Members of the Santee Sioux Nation, owners of the Ohiya Casino & Resort in Niobrara, Nebraska, are circulating a petition to hold a secretarial election on amending the tribal constitution and extending voting rights to tribal members who do not live on the 172 square mile Knox County reservation. Currently only those who have lived on the reservation for at least six months can vote in elections and have input on other issues. About 800 members live on the reservation but about 2,660 are enrolled in the tribe, according to 2010 U.S. Census data.
Santee Sioux member Daniel Bearshield said even though he and others do not live on the reservation, they want the tribe to extend voter rights in order to take part in their people’s future. “Just because we don’t live there, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t matter when it comes to elections,” he said.
Tribal Chairman Roger Trudell said voting rights based on reservation residency has been brought up numerous times, but it’s a complex issue. “Some tribes allow it, some don’t. We’ve faced this before, and it’s hard to reach all their needs,” Trudell said. Tribal membership is determined by birth or by tribal council rulings in cases of adoption.
