Scott Weston
Weston elected President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe
By Tom Casey and Brandon Ecoffey
Lakota Country Times
lakotacountrytimes.com PINE RIDGE – In a landslide victory challenger Scott Weston defeated incumbent and seven-time tribal president John Steele in the Oglala Sioux Tribe's presidential race. On election night, November 8, Wakpamni district voting results came in first showing Scott Weston up over incumbent John Yellow Bird Steele 348-199. It was a foreshadowing of numbers to come as Weston won the OST presidency going away 2,383 to 1,215 in unofficial returns on election night. "I want to thank the people for voting," said Weston. "It doesn't matter to me who they voted for, I'm just grateful that they did." In comments given exclusively to LCT, Weston called for unity amongst all First Nations people in the light of the election of Donald Trump to the White House. "Our fight begins now," said Weston. "All First Nations must come together to protect our water and treaty rights," he added. Tribal-nations across the country are prepping for an all out assault on federal funded programming as Trump has gone record that he plans to cut funding across the board. Over the course of the last eight years federal policy has narrowly leaned pro-Indian, but that is expected to change with the election of Trump. During the primary, Weston took four districts while Steele topped four districts and third place finisher Bruce Whalen won one district. Many wondered which way those supportive of Bruce Whalen would lean. The general election tilted in favor of Weston who won all nine districts including wide margins in Pine Ridge 484-179 and Medicine Root 405-88 and taking John Steele’s home district Wounded Knee 180-155. Weston expressed gratitude to his opponent John Steele for his work on behalf of the people during his time in office. "I want to thank John Steele for his efforts on behalf of the people," said Weston. In the vice president’s race, challenger Darla Black took an early lead after Wakpamni district 317-231, three time incumbent Tom Poor Bear pulled within seven after LaCreek 359-352 and grabbed the lead when Eagle Nest results arrived going up 1,463 to 1,396 but Black was bolstered by Wounded Knee and Oglala to win the vice presidency 1,826 to 1,740 in unofficial returns election night. Incumbents ruled the day in several tribal council races, Richard Greenwald, Ella John Carlow and Robin Tapio dominated Pine Ridge, Jacqui Siers and Sonia Little Hawk Weston topped Wakpamni, Blaine Little Thunder was the top vote getter in Eagle Nest, CJ Clifford did the same in Wounded Knee as did James Cross in Pass Creek and Chancy Wilson in Medicine Root while Craig Dillon won by acclamation in the primary in LaCreek . Past council reps made a return to the circle, Lydia Bear Killer in Pass Creek, Philip Good Crow in Porcupine, Jim Meeks in Eagle Nest and Cora White Horse who served two terms from Medicine Root makes a return from LaCreek. Dave Pourier, an incumbent from Porcupine returns. Two council races will depend on challenge votes, Garfield Apple was just one vote ahead of Lisa Jumping Eagle-DeLeon for the second spot in Wounded Knee and incumbent Austin Watkins Sr tied past council rep Stanley Little White Man for the second and third spots in Medicine Root with 267 votes with Beau Little White Man one vote behind with 266. Oglala will send two newcomers to the council Valentina Merdanian and Steph Star Comes Out Leasure.
Visit the Lakota Country Times and subscribe today
Unofficial council results by district included:
Eagle Nest-Blaine Little Thunder 186, Jim Meeks 122, Mavis Wilcox 103, Ruth Brown-Wright 101, 89 challenges.OST Election Commission Dorothy Brown Bear, Sandra Old Horse and Mary Felicia start the official count Wednesday morning with official results due Monday. The new administration is set to take office Tuesday, Dec. 6. Any questions or challenges contact election commission at (605) 867-2266. (Contact Brandon Ecoffey at editor@lakotacountrytimes.com) Find the award-winning Lakota Country Times on the Internet, Facebook and Twitter and download the new Lakota Country Times app today.
LaCreek-Cora White Horse 126, Charles Cummings 99, 5 challenges.
Medicine Root-Chancy Wilson 356, Austin Watkins, Sr. 267, Stanley Little White Man 267, Beau Little White Man 266 and Mona Vocu 134, 45 challenges.
Oglala-Valentina Merdanian 216, Stephanie Leasure 183, Floyd Brings Plenty 160, Valerie Janis 121, 66 challenges.
Pass Creek-James Cross 141, Lydia Bear Killer 109, Ron Duke 99, Lawrence Swalley 62, Joseph Reddest 49, 51 challenges.
Pine Ridge- Richard Sheech Greenwald 402, Ella John Carlow 321, Robin Tapio 306, Lyle Jack 276, Sesalie Red Owl 262, Irv Provost 218, 104 challenges.
Porcupine-Philip Good Crow 198, Dave Pourier 194, James Twiss 189, Pat Ross 161, 77 challenges. Wakpamni-Jacqui Siers 331, Sonia Little Hawk Weston 265, Joni Tobacco 243, Jane Little Hawk-Rodriguez 205, 71 challenges.
Wounded Knee District-Collins CJ Clifford 189, Garfield Apple 155, Lisa Jumping Eagle-Deleon 154, Eugenio White Hawk 127, 49 challenges.
Join the Conversation
