The incoming leader of the Oglala Sioux Tribe doesn't support the legalization of alcohol on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Byran Brewer will take office next week. He said the tribe, at this point, won't be able to handle an increase in crime that might come with legal liquor sales.

"Until we have infrastructure and we can start educating our people and getting our people jobs and things like that -- right now I'm against it," Brewer told the Associated Press.

Along those lines, Brewer plans to ask the state of Nebraska to end liquor sales in the border town of Whiteclay. Four stores there cater to residents from the reservation.

"I believe it's killing our people. I want to meet with the people in Nebraska. I'm going to ask them to close it down, take their license away, and if they don't, you know, we're going to have to try to figure out something else," Brewer told the AP.

Get the Story:
Oglala Sioux president: Shut down Whiteclay (AP 11/26)

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