Photo United Tribes News.

Ron His Horse Is Thunder, the president of Sitting Bull College, has been elected as chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

His Horse Is Thunder, 47, defeated Dave Archambault Sr. by a vote of 1,236-789 in Wednesday's election. Incumbent Charles Murphy didn't seek re-election.

Although Horse Is Thunder has been led the tribal college, he hasn't held a tribal political office. His priorities are economic development and preserving tribal culture and language. He says he will become a fluent Lakota speaker over his next four years as chairman.

The Standing Rock Sioux Reservation straddles the North Dakota-South Dakota border.

Get the Story:
College president to lead Standing Rock Sioux (AP 9/30)

Relevant Links:
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe - http://www.standingrock.org

Related Stories:
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe holds primary election (07/27)