Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Weather and Climate News
The Associated Press
Sioux Falls, S.D.

South Dakota governor expands National Guard help for tribes

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Gov. Kristi Noem is expanding the state National Guard's mission to assist both the Oglala Sioux and the Rosebud Sioux Tribes with firewood and snow removal amid the relentless wind and life-threatening cold that have crippled their reservations in the southwestern corner of South Dakota.

Noem announced the deployment to haul firewood from the Black Hills Forest Service to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe late Thursday, and on Friday she said the Guard would assist the Oglala Sioux Tribe as well.

The Republican governor has had an often uneasy relationship with the tribes, and the cooperation to deploy the National Guard underscored the desperate situation in western South Dakota. Tribal officials say snow drifts have formed as high as 10 feet, blocking roads and stranding families with dwindling supplies for heating and food.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe was using snowmobiles and other tracked vehicles to reach people, but said they are facing breakdowns and limited resources. Officials were considering using horses to deliver essentials to some homes on Friday.

“A lot of our membership lives in rural areas — getting to them has been a challenge,” tribal President Frank Star Comes Out said. “They run out of fuel, propane, they run out of wood, we even had power outages.”

Wayne Boyd, chief of staff to the Rosebud Sioux president, said that tribe was looking into reports of deaths. During the storm last week, a 12-year-old with a medical condition died after medical responders couldn’t reach the home, Boyd said.

“We have families that are way out there that we haven’t heard from in two weeks,” Boyd said, adding that the tribe was hoping to get a helicopter on Saturday to check on stranded families.

“People are running out of food, houses are freezing up,” he said.