EAGLE BUTTE, SD – The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe has set up check points on state highways leading into the reservation in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 on tribal land.
Governor Kristi Noem says her office has been working for weeks with tribal leaders to prepare for the virus and limit its spread.
“We trust the tribes are being thoughtful in how they are making their decisions and impacting our roadways,” said the Governor. “We’re working with them very closely to make sure they are allowing essential travelers and first responders to get through and not be slowed down or inhibited by the actions they’re taking.”
She says Tribal Affairs Secretary David Flute has visited with the Bureau of Indian Affairs about the check points and will continue to keep those lines of communication open.
CRST has been in a state of emergency since March 13 when tribal executives instituted, mandates including a reservation-wide travel ban on all government employees, schools and tribal governments.
Four checkpoints have been setup near at the eastern, western, southern, and norther borders. The tribe has deputized dozens of personnel to work the checkpoints.
According to CRST Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator Remi Bald Eagle, local, state and commercial traffic can pass through the checkpoints after filling out a questionnaire. Information gathered is used for tracking purposes in helping the administration develop strategies to create more effective prevention methods. Emergency service vehicles are not stopped and are waived through.
The tribe’s Chairman, Harold Frazier, along with several tribal department directors and tribal council representatives, were part of the orientation of the first class of deputy officers. Chairman Frazier deputized over a dozen people and released a statement that listed details and mission about the checkpoints, which included:
n Monitoring traffic and filling out checkpoint checklists on all traffic allowed through the reservation.
n Monitoring and tracking the flow of commercial traffic
n All out of state non-commercial traffic will not be allowed past checkpoints unless two requirements are met:
aProof of tribal membership
aProof of reservation residency
The tribe will be monitoring all traffic on the main roads going into the reservation.
