“We cry out from the top of Bear Butte, our sacred butte to support the Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and his efforts to protect the residents of Cheyenne River,” writes Lakota veteran nurse Marcella LeBeau. Photo courtesy American Veterans Center

WWII Nurse Asks Noem to Rethink Opposition to checkpoints

• READ: Marcella LeBeau: Vulnerable Native Americans need protection from COVID-19 

RAPID CITY –One of South Dakota’s most heralded healthcare icons has written an op–ed urging Governor Kristi Noem to rethink her oppositional stance to COVID-19 highway checkpoints on tribal lands.

Marcella R. Ryan LeBeau, Wigmuke Waste Win (Pretty Rainbow Woman), a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, a Lakota of the Two Kettle Band, and a World War II Veteran says tribal-governments are doing everything they can to protect their vulnerable populations.

“As a retired World War II army nurse and former Indian Health Service Director of Nursing, I know how fragile and precious life is. Any effort we can make to save the life of others is key to all people, and prevention is our goal. The border stop is helping mitigate the spread,“said LeBeau.

On Friday, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem threatened legal action against the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the Oglala Sioux Tribe if they did not dismantle highway checkpoints that were put in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

“President Trump set America’s first line of defense to the Pandemic with travel bans from Asia and Europe to the United States.  Florida, Hawaii, and New York initiated travel bansand quarantines. Why is it permissible for these jurisdictions to limit travel within their territory, but not acceptable for sovereign Indian nations to do so,” asks LeBeau.

“We cry out from the top of Bear Butte, our sacred butte to support the Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and his efforts to protect the residents of Cheyenne River,” she added.

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Marcella R. Ryan LeBeau, Wigmuke Waste Win (Pretty Rainbow Woman), is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, a Lakota of the Two Kettle Band.  She is a World War II Veteran who served the United States Army Nurse Corps and is retired as the Director of Nursing from Indian Health Service, Eagle Butte, SD, after thirty-one years.  She is a proud member of the member of Post #308, Eagle Butte, SD.  Inquires for Marcella can be directed to Dawnee LeBeau, dawneelebeau@gmail.com.

The Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board (GPTCHB) is dedicated to serving the health and wellness needs of the tribal members it represents. Assisting with the needs of 18 tribes and tribal communities in the four-state region of South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa, GPTCHB addresses the health necessities of its members by assisting in accessing health-related programs and resources.

Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board: https://gptchb.org