Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe facts for kids

The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe (who call themselves Dakota: Wakpa Ipakṡaƞ oyáte) is a Native American tribe. They are officially recognized by the United States government. This means they have a special relationship with the government, like a nation within a nation. They are part of the Santee Dakota people. Their home is the Flandreau Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

The tribe belongs to the Mdewakantonwan people. This group is one of the main parts of the Isanti (Santee) Dakota. Their ancestors originally lived in central Minnesota. In 1934, the tribe gained official recognition under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. This law helped many Native American tribes form their own governments. Today, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Reservation covers about 2,500 acres (10 km²) of land. A famous member of the tribe was Chief Little Crow.

About the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe

The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe lives on the Flandreau Reservation. This reservation is located in Moody County, South Dakota. They are part of the Santee division of the Dakota people. Their main groups are the Mdewakanton and Wahpekute bands.

The tribe's main office is in Flandreau, South Dakota. They use the Central Time Zone. Their traditional language is the Dakota language. About 726 tribal members live on the reservation. The biggest employers in the area are the Flandreau Indian School, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe itself, and the Royal River Casino.

How the Tribe is Governed

The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe has its own government. They hold elections to choose their leaders.

Tribal Elections and Leaders

The tribe holds a primary election about 45 days before the main election. The main election happens during the August General Council meeting. There is one election district for the whole tribe. The main leaders, called Executive Officers and Trustees, serve for four years. Their terms are set up so that not all of them are elected at the same time. This helps keep things stable.

Tribal Council Meetings

The tribe's leaders hold regular meetings. The Executive Committee needs at least four members to be present for a meeting to be official. This is called a quorum.

The General Council meetings are for all qualified voters in the tribe. For these meetings to be official, at least half of the qualified voters must be there. General Council meetings happen four times a year. They are held on the first Saturday of February, May, August, and November. The Executive Committee also meets at least once a month. The President of the tribe sets the dates for these meetings.

Education and News

The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe values education and communication.

Local News and Schools

The local newspaper for the area is the Moody County Enterprise. It is published in Flandreau, South Dakota. The Flandreau Indian School is also a very important place for education on the reservation.

Important Tribal Members

Many important people have been part of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe.

Chief Little Crow (1810-1863)

Chief Little Crow was a very important leader. He lived from 1810 to 1863. He spent most of his life in Minnesota. He was the head of a Santee band. Little Crow was known as a strong and passionate speaker. He became a chief around 1834. He worked hard to get fair treatment for his people. He also tried to keep good relationships with white settlers.

In 1862, he led his people in a conflict. This event is sometimes called the Minnesota Santee Conflict. The conflict began because his people were starving. The federal government had promised to pay for land but did not keep their promise. Little Crow was killed the next year. He is buried near Flandreau.