Mni Wiconi: The Unyielding Quest for Clean Water on the Santee Sioux Nation

We hear the saying, Mni Wiconi, water is life, but this precious resource is tainted here on the Santee Sioux Nation. We have a history of fighting for what we believe is right, and what we feel is necessary. From our ancestors battling the United States government in Minnesota 162 years ago for the right to exist in our traditional homeland, to the more recent battleground in the court room in the late 1990s and early 2000’s for sovereignty and to run our own casino. Today we face another battle and that is to gain access to clean drinking water four years after the EPA issued a no drink order to the community. Nearly 50% percent of tribal homes across the United States deal with a water quality issue on a day-to-day basis. For us here in Santee, this water quality issue has turned into a battle, because of the obstacles that have come in our way. On February 2nd, 2024, tribal leaders from the four tribes of Nebraska testified at a state Senate Appropriations Committee hearing in support of legislative bill 1131. This bill would give tribes $10 million for desperately needed water infrastructure projects within their tribal lands. In this hearing we testified in support of the legislation, and each tribe explained their water quality situation and tried to persuade the committee that we are citizens of this state too. We spoke with many senators who before and after the hearing expressed their support. We left the capitol that day feeling optimistic, but also remembered two years before we spoke with the same committee over a very similar water quality bill that would be denied by former Governor Pete Ricketts. Later in February, we were told LB 1131 failed to make it through the appropriations committee, and not enough senators supported giving money to the tribes for water quality. It was explained to us that some state senators felt the federal government helps the tribes, not the state. Disappointed, I sent emails to state senators on that

committee and also contacted the senator who represents our district, Senator Barry Dekay. I expressed my frustration and disappointment that our community in Santee would continue to be under a federally mandated no drink order without support from the state of Nebraska. In the days that followed, some state senators contacted us and let us know they were still hoping to provide some kind of legislation to address Santee’s water quality. In March, state Senators Jane Raybould and Anna Wishart addressed the State Senate with a water quality amendment for Santee Sioux in LB 1413. It was debated back and forth, and finally it was voted to move onto the next round. This was exciting and hopeful news. Even though the amendment was a compromise from the original bill, it would still provide the community of Santee funding to address water quality issues. The bill stated, any Nebraska tribe who is under a federal no drink order, will be given priority when applying to the Nebraska Water Sustainability Fund. The Santee Sioux Nation would be eligible to apply for up to $20 million. Before easter weekend this bill passed the final reading and went to Governor Pillen’s desk for final signature. Governor Jim Pillen met with the four tribes last year at the Nebraska tribal transportation conference in South Sioux City, NE. We had lunch and spoke for an hour. Governor Pillen addressed us by saying he feels there are three important things in Nebraska. Our land, water, and children. We said back to the governor that we share similar views, and that right now we cannot drink our own water because of manganese in our water supply that caused the EPA to force a no drink order on the community of

Santee and homes on its water system. We explained our wish that the governor and state of Nebraska put their support behind getting clean drinking water to the Santee Sioux Nation. The governor was present for this years conference and we had the same conversation. In the background we all knew LB 1413 and funding for water quality bill was near the completion of passing and would be on Governor Pillen to sign the bill. Myself and Chairman Alonzo Denney spoke personally to Governor Pillen and our message was this bill would help the next seven generations of our people. A generational, long term change to gain clean drinking water. A basic human right that we lack, and as citizens of this state we hope the governor will show his support. As the governor rushed out of the building he told us, “your good”. On Monday April 1 st , Governor Pillen signed LB 1413 which included the amendment to help our tribe and its pursuit of clean drinking water. While this legislation doesn’t provide enough to construct the entire water pipeline. It does provide a victory that the Santee Sioux Nation needed and shows the state of Nebraska has some support for the tribe. It also gives the tribe much needed momentum as SSN tribal council headed to Washington DC April 15 th to persuade congressional representatives and senators in our state and South Dakota to help further fund Santee’s water quality project. While our tribe had this victory, we must also note the other land based tribes in Nebraska were left out of receiving financial assistance through state legislation. It must also be stated that according to this new legislation, the other Nebraska tribes will have to be under a federal no drink order to be at the top of the line for the Nebraska water sustainability fund. That is unfortunate, and we must continue to support clean water quality for all Nebraska tribes. Overall, the past two years have been a roller coaster journey. While good news on the water quality project is welcome, we still have a lot of work to do. The tribal council will continue to speak out and ask for support from state and federal agencies as well as sharing this story through news and social media. We need to find creative ways to fund projects like this with existing tribal dollars. New housing, clean drinking water, Dakota language programs, are just a few priorities that we are trying to get accomplished sooner rather than later. Until then we will keep you all updated whenever progress is made.