Native Sun News Today: Democratic candidate eyes ‘meaningful’ relationship with tribes

Dan Ahlers is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in South Dakota. Campaign photo

Challenging Mike Rounds for the Senate

A Democrat finally steps up

Thursday, September 17, 2020

By Travis Dewes

Native Sun News Today Staff Writer

nativesunnews.today

Dan Ahlers is a Democratic candidate running for United States Senate in South Dakota.

He is originally from Dell Rapids but he has also lived in Rapid City and Gillette, Wyoming, before settling in Dell Rapids permanently. He has been a small business owner and has served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2006-2008 and 2017-2019. He has also served in the South Dakota Senate 2008-2010.

Ahlers wants to see better relationships between the state and federal governments and Native Americans and he believes that it starts with treaties.

“One of the things that I want to see improved is doing something to honor the treaties between the United States and the tribes,” he said. “If that means we need to sit down at the table and discuss a new treaty then I am open to something like that. People look for symbolic things that they can do, but I want it to be meaningful.”

Mike Rounds is the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in South Dakota. He is the incumbent, having served since 2015. Campaign photo

Part of the treaties that Ahlers seeks to right is land restoration.

“I think, at the very least, that the tribal lands need to be continuous, they need to be whole,” he said. “If that means making land deals at the state, federal, or private level then we need to sit down and figure it out.”

He also understand the essentials of the treaties that have historically not been fully held to fruition.

“They want good healthcare for their kids, they want good educations,” he said. “I want to improve the quality of life and I want tribal members to feel like they are being heard.”