Date Issued: May 27, 2025

Issued By: Kathleen Wooden Knife, President, Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Situation:

Due to escalating threats posed by widespread methamphetamine and illicit drug use, trafficking,

and related gun violence, President Kathleen Wooden Knife has officially declared a State of Emergency on the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Reservation. This crisis poses immediate and severe

risks to public safety, community health, and tribal welfare.

Immediate Actions Required:

• Increased patrol and investigative support from federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the Bureau of Indian

Affairs.

Full community cooperation and vigilance in reporting suspicious or criminal activities.

Tribal and federal coordination to urgently address law enforcement gaps and public

health emergencies.

Historical Context:

This follows previous emergency declarations made in August 2019 and August 2024, underscoring a persistent crisis that requires immediate federal and local intervention.

Call to Action:

All tribal officials, community members, and tribal employees are urged to actively assist in

enforcement efforts and promptly report criminal activities to law enforcement authorities.

Contact Information:

Office of the President

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

[(605) 747-2381] | [[email protected]]

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE

ROSEBUD SIOUX TRIBE

PROCLAMATION AND DECLARATION

OF PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGENCY

I, Kathleen Wooden Knife, President, ROSEBUD SIOUX TRIBE, hereby proclaim that a

State of Emergency exists on the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Indian Reservation; and

WHEREAS, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe is a federally recognized Indian Tribe organized

pursuant to the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and all pertinent amendments thereof; and

WHEREAS, this Rosebud Sioux Tribe is authorized, pursuant to the Constitution and By-laws

of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Article IV, Powers of the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council, Section 1, Subsection (k), to promulgate and enforce ordinances providing for the maintenance of law and

order and the administration of justice by establishing a reservation court and defining its duties and powers, and Subsection (m) to safeguard and promote the peace, safety, morals, and general welfare of the Tribe; and

WHEREAS, in Article 1, Duties of Officers, Section 1, By-laws of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe,

Constitution and By-laws of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, provides that the President shall manage

and administer the affairs of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, including the supervision of tribal

employees, subject to the resolutions, ordinances and instructions of the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council; and

WHEREAS, the United States Government, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S.

Department of Interior, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs have statutory, trust and treaty

obligations to assist or provide law and order, and protect; and

WHEREAS, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Reservation has and continues to experience severe and

pervasive law and order and public health issues related to the epidemic of meth and illicit drug

use, drug trafficking, and gun related violence and other violent and unlawful activity creating

severe and extreme threats to public safety, the health and welfare of the general public; and

WHEREAS, meth and drug abuse contribute to higher crime rates, domestic violence rates in

families, threatens public health, has the potential to damage and contaminate housing units; and

WHEREAS, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe has previously declared a state of emergency due to meth

and illicit drug use, drug trafficking, on the 16 of August, 2019, and on August 15th, 2024; and

WHEREAS, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe affirms, declares and establish a renewed effort to

coordinate efforts to address stopping the continued epidemic of meth and illicit drug use; and 1

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted by the Constitution

and By-laws of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, the President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe declares the lands of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe to be in a STATE OF PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGENCY, due to pervasive law and order and public health issues related to the epidemic of meth and illicit drug use, drug trafficking, and gun related violence and other violent and unlawful activity

creating severe and extreme threats to public safety, the health and welfare of the general public; and

BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, that the Rosebud Sioux Tribe calls upon and requires the United

States Government, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Interior, and the

Bureau of Indian Affairs to honor their legal, statutory, trust and treaty obligations to provide sufficient resources for competent law enforcement patrol, reporting, and investigations or

criminal activity; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all Rosebud Sioux Tribal elected and appointed officials,

tribal employees, community officers, and members of the general public make every effort to cooperate, assist, report and investigate all suspicious criminal activity to Rosebud Sioux Tribe

law enforcement officers;

In witness whereof I hereby cause to be affixed, my

signature and the seal of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Dated this 27th day of May 2025.