Means wins tribe primary election

By Jomay Steen, Journal Staff Writer | Thursday, October 07, 2004

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PINE RIDGE - Russell Means won the first round in a landslide victory Tuesday out of a field of 13 candidates vying for tribal president of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Means was a clear winner of the Oglala Sioux Tribe's primary race. With 917 votes, he garnered more than twice the support received by incumbent President John Yellow Bird Steele, who got 413 votes for a fourth-place finish.

Citing concerns about people leaving the land to resettle in urban areas, Means said he wants to stanch the flow of American Indians off the reservation and build bonds with South Dakota and surrounding states.

"When I become president of the Pine Ridge Sioux Indian Reservation, I plan to work with governors of South Dakota and Nebraska to begin with and then, hopefully, North Dakota," he said. "Of the nine Sioux Indian reservations, we are the last place left for investment."

Two years ago, Means lost to Steele, who went on to serve his fourth term as president. This is Means' third run for president and his second primary victory. His first primary victory was in 1974, when he opposed Dick Wilson.

According to unofficial primary results Tuesday, Means and Cecilia Fire Thunder of Martin will battle for the president's office in the Nov. 2 general election.

In her third attempt for the office, Fire Thunder finished in second place with 607 votes.

"I'm running for president for no other reason than leadership," she said. "I know what I'm capable of, and as a member of this community, I want people to trust me."

Fire Thunder, a grandmother and nurse, lived in Kyle until her family moved to California under the Relocation Program. She finished high school there, received her nursing degree and cut her teeth in politics by becoming a union organizer.

If Fire Thunder wins the election, she would be the first woman OST tribal president.

Unofficial primary results for seats on the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council are: Vice President n Eileen Janis, 789, Alex White Plume Sr., 429; Wakpamni District, two seats n Thomas Conroy, 137, Walter Big Crow, 139, Maxine Lakota, 123, Herbert Colhof; Pine Ridge District, three seats — Ella "John" Carlow, 278, Gerald "Jump" Big Crow, 230, Carol Crazy Thunder-O'Rourke, 191, Lyle Jack, 214, William Peters, 293, Garry Janis, 171; White Clay District, two seats n Floyd Brings Plenty, 63, Paul Little, 117, Delores Ten Fingers-Two Bulls, 71, Valerie Kills Small-Janis, 85; Medicine Root District, two seats n Juanita Scherick, 189, Charles White Elk, 117, Sandra Old Horse, 170, Austin Watkins Sr., 171; Wounded Knee District, two seats n Kathy Janis, 98, Kevin Yellow Bird-Steele, 63, Garfield Apple, 70, Garfield Steele, 81; Eagle Nest District, two seats n Jim Meeks, 112, Annette Stands, 31, Thomas Poor Bear, 109, Ruth Brown, 114; Porcupine District, two seats n Chuck Jacobs, 99, Bernard White Face, 91, Phillip Good Crow, 126, David Pourier, 131; Pass Creek District, one seat n Donna Salomon, 118, Lydia Bear Killer, 112; and Lacreek District, two seats n Charles Cummings, 54, Mary "Moose" Poor Thunder, 69, Craig Dillion, 106, Gerald. L. Bettelyoun, 56.

Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com