(gentle guitar music) (people chattering) - Joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives will come to order.

Thank you all for being here again.

Today's prayer will be offered.

There will be two prayers.

The traditional prayer will be delivered by Arvol Looking Horse.

Chief Arvol Looking Horse is recognized for his commitment to working towards religious freedom, cultural survival, and revival.

Chief Looking Horse' leadership calls people to unify to protect sacred places, the planet, and our human and non-human relatives.

And the English prayer will be offered by Jay Garret Renville and the pledge will be led by the Speaker of the House.

(gavel bangs) Chief Looking Horse.

(Chief Looking Horse speaking in foreign language) - Blessings and greetings.

It's a great honor to be here in prayer.

We as a people, we must unite in prayer.

We think about all the leaders that have gone before us and the leaders today as we move forward, the oncoming years.

(Chief Looking Horse speaking in foreign language) (Chief Looking Horse continues in foreign language) (Chief Looking Horse continues in foreign language) Blessings.

Thank you very much.

- Thank you, sir.

- Good afternoon.

Very grateful to be here amongst all you leaders, so thank you for inviting me.

Father Creator, thank you for every seat that has been filled here today.

For each mind and heart that fills the presence of this room, we thank you.

Only you truly know what we are setting out to accomplish today.

We have an idea, a vision, hints and daily instructions.

We have talents, abilities, and time to work.

However, only you can see in perfect detail the end of every beginning, every project, every season, every life.

Nothing is ever in vain, for even mistakes and missteps are used for good.

Your righteousness transcends all our efforts and understanding.

Forgive us for our pride, the pride that puffs us up, and the pride that threatens to unqualify us.

Strengthen our confidence in who you have made us to be.

Set us free from comparison in order to work together efficiently.

Bless this meeting today, all those present, as well as the lives of those we will encounter afterward.

Ready us to make every moment count.

In Jesus' name, amen.

- [Assembly] Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

(gavel bangs) - Secretary of the Senate will call the roll of the Senate.

- Senator Beal; Bolin; Bordeaux; Breitling; Castleberry; Crabtree; Davis; Deibert; Diedrich; Duhamel; Foster; Fry-Mueller; Hoffman; Hunhoff; Johnson; Klumb; Kolbeck, Jack; Kolbeck, Steve; Larson; Maher; Mehlhaff; Nesiba; Novstrup; Otten; Pischke; Reed; Rohl; Shoenbeck; Shoenfish; Stalzer; Tobin; Wheeler; Wiik; Wink; and Zikmund.

We have a quorum, Mr. President.

- Thank you.

Chief Clerk of the House would call the roll of the House.

- Representatives Arlint; Auch; Aylward; Bahmuller.

- [Assembly Member] Here!

- Blare; Callies; Cammack; Chaffee; Chase; DeGroot; Derby; Deutsch; Donnell; Drury; Duba; Duffy; Emery; Fitzgerald; Gross; Hansen; Healy; Heermann; Jamison; Jensen, Kevin; Jensen, Phil; Karr; Kassin; Koth; Krohmer; Krull; Kull; Ladner; Lems; Lesmeister; Massie; May; Mills; Moore; Mortenson; Mulally; Mulder; Nelson; Odenback; Olson; Otten, Ernie; Overweg; Perry; Peterson, Drew; Peterson, Sue; Pinnow.

- [Assembly Member] Here.

- Pourier; Randolph; Rehfeldt; Reimer; Reisch; Sauder; Schaefbauer; Schneider; Shorma; Sjaarda; Soye; St. John; Stevens; Teunissen; Tordsen; Venhuizen; Wangsness; Weisgram; and Wittman; Speaker Bartels.

- [Assembly Member] Here.

- Mr. President, there is a quorum.

- Thank you.

Madam Secretary.

- Senator Crabtree moves that a committee of six on the part of the Senate and a committee of eight on the part of the House be appointed to escort the Honorable Peter Lengkeek to the rostrum.

- [Assembly Member] Second - Comments on that motion?

Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

- Aye.

- Opposed, nay.

Motion carries.

(gavel bangs) President announces that committee comprised of Senator Schoenbeck, Crabtree, Nesiba, Foster, Rohl and Bordeaux, and House members representative Mortenson, Rehfeldt, St. John, Pourier, Healy, Tordsen, Donnell and Emery.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present the state of the Tribe address being presented by Chairman Peter Lengkeek.

Chairman Lengkeek.

(assembly member cheers) was elected to serve as a chairman of the Crow Creek tribe in 2020.

He's been involved in tribal government for many years.

He's filled several roles on both the Crow Creek Tribal Council and the Crow Creek School Board.

Chairman Lengkeek has also been a board member on the Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association and the Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Health Board for nearly three years.

The chairman is a US Marine Corp veteran, and I wanted to thank him for his service to the nation.

Chairman Lengkeek is passionate about his tribe and about his country, and I look forward to hearing what he has to say today, and I'm also excited to continue working alongside him and all of South Dakota tribal leaders to strengthen our state.

Would you please help me welcome to the podium Chairman Peter Lengkeek.

(assembly applauds and cheers) (applause continues) Welcome, sir.

- Thank you, sir.

(zipper zipping) Is there going to be a Flag Song?

- (indistinct) for it.

(faint tone dings) Go ahead and start.

Flag Song?

- Is there a Flag Song?

- Who's gonna sing it?

- Oh, right there.

They're setting up.

We'll wait for them.

- We should stand.

- Yeah.

Good.

Go, go.

(indistinct) Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the Lakota-Dakotan Flag Song sung by the St. Joseph Indian School Youth and Crow Creek Sioux Tribal Schools youth.

(group singing in foreign language) (drums playing) (singing continues) (drums continue) (singing continues) (drums continue) (assembly cheers and applauds) - Good job!

That was beautiful.

Thank you.

You may be seated.

(Peter speaking in foreign language) (foreign language) My relatives.

Thank you for inviting us here today.

I want to acknowledge some esteemed elders that are here in the gallery today, and one of them is Faith Spotted Eagle, (assembly cheers) (assembly applauds) Gay Kingman, (assembly cheers and applauds) and also Chief Arvol Looking Horse.

(assembly cheers and applauds) I also want to acknowledge the Tribal Chairman and the presidents that are here today and the Chairwoman, Chairwoman Alkire of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.

(assembly cheers and applauds) Chairman Clyde Estes of the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation.

(assembly cheers and applauds) Chairman LeBeau of the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.

(assembly cheers and applauds) Chairman Flying Hawk of the Yankton Sioux Reservation.

(assembly cheers and applauds) President Star Comes Out of the Pine Ridge Sioux Reservation.

(assembly cheers and applauds) And Chairman Renville of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Reservation.

(assembly cheers and applauds) I also want to acknowledge tribal council members that are here from the Great Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Treasurer Frankee Hall, (assembly applauds) Council Member Kyle Lautner, (assembly applauds) Vice Chairman George Howell, (assembly applauds) and Councilman Fabian Howe.

(assembly applauds) And also Councilman Grassrope of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe.

(assembly cheers and applauds) You may all be seated.

I also want to acknowledge, I understand there are 33 newly elected legislators with us today.

Is that right?

Welcome.

Thank you.

And I also want to acknowledge the legislators that are reelected and here today also.

Thank you all.

(faint music playing) Today is a day to explore the potential of our state and tribal relationship.

Fortifying this relationship is imperative for the progress of All South Dakotans.

Not only is it imperative, but it is also necessary priority for you all.

As leaders of our state in various capacities, and for myself as a leader of the (foreign language) Band of the Oceti Sakowin, the elected leader, the elected tribal leader of the Great Crow Creek Sioux tribe and a humble representative of the nine sovereign tribal nations that are here, that are share a border with the state of South Dakota.

It is a humbling opportunity to be here today to speak specifically to this group of leaders and dignitaries, and inform you all of the important areas of concern and progress within our state's tribal communities.

I must admit that unfortunately, I cannot adequately address the many and various issues that reservations face, and to accurately describe the state of all nine sovereign tribes in South Dakota I will do my best to list and briefly describe some of our issues that are among the most pertinent.

However, there will always be a need for support and a need for consideration of combined efforts in areas of economic development, the protection of natural resources, agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, school choices and equitable school funding, mental health programming, substance abuse and prevention programming, and among so many others.

There is a great need for meaningful consultation and frequent conversations to occur between the tribes and the state.

A more immediate conversation to be had is on the shared education of all students of South Dakota.

Education is a tool that has a potential to help our children achieve their goals.

It is also a tool to foster unity, understanding, and mutual respect.

As leaders, it is our responsibility to work together to make every opportunity available to the children who are our future.

The needs in Indian country are shared by all South Dakotans, like many small towns in South Dakota, most tribal communities are small with some families having more than others, but most do not have enough.

The only way that we can change this is by working together to increase services that are available to meet the basic needs of our children.

This is done by continuing to provide resources that we have available, like the free and reduced meals through the USDA, and working to expand services to ensure that our children have enough food to eat, allowing their brains to focus on learning rather than a growling stomach.

Food insecurity is not an issue that is only specific to reservation communities.

I encourage you to look at addressing our children's basic needs by working with our federal representatives, our local resources and our local resources to continue to expand meal services allowed during the pandemic, so that all children under 18 can receive up to two free meals a day.

This consideration is necessary, especially with the rising costs of inflation that is affecting families across South Dakota.

I am happy to work with South Dakota state leaders, senators and representatives to make this a reality.

Along with food security, we need to make sure that our children feel safe.

Both tribal communities and small towns alike have suffered the loss of loved ones over the past few years due to the COVID pandemic.

We need to work together to ensure that our children have access to mental health services within our communities and school systems so that they have professionals to reach out to that care about them and their futures.

Once our children are adequately fed and feel safe, they need teachers and administrators who care for them and who will encourage them to accomplish their personal goals.

Aside from being a food desert South Dakota is also a desert as it relates to mental health services.

We need to work together to identify alternative means to provide these services, along with alternative methods to acquire state certification and licensure.

Once again, I would personally offer tribal representatives to participate on a committee to develop a list of recommendations and possible actions to effectively address this need.

It is common knowledge that South Dakota suffers from a teacher shortage that has forced schools to hire long-term substitutes to educate our children.

We need to work cooperatively to find a way so there are enough teachers for all South Dakota schools, whether they are public tribal, or private.

I encourage you to work with the South Dakota colleges, universities and the Department of Education to find ways to increase the number of educational staff available in our state.

Another relevant education topic is a proposed social studies standards.

Leading up to today, I had many people ask me, "What are you going to say about the proposed curriculum standards?"

"Do you think they will listen to our concerns?"

Along with a myriad of other questions.

I think the best explanation of my perspective of this issue is to reiterate what others have said before me.

Oceti Sakowin history is South Dakota history.

Oceti Sakowin influence is evident in all areas within our state.

In fact, no one can be a first, second, third, fourth generation South Dakotan without embracing the word Dakota.

The definition of Dakota, as we know it today, the history books, the social studies books, they defined Dakota as friends or allies, and that's kind of close.

A lot is lost through translation.

The best way I was told to understand this word, Dakota, or Dakota, as you say it, is to be in a state of peace, balance and harmony.

That is the true meaning of Dakota.

Understanding the words meaning and that it represents a part of our rich and unique history is imperative.

Unfortunately, there are many South Dakotans who do not understand the history or culture of the nine sovereign tribes that are fully or partially located within the state's boundaries.

As leaders, we need to have an educated constituency who can make informed decisions.

We need to address the biases that have existed for generations by ensuring that all South Dakotans understand the Oceti Sakowin culture and history, and this can be accomplished by ensuring that the South Dakota Department of Education requires all South Dakota accredited schools to teach Oceti Sakowin essential understandings and standards, as required by existing legislation.

This can be accomplished by Oceti Sakowin essential understandings being implemented as part of the school's curriculum during the reaccreditation process, as requested by the South Dakota Indian Education Advisory Council.

The future generations of South Dakota should not be robbed of this incredible story of resilience, and a rich history that has sustained our state and our territory.

It must be acknowledged that there are many highly qualified tribal and non-tribal scholars, teachers, educators, and knowledge keepers who can effectively continue to build upon the social studies standards already in place.

South Dakotans are very well capable of creating standards that are suitable for all ages and to ensure that Oceti Sakowin history is represented.

Oceti Sakowin history is part of our shared history of this state and should be utilized to help all South Dakota students to learn love and appreciate their home state well before reaching graduation.

We must rely on and respect the commitment of highly qualified educators from right here in South Dakota.

We certainly do not need out-of-state intellects chosen in a politically motivated manner, attempting to write the standards regarding how our history is taught.

We've managed the revision process in a traditional manner for generations, building on the knowledge of South Dakotans in the field of education and history.

We can continue to do to do just that fine without outside influence and interpretation.

Excuse me.

The winter storms that have crippled many parts of our state and have disrupted balance and harmony within our tribal communities has been especially debilitating to all South Dakotans.

These kinds of natural disasters further exacerbated by the limited snow removal capabilities of individual tribes, many of whom rely on outdated equipment and dilapidated resources.

One example of the severity of the storms include the tragic loss of life experienced by our Sicangu relatives on the Rosebud Sioux reservation.

Nine tribal members lost their lives in weather-related incidences, from as young as 12 years old to elder.

And if we could, can we all stand and have a moment of silence for those lost lives?

Thank you.

You may be seated.

The prolonged ill consequences of impassable roads, lack of propane to heat homes, power outages, immobility of emergency services, and public safety officials unable to reach those in need of medical services all equated to a heightened state of emergency.

A disaster declaration was issued by Crow Creek, Rosebud and Pine Ridge tribal leaders early in the winter storm event.

The intent was to raise awareness and hopefully garner emergency support from federal and state emergency response officials that would mitigate harm imposed by the record-breaking winter storm and blizzard conditions.

But emergency services were slow to react.

None of us are devoid of human error, nor should we pretend to be.

As leaders, department heads, policy makers, decision makers, it is our responsibility to make decisions and take action when and where it is necessary and appropriate.

As tribal leaders and heads of our sovereign tribal nations, we must make determinations in harmony with our values and protection of our relatives.

A single life lost is one too many.

If we are able to collaborate and work in partnership successfully in the future, we must address and correct the dynamics of our relationship so that the lives of all South Dakotans are protected.

I proudly served this country in the United States Marine Corps and Semper fi to any Marines that are here today.

My experience taught me leadership, sacrifice, selflessness, cooperation, teamwork, and to never retreat.

I am proud that my fellow veterans of the Oceti Sakowin are here today.

I want to acknowledge my brothers and sisters in arms.

Those of you that have served, please stand.

(assembly applauds) Good job!

Service of country and state has never been an issue for tribal nations.

We are a people of love and compassion, but when the time called for it, we were some of the bravest the fiercest warriors to partake in conflicts throughout our state and the nation's history.

We are Medal of Honor recipients, code talkers, recipients of the Purple Heart, and highly decorated veterans.

As many of you know, tribal members have answered the call of duty in the highest percentage among any demographic present in the United States today.

Thank you for that.

Even before we were granted citizenship and given the right to vote.

Tribal nations honor those who serve and recognize their service and sacrifice.

Therefore, in a spirit of honoring service, the World War I/World War II Code Talkers Memorial that is slated to sit on the banks of Capitol Lake needs to be finalized and completed so that our tribal veterans can forever be recognized and remembered for their extraordinary service and sacrifice.

In the 2022 Legislature, we saw efforts to prioritize issues that we as tribal nations couldn't quite grasp as immediate or pressing in nature.

We saw a ban on critical race in the classroom, when it isn't taught as a concept aside from within a higher learning institution, taught to law students, and is a theory that has substantial significance in understanding societal and legal processes.

We saw issues of gender equality in sports, when it didn't seem to be a pressing matter, considering the many other issues our state faces.

While those issues may have significant precedents in non-tribal communities, tribal nations were busy with truly critical efforts, like trying to understand the justification of a bill that would change the rules of redistricting long after the redistricting process had occurred.

We were dealing with voter suppression and advocating for voter equality so that our people's votes and voices were heard.

We must work together to ensure fair state and national elections on tribal lands, such as more opportunities for voter registration, easily accessible polling sites with a timely notice of locations and times, and more opportunities for early voting.

Tribal nations were addressing the unfortunate growing list of missing and murdered Indigenous people within our lands, and we are very appreciative of the creation of the long overdue MMIR office.

Tribal nations were also facing the consistent dire needs of our Indian Child Welfare Act services and addressing the needs of increasing numbers of tribal youth entering into the foster care system, which still requires significant support and consideration.

We were also busy gathering support to provide an opportunity for community-based schools as an effort to adequately educate our tribal youth.

Tribes were also busy, constantly working to protect Mnisose, the Missouri River, and its resources, and continue to seek partnerships with the state of South Dakota in this endeavor.

I think we can all agree if there's no water, there is no life.

Perhaps most importantly, we were busy taking action and helping to consistently remind everyone that our nine tribal nations have treaties with the federal government that established our existence and guaranteed, among other things, our rights as sovereign nations.

As secured in the constitution of the United States under Article six, "All treaties or which shall be made under the authority of the United States shall be the supreme law of the land."

(assembly applauds and cheers) "And all judges in every state shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding."

Divisive language and perpetuate a stereotypical ideology that serves as barriers between our peoples are unnecessary and detrimental to all reconciliatory efforts taken by our state and tribal leaders in the past.

Native Americans comprise a large percentage of this state's population and are the foundation of our state's history.

The majority of our tribal members live off-reservation.

We contribute to the tax base of South Dakota and we fulfill our civic duties.

We are landowners, lawyers, doctors, educators, business owners, first responders, legislators, representatives.

We contribute to this society on a scale that is not acknowledged.

Thus, not all tribes have a tax agreement with the state, but the majority of our commerce takes place off reservation.

The removal of references to Indigenous people of our state and the teachings of its true history is as absurd as removing a such reference from our great state's name.

It is our Indigenous people, after all, who put the Dakota in South Dakota.

(assembly cheers and applauds) It is time to put aside personal and political discord and recognize and embrace our shared history for the benefit of all South Dakotans.

It is time to participate in constant and meaningful consultation which serves to further reconciliation efforts and partnerships among tribal and non-tribal communities, and especially between state and tribal officials.

There are countless benefits of a functional working relationship between a state and the tribes.

Achieving an inclusive and accurate understanding of one another of our shared history and acknowledging tribal sovereignty are vital steps in building a respectful, mutually beneficial relationship amongst all South Dakotans.

As a Dakota leader I was humbled when asked to come here and address this body.

We share mutual responsibilities in our positions of leadership.

Our duties as leaders require personal sacrifice, humility, compassion, humbleness and many other values necessary to be a leader.

As we are each entrusted with a considerable responsibility to make decisions that impact people who lent us their voice and their vote.

As an Oceti Sakowin tribal leader, like other leaders here in the gallery today, we must make decisions that are representative of the interest and the security of the next seven generations.

And that's something that we, as leaders, we bring that forward from the past tribal leaders.

Our leaders back then and our leaders today, we always thought seven generations ahead.

The decisions we make today, how does that impact your grandchildren your great-grandchildren, their grandchildren and their great-grandchildren?

Is there gonna be anything left here for them when they come here?

Will there be clean water for them to drink?

Will there be a food supply for them?

Will they have clean air?

(foreign language) I don't know.

But we have to start thinking like that.

Maintaining this philosophy is an important part of understanding who we are.

I know many of you here and each of you have a set of principles and values that dictate the path you choose.

With all my being, I believe that we can build a more prosperous and meaningful relationship for our intertwined futures, and we must for the generations yet to come.

All we have to do is begin that conversation, and it can start here today.

With that being said, I want to leave you with a quote from a man by the name of George Catlin.

He was in this area in the 1830s and he lived amongst my people, the Oceti Sakowin.

And for those of you that that are not familiar with the Oceti Sakowin, it translates as Seven Fireplaces.

Each fireplace represented a band in this alliance of the Oceti Sakowin, which makes up the Dakota Lakota Nakota peoples.

He lived amongst our people for many years, meticulously documented everything he saw and painted everything he saw, and he's got an amazing museum over in the White House over next to the White House in Washington, DC.

So I wanted to invite you all, if you ever make it over there to go and see that museum if you're interested in the history of South Dakota.

But this is what he wrote about my people.

"I love a people that have always made me welcome to the very best they had.

I love a people who are honest without laws, who have no jails or poor houses.

I love a people who keep the commandments without ever having read or heard them preached from the pulpit.

I love a people who never swear or take the name of God in vain.

I love a people who love their neighbors as they love themselves.

I love a people who worship God without a Bible, for I believe that God loves them also.

I love a people whose religion is all the same, and who are free from religious animosities.

I love a people who have never raised a hand against me, or stolen my property, where there are no laws to punish either.

I love a people.

I love and do not fear mankind where God has made and left them, for they are his children.

I love a people who never fought a battle with a white man except on their own ground.

I love a people who live and keep what is their own without lock and key.

I love a people who do the very best they can, and oh, how I love a people who do not live for the love of money."

That was how Mr. Catlin described my people, and this is who we truly are.

And so with that I wanna say (foreign language).

From here, I give you the biggest of thank yous.

(assembly cheers and applauds) Oh, I want to ask for one more.

I almost forgot.

I'll mention one thing here.

I was handed a Code Talker medal from the (foreign language), the Sisseton Wahpeton Reservation.

(assembly applauds and cheers) This was struck in the US Mint in Washington, DC.

The mic is yours.

- Thank you, sir.

- Thank you.

Thank you all for joining us.

- [Assembly Member] Thank you.

- Thank you gentlemen.

- Thank you.

- You may take your seats Madam Secretary.

- Senator Crabtree moves that the joint session be dissolved.

- [Assembly] Second.

- All in favor of the motion dissolve will say aye.

- [Assembly] Aye.

- Opposed, nay?

Motion carries.

This joint session is hereby dissolved.

(gavel bangs) Thank you.

(people chattering) (gentle guitar music)