Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate elect new leadership

 

OLD AGENCY VILLAGE – Located in the northeastern corner of South Dakota, with a small portion in the in the southeastern corner of North Dakota, lies the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, homeland to the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. Bands of the Oceti Sakowin that live on the Lake Traverse Reservation include; Sissetontowan and Wahpetowan.

With a total membership of more than 14,000, approximately 9, 000 members live on the Reservation. There are seven distinct districts that make up the Lake Traverse Reservation which include Agency Village, or A-te-ya-pi-o-ti-tan-ni, Lake Traverse, or Bde-hda-kin-yan. Buffalo Lake, or Can-o-wa-na-sa-pi

Veblen, or He-i-pa, Big Coulee, or I-ya-ka-pta-pi, Long Hollow, or Ka-ksi-za-han-ska, and Enemy Swim, or To-ka-ni-we-ya-pi

On November 8 the SWO held their general election and have elected a new Tribal Chairman, J. Garret Renville. They also elected the new incoming tribal executives and tribal council members and are as follows:

Tribal Executives (elected at-large)

Tribal Chairman – J. Garret Renville

Tribal Vice-Chairwoman – Alexandria (Lexie) Fancher-Lincoln

Tribal Secretary – Curtis Bissonette

Tribal Council Members (elected from 7 Districts)

Big Coulee District – A. Lydia Amos

Buffalo Lake District – Kenneth Johnson Sr.

Enemy Swim District – Dallas Owen

Heipa/Veblen District – Brandon Gypsy Wanna

Lake Traverse District – Joan White

Long Hollow District – Janell Cook

Old Agency District – Brandon Adams

The new SWO administration will take office January 3, 2023.

Chairmen elect Renville issued the following statement via his Facebook page shortly after learning he would lead his tribe as their new Itanchun.

“It is a great privilege – a real privilege to be your chairman elect. I am humbled at the outpouring of support. I consider this a lifetime honor to be a part of this fraternity of leaders dating back to our early history.

At the core of our existence are shared experiences and how we relate to one another. Unity is truly a strength as our history is evidence of so many past incidents. Unity must be an inherent part of our families, community and tribe regardless of our differences. It is deeply concerning the divisions that hold our people apart and hold our people back. All of this starts with doing a better job of listening to each other. Our focus must be towards improving the conditions for all tribal members. Whether a tribal member, elected official, elder or youth, we all have a platform to make our tribe a better place. Don’t get me wrong; fierce debates are also a part of who we are. They started at the dinner table when I was kid with my father and have continued ever since. Open dialogue is key and being willing to see things from one another’s perspective will be essential in achieving better outcomes for us all.

As we go forth in the days, weeks, months and years to come we must remember our common ancestors and honor them by working together to make our society a better place for our youth who are the future of this tribe. Our community is stronger when we all work collectively to solve our common problems and restore faith in one another.”

Of interest is that Renville is the lineal descendant of Gabriel Renville who was the nephew of Itanchun Red Iron and the last chief of his band the Sissetowan/Wahpetowan Oyate. In 1866, the War Department, which then supervised the Indian agents and reservations, appointed Gabriel Renville 1824–1892, chief scout for General Sibley, as head chief of the Sisseton-Wahpeton bands. In 1867 he was appointed Chief for life by members of the Sissetowan band.

Other notable SWO members include:

Bryan Akipa, Native American flute-player

Angelique EagleWoman, first Indigenous Dean of a Canadian law school, author, and law professor

Woodrow W. Keeble (1917–1982), veteran and Medal of Honor recipient

Creighton Leland Robertson (1944–2014), Episcopalian bishop and lawyer

Tamara St. John, tribal archivist, Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives

Kim TallBear, Professor at the University of Alberta, specializing in racial politics in science.

Floyd Red Crow Westerman (1936–2007), Sisseton Dakota singer and actor from the Lake Traverse Reservation

 

(Contact Ernestine Anunkasan Hupa at anunkasanhupa@gmail.com)

The post Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate elect new leadership first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

Visit Original Source