Native American Issues

The nine Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota Tribes in South Dakota face numerous challenges, but as I visit with Native American leaders I also sense their hope and optimism for the future.

I am committed to helping South Dakota’s tribes tackle the challenges that confront us.

Specifically, I will work on three important areas of concern in Indian Country.  First, I am committed to promoting economic development.  Native Americans are proud and independent people. We can and must create a better environment for job creation in Indian Country.  Second, I am committed to working to ensure there is basic law and order in Native American communities.  Finally, we should focus resources on improved schools and better health care.  We need to create a better environment and make Indian schools safer.  A lack of resources and medical staff are constantly the biggest hurdles to quality health care on our reservations.  Improving access and quality of care should be a key priority.

The federal government and Native American people need to have a true government-to-government relationship.  Consultation with the tribes on federal issues is critical if we want to find solutions that all parties can support.  I believe this relationship must be based on partnership, not paternalism.