Indigenous

South Dakotans overwhelmingly support teaching of Native American history and culture in public schools

South Dakota education officials have struggled to revise social studies standards that include guidelines for teaching Native American history and culture, but a new poll suggests state residents are very firm in their support for inclusion of Native studies in public schools. The poll of 500 registered South Dakota voters

Native American leaders in S.D. keeping close eye on legislative redistricting

Native American voting-rights advocates are concerned that the voices of South Dakota’s largest minority group may be excluded from the redistricting process.

Viability of rural ambulance services in S.D. at risk due to staffing and funding shortages

Rural ambulance services in South Dakota are having an increasingly hard time recruiting volunteers and generating revenues, putting the stability of the services at risk and making it more likely that rural residents will endure longer response times in emergencies or possibly lose ambulance service altogether. While most larger cities

Education leaders see need for improved Native American education in South Dakota

South Dakota educators who were part of a recent statewide panel say a new initiative regarding civics and history education proposed by Gov. Kristi Noem should increase the focus on teaching of Native American history and culture in the K-12 public school system. In a panel discussion hosted by South

Legalization of marijuana could provide economic boost for SD Native American tribes

Legalization of marijuana in South Dakota could provide a new, lucrative economic-development opportunity for Native American tribes and tribal members who have historically struggled to find prosperity and stability in the state economy. Voter-approved measures to legalize marijuana in South Dakota may be on hold or stalled for the time

Pandemic pushes more SD reservation residents to seek homeownership

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed more Native Americans living on reservations in South Dakota to seek homeownership, a potential step toward greater family financial security and community stability in some of the state’s most impoverished regions. But long-standing institutional, economic and geographic barriers continue to block some reservation residents

Tribal COVID-19 precautions hurting businesses on South Dakota reservations

The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated small businesses on Native American reservations in South Dakota as tribal councils have mandated business closures, banned gatherings and told tourists to stay away to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in their vulnerable communities. Tribal governments took aggressive action against the spread of COVID-19 early on