PINE RIDGE, S.D. – John Yellow Bird Steele will return to the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s president’s post after a two-year break.
Steele was defeated two years ago for the position by Harold Dean Salway. This time around Steele beat Salway with an unofficial 59 percent of the vote.
The entire council came under criticism by a group of people that called themselves the Grass Roots Oyate in January when they took over the tribal building. The group demanded an audit of the tribal financial records and the removal of tribal Treasurer Wesley “Chuck” Jacobs. In Steele’s earlier administration he removed Jacobs from office. Salway attempted to remove Jacobs, but was himself suspended by the council.
Theresa “Huck” Two Bulls drew 70 percent of the vote to become the tribe’s vice president. She defeated Tom Poor Bear for the position.
Tribal voters turned out all but three of the present council. A fourth seat is still undecided.
All results are unofficial as of press time.
Steele received 2,431 votes, Salway 1,713. In the 1998 election, Salway received 60 percent of the vote against Steele.
Two Bulls received 2,929 votes to Poor Bear’s 1,256.
Craig Dillon, Marlin “Moon” Weston and Philip Jumping Eagle Sr. were returned to the council. The primary elections in September eliminated five of the council members.
Dillon represents LaCreek District. He received more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary which under tribal law automatically gave him the seat. The other representative from LaCreek will be Wanda Johnson who defeated Gwendolyn Ward 160-142.
Weston brought in 247 votes to kept his spot with Porcupine District and Bernard “Barney” White Face collected 250 votes to earn the right to serve the district. David Pourier with 195 votes and Donald Twiss with 191 votes were turned away.
Wounded Knee District members returned Jumping Eagle to his seat with 260 votes. But, the second seat is close with Alex White Plume getting 195 votes while incumbent Emmett Kelley has 192 in the unofficial tally.
Jim Meeks with 229 votes and Fred Sitting Up with 158 votes will represent Eagle Nest District. Incumbent Ruth Brown with 144 votes and Francine Red Willow with 110 were defeated. Blaine Little Thunder, the other incumbent did not survive the primary.
Medicine Root District’s council representatives will be Lucille Bull Bear and Austin Watkins Sr. They garnered 258 votes and 247 votes respectively. Incumbent Taylor Whiteman with 164 votes and Charles White Elk with 189 were defeated.
Oglala District incumbent Paul Little failed in his bid for reelection and Floyd Brings Plenty lost in the primary. Robert Two Bulls with 314 votes and Wilmer “Buzi” Youngman, 264, will represent the district. Linda Yellow Horse received 152 votes.
Lydia Bear Killer defeated Ron Duke 138-117 to represent Pass Creek District. Incumbent Pete Richards failed in the primary election.
Wakpamni District will be served by Alice Siers-Perkins who gathered 313 votes and Tom Conroy with 292 votes. Sonia Little Hawk Weston with 287 and incumbent Maxine Lakota with 242 were defeated.
Perennial council member G. Wayne Tapio was turned out of Pine Ridge District. Lyle Jack with 563 votes, Garry Janis with 448 and Frank “Popo” Means with 361 will represent Pine Ridge District. Leon Matthews with 334 votes and Eileen Janis with 313 were defeated.
The tribal members declined to move the tribal headquarters from Pine Ridge Village to Kyle, defeating the measure 59 percent. The unofficial results find 2,249 voters against the move and 1,944 in favor.
