Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) has been unbanned from one tribe in South Dakota after every tribe in the state banned her last year. 

Days before her confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Homeland Security, Flandreau Santee Sioux tribe announced it was lifting its order to ban Noem. She was previously banned from all of the state’s nine tribes after publicly claiming that tribal leaders were working with drug cartels. 

“The Governor issued an apology to us for the misunderstanding, which was exacerbated by misinformation,” the tribe’s press release reads. “Since our first meeting, the Governor has shown us that she is committed to protecting the people of South Dakota including the citizens of the nine Tribal Nations, who share mutual borders with the state.”

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In a letter addressed to Noem, the tribe additionally complimented Noem on her “nomination by President Elect Donald Trump to the position of Secretary of U.S. Department of Homeland Security,” and expressed confidence in her future endeavors.

It is unclear at this time if Noem’s banned status in other tribes has changed. In 2024, all nine South Dakota tribes banished Noem from their lands due to her defamatory comments. The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe was the final tribe to banish her. The governor had repeatedly claimed tribal nations aid Mexican drug cartels.

“We’ve got some tribal leaders that I believe are personally benefiting from the cartels being there, and that’s why they attack me every day,” Noem said in March of last year.

Regarding the tribal ban, Noem said she only wanted to “speak truth.”

“I only want to speak truth to the real challenges that are being faced in some areas of Indian Country,” Noem said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner at the time the Flandreau Santee Sioux tribe banned her.

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Until the Flandreau Santee Sioux tribe’s announcement, Noem was banned from nearly 20% of South Dakota over her remarks. South Dakota is home to more than 71,000 Native Americans.

Noem is slated to appear before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Friday as she is being considered for secretary of homeland security.