors and Tribal Employees and rake them over the coals.  When it comes to an Elected Official some of them become a deer in headlights forgetting the oath of office they swore to.  These same elected officials sure voice opinions in Council meetings and outside of Council meetings on what they think are pressing issues.  I hear the Tribal Attorney General Lloyd Guy is telling Tribal Elected Officials to TREAD LIGHTLY on this matter.  The Tribal Attorney General is afraid the Tribal Treasurer might sue the Tribe.

Seems as the Tribal Attorney General was alluding to due process and civil rights possible.  If Tribal Attorney General Guy was alluding to due process and civil rights, I'm going to assume his tongue almost fell out of his mouth saying the words due process and civil rights.  Mr. Attorney General, you are again being a political puppet and wearing out the poor fence you keep riding.  You are doubling down on the double standard for Tribal Politics yet, you won't protect the Civil Rights of Tribal Members.

For the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council, we are all watching this situation with the Tribal Treasurer very closely.  I'll throw the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council a bone here.  The Rosebud Sioux Tribal Court has ruled on two separate cases pertaining to this very situation.  The Rosebud Sioux Tribal Court set the foundation in a ruling on one case how the Tribal Council can handle these issues.  One other incident with an elected official was handled at the Tribal Council level pertaining to pending charges.  The direction is there, Tribal Council has took action and a couple terms ago removed a Tribal Council Representative.  This isn't rocket science, its about dismissing the double standard and standing true to the oath of office you swore too.

With all that being said, the court case stands even through an appeal, the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council can and should per the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Court case and court order; Suspend the Tribal Treasurer pending the outcome of the judicial process and the Tribal Court ruled, the elected officials per diem (salary) will be placed in an escrow account pending the outcome of the judicial proceedings.  Let's see how unethical Tribal Politics get in this issue.  Let's see if the Tribal Attorney General strings get pulled and he rides that fence into the ground.

If the Tribal Council does not act on this serious Tribal black eye and condone this type of behavior by elected officials then, the double standard comes into play.  The Tribal Council will lose all and little credibility they have with the Tribal Membership.  If they fail to act on this serious issue with the Tribal Treasurer, the Tribal Council and Tribal Administration have just concreted the political double standard. Failure to act and failure to hold elected officials accountable opens the door for Tribal Members and Tribal employees.

You have Tribal Members in jail on excessive bonds and they too are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.  You have action being taken against Tribal employees even to the point Tribal Council Representative are playing political games against Tribal employees.  If our elected leaders condone this behavior then give tribal members the same political treatment you're giving the tribal treasurer,  Again, ill say the court gave you the tools and simple direction how to handle this issue.

So if you can't uphold your Constitutional oath of office and use the tools the court gave you to remedy this serious black eye, then you Council Representatives who condone the double standard should immediately resign your elected positions.  The Tribal Government always fails to look at this big picture because of the tunnel vision of the perceived power they believe they have.  The big picture is, in a situation this serious I will assume the Oglala Sioux Tribe referred these alleged charges against the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Treasurer to the Rapid City United States Attorney's Office already.  This means a potential federal indictment is possible.

The Oglala and Rosebud Sioux Tribe have historically and recently referred and obtained federal indictments on Tribal Members with way less than $37,000 alleged in the offenses.  If you don't believe me, go to South Dakota Federal Court News, in the search portion type in some related offenses and you will get a large list of Tribal Members either indicted or convicted in federal court.  I have witnessed firsthand and know of political influence occurring to prevent federal prosecution on certain individuals for decades.  

I'm pretty sure these political calls are being made to the Oglala Sioux Tribe in hopes to make the charges against the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Treasurer either go away or prevent them from being referred to the federal system.  So let's all watch and see how the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Government addresses this issue. For the brave Tribal Council Representatives pushing for accountability in this serious issue I applaud you.  The only way to hold your colleagues accountable is make the motion, get that second, then question, and request that ROLL CALL VOTE.

Since the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Attorney General is involved in this matter, remember we all are keeping score how inconsistent you are in enforcing equal opportunity to the law.  So far the score is a blow out of thousands for Tribal members and zero for you defending Tribal Members Civil Rights.  Remember that fence can only be rode for so long before that fence comes down.

Respectfully,

Hawkeye Waln