A Shared Land

 
By: Gov. Larry Rhoden
October 10, 2025  

I recently visited Washington, DC, to see our South Dakota National Guard soldiers who are part of President Trump’s effort to make DC safe and beautiful again. I was amazed by what they told me about their mission. But I was even more impressed by what I heard from a South Dakota native who lives in DC: “Having the National Guard here has changed everything. I’ve been here for 5 years, and I’ve never felt so safe as right now.”

Washington, DC, is our nation’s shared capital city. It’s a place that all of us should admire and respect, because it’s the seat of a government founded in admirable and respectable principles.

I heard our founding principles reflected time and time again throughout my trip to DC. Both the Trump Administration and Congress are focused on returning our government to one that is of, by, and for the people – and that is limited by the constitutional provisions that our Founding Fathers so wisely put into place. We talked about restoring opportunity for agriculture, security for our people, and economic possibilities that will make South Dakota, and our entire nation, grow and thrive.

I strengthened my rapport with crucial leaders like Senate Majority Leader John Thune (we are proud to have a South Dakotan in such a key position!), U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, and Deputy Director of ICE Madison Sheahan (herself a former South Dakotan). And I strengthened our connection to the U.S. Department of the Interior, which is such a crucial entity for a rural state like ours.

I’m also working on strengthening relationships with our Native American tribes. I know that maintaining trust between the State and the Oceti Sakowin can be challenging, but I am committed to achieving it. I’ve visited several tribal nations on my Open for Opportunity tour, and I hope to visit all nine of our tribal nations soon.

South Dakota became a state in 1889, but long before that, this great land was already home to the Oceti Sakowin. We have nine tribal nations: Cheyenne River, Crow Creek, Flandreau, Lower Brule, Oglala Lakota, Rosebud, Standing Rock, Sisseton Wahpeton, and Yankton.

Just a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit Crazy Horse Memorial and stand atop his arm. This monument has always impressed me – his face rises over 87 feet tall! Crazy Horse was recognized by the tribes as their greatest leader, which is why that memorial is such a crucial part of our Black Hills today.

Since 1990, South Dakota has recognized tribal nations on Native American Day. As we celebrate Native American Day, I encourage all South Dakotans to learn more about each of the tribes that call this land home. The South Dakota Office of Indian Education provides valuable resources for teachers, students, and the general public to learn more about the history, language, and cultural values of the Oceti Sakowin.

I invite tribal leaders to reach out with ideas on how we can better support your communities – just as I did with our federal leaders in Washington, DC. If we communicate and work together, the sky is the limit for what we can achieve.

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