Warren LeBeau seated on CRST tribal council

EAGLE BUTTE – On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, Warren LeBeau of Gettysburg, SD, was sworn in and seated in the vacant District No. 6 Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) Tribal Council Representative Position. He received notice of his appointment to the Council by a certified letter from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) Election Board dated June 21, 2024, and signed by the Chairman of the Election Board.

The letter cited the CRST Constitution, Article III, Section 6, which states, “…If there is only one candidate for an open seat, or two candidates for two open seats, those candidates will be seated and no election will be held.” Because LeBeau was the only applicant, he was officially appointed to the vacant position.

LeBeau was appointed to fill the remainder of the term of his predecessor who was dismissed from the tribal council. To become an applicant for the position, LeBeau collected signatures on a petition, paid an application fee, and paid fees for a background check and a drug test, as all applicants are required to do.

LeBeau plans to run for re-election in November, 2024, at the regularly scheduled election. Between now and the November election, he intends to conduct a community needs assessment by visiting district meetings and by listening to the people express their needs and wants. He hopes to earn reelection by demonstrating his ability to get things done for the benefit of the entire Cheyenne River tribal community.

Based on the information he receives by listening, he says he will set realistic practical goals for projects that will improve life on the Cheyenne River Reservation.

According to LeBeau, “a good Indian leader is one who gives back, is humble, and leads by example.” His mother, Jean LeBeau, served on the CRST Tribal Council for over 20 years. His mother’s father, Frank Ducheneux, was a CRST tribal chairman for 4 terms. His father’s father, Albert LeBeau, was a judge and a CRST tribal chairman.

LeBeau’s father worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and was transferred frequently to new locations while LeBeau was growing up. LeBeau was born in Belcourt, ND, one of the locations where his father was assigned.

LeBeau earned his AA degree at Dawson Community College in Glendive MT where he attended on a basketball scholarship. He then earned his B.A. and his M.S. in Criminology at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. He then completed a year of study in a doctoral program. At the end of his year of study, the program insisted he devote himself full-time to completing his PhD, leaving no time for him to earn sufficient income to support his family. He chose to discontinue his doctoral studies rather than neglect his responsibilities to his family.

LeBeau retired in 2015 from the BIA after 25 years of federal civil services experience at the agency, regional office, and central office levels. Before working for the BIA, he worked for the CRST, for the Ak-Chin Indian Community in Maricopa, AZ, and for the Arizona Department of Corrections. He lists his special interests as youth and education, elder and health care services, infrastructure, and family and cultural preservation.

LeBeau reared 3 daughters as a single father, gaining full custody of the 3 when the youngest was 5 years old. The daughters now live in Fargo, ND, New York, and Sioux Falls, SD. The oldest daughter made LeBeau a grandfather for the first time in August, 2023.

When LeBeau retired from the BIA 8 years ago, he moved back to the Cheyenne River Reservation to work his late mother’s ranch and now lives in her home and takes care of her grave. LeBeau is a sports writer for the West River Eagle and the Potter County News. He expects to continue with his journalistic work along with his work on the Tribal Council. He is also a substitute teacher at Gettysburg High School.

According to LeBeau, “The most important things to me are: first, my family (mother, father, daughters, brothers and sisters, and now my grandson); second, my spirituality; and third, the land. I was born and raised in the Catholic Church and I also observe Native spiritual traditions and practices. The two mesh for me and are very important. The land must be protected and preserved. Since I was a young child, I knew I would be buried on the Cheyenne River Reservation.”

(Contact Grace Terry at graceterrywilliams@gmail.com)

 

 

 

SOURCES:

 

Personal interview with Warren LeBeau

 

Correspondence from CRST Election Board (copy provided by Warren LeBeau)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Warren LeBeau seated on CRST tribal council first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

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