Written by Campaign Manager Rob Skjonsberg
Our heritage is who we are.
My family is from the Lake Traverse Reservation in northeast South Dakota. My mother is a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate. Growing up, she was a single mom who served her people as a nurse with Indian Health Service. My mom is the strongest person I know – she happens to be Dakota. Born into government healthcare and living on our own land held “in trust” by the federal government, my Native grandmother often lived with us.
“Caske” means first born son. That’s what they called me. That’s who I am.
Mike learned all of this in 2002. We visited the tribal council, members of the community and my family. He asked questions and listened.
Mike became South Dakota’s 31st governor that fall. He appointed a kid from the reservation to be his chief of staff. The first, I suspect.
My family is conservative – although many of them are registered democrats. Most of them, don’t even know why. It’s a generational thing, I suppose.
They’re conservative because of what’s important to them - family, life, culture, community, safety, respect, and freedom. These are the things that make us conservative.
Mike believes in these things.
Conservatives, like Ronald Reagan, advance policies that encourage self-sufficiency. It was Ronald Reagan, a conservative, who signed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Indian tribes are sovereign nations – that’s how they should be treated. The federal government has never been good at solving problems – it’s no different in Indian Country. If anyone from the government knocks on your door and says they’re there to solve all your problems, consider closing the door. We can make our own way – it’s our tradition.
In 2005, the Cheyenne River Reservation and surrounding communities were in eminent danger of losing their drinking water provided by the Missouri River. A severe, seven year drought, had left the intake pipe for the water system filling with silt. 14,000 people on the reservation and surrounding area would have been without water. Tribal Chairman Harold Frazier said at the time; “We face a crisis this summer that is unimaginable.”
The State of South Dakota, provided $900,000 towards a plan to solve the crisis. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Corps of Engineers and the State of South Dakota, led by a conservative governor, Mike Rounds worked together to provide new facilities and a continual supply of water to 14,000 people.
Conservatives lead and solve problems. They don’t just show up at election time with empty talk.
On February 19, 2010, Mike declared the “2010 Year of Unity”. The goal was to build upon the legacy and work of those leaders who moved the state forward in the Year of Reconciliation, an effort led by another conservative, the late Governor George S. Mickelson.
Be wary of politicians making promises in an election year. If you want to see real improvements in Indian Country – tribes need someone they can work with and trust – not someone who drops in every few years, looking for votes.
The federal government has an obligation to advance policies that improve and foster adequate healthcare, education, housing, safety and ultimately, economies on reservations. Liberals want to advance policies that encourage dependency and poverty. Just look at history and listen to what they say.
We are conservatives.