South Dakota senate advances resolution to repeal Sioux-Dakota Removal Act

South Dakota senate advances resolution to repeal Sioux-Dakota Removal Act

PIERRE — In a significant move towards addressing historical injustices faced by Native Americans, the South Dakota Senate has passed Resolution SR 702, supporting the repeal of the Sioux-Dakota Removal Act of 1863. The resolution, sponsored by Senator Tamara Grove from Lower Brule, SD, received overwhelming support from the Senate State Affairs Committee, passing with just one opposing vote.

On February 21, 2025, Senator Grove testified passionately before the committee, backed by all nine South Dakota Tribes. “Just a little history lesson,” she began, as she laid out the historical context and the devastating impact of the Sioux-Dakota Removal Act on the Dakota, Anishinaabe, and Ho-Chunk Native Americans. The act, which led to the forced removal of several Dakota bands from their ancestral lands, has long been blamed for significant suffering and loss across generations.

The resolution highlights a timeline of events that led to the conflict between the Dakota tribes and settlers, such as treaty violations, starvation, and military interventions, culminating in the largest mass execution in U.S. history when 38 Dakota warriors were hanged under orders from President Abraham Lincoln. The resolution aims to amend the Sioux-Dakota Removal Act by removing the banishment of the affected tribes from their homelands while preserving existing property rights.

Furthermore, it calls upon Congress to formally recognize the injustices perpetrated against the Dakota tribes and urges the President of the United States to issue a statement of reconciliation, marking a crucial step towards healing and legislative change.

“The language of the act is considered racist, and its terms are obsolete. Its continued existence is an affront to our communities,” Grove remarked during her testimony. This resolution is not just a legislative formality but a vital acknowledgment of the wrongs committed against Native American tribes.

Grove’s personal connection to this issue is deep; having been adopted as a baby, she recently discovered her Indigenous roots connecting her to Lakota Sioux and Anishinaabe heritage. Her father likely participated in the Indian Relocation Act, leading to her involvement in the Indian Adoption Project. “This is just purely a repeal of the act,” she emphasized, seeking to clarify the resolution’s goal amidst political discussions.

The approval of SR 702 is seen as a victory for tribal advocates and aligns with calls for justice from tribal leaders, including Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate chairman J. Garrett Renville, who highlighted the need for repeal in his State of the Tribes address earlier this session.

The resolution has now been forwarded to the House of Representatives, where Democratic Rep. Eric Emery is the lead sponsor. He, too, shares a deep commitment to addressing the grievances of Native American tribes in South Dakota.

The Senate vote, which took place earlier this week with a resounding tally of 32-3, indicates a growing recognition among lawmakers of the need for legislative action on historical and social injustices faced by Indigenous communities in the region.

As the resolution moves forward, advocates and legislators alike look to it as a pivotal moment in South Dakota’s journey toward recognition, reconciliation, and healing for the tribes most affected by the consequences of the Sioux-Dakota Removal Act.

The post South Dakota senate advances resolution to repeal Sioux-Dakota Removal Act first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

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