John Yellow Bird Steele

John Yellow Bird Steele was the President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe for 14 years.[1][2] Akim Reinhardt described him as "arguably the most successful Pine Ridge politician of the IRA era".[3]

John Yellow Bird Steele
President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe
In office December 2014 – December 2016
Preceded by	Bryan Brewer
Succeeded by	Troy "Scott" Weston
In office 2010–2012
Preceded by	Theresa Two Bulls
Succeeded by	Bryan Brewer
In office 2006–2008
Preceded by	Alex White Plume
Succeeded by	Theresa Two Bulls
In office 2000–2004
Preceded by	Harold Dean Salway
Succeeded by	Cecilia Fire Thunder
In office 1996–1998
Preceded by	Wilber Between Lodges
Succeeded by	Harold Dean Salway
In office 1992–1994
Preceded by	Harold Dean Salway
Succeeded by	Wilber Between Lodges
Vice-President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe
In office 1982–1986
Tribal Council Representative from the Wounded Knee District
In office 1978–1982
Personal details
Born	Rockyford, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Spouse(s)	Anna Little Dog

Career

Between 1992 and 2016, Steele served seven non-consecutive two-year terms as president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.[1] Prior to serving as president, he served as vice-president for two terms, and as a tribal council representative. He has also served as an advocate for the Black Hills Treaty Council.[4]

Elections

Despite Steele's record-setting seven terms, he has only won re-election once, in 2002.[5] Many times, he was defeated when seeking re-election, only to defeat his successor in the next election (or, as in 2006, to defeat the person serving out the rest of his successor's term).

Steele was first elected president in 1992, succeeding Harold Dean Salway. His first term ended in 1994, when he was succeeded by Wilber Between Lodges.[6]

Steele took over from Between Lodges again in 1996, only to be succeeded by Salway in 1998.[6]

Steele regained the presidency from Salway in 2000, and won re-election in 2002.[1] He was succeeded by Cecilia Fire Thunder in 2004.[6]

In 2006, he succeeded Alex White Plume, who had become president after Fire Thunder's impeachment.[6] In doing so, he broke Frank Wilson's record for most terms in office.[3] He was succeeded by Theresa Two Bulls in 2008,[7] and then defeated her in 2010.[8] His sixth term ended in 2012, when he lost to Bryan Brewer.[9]

Finally, he won election in 2014, defeating Brewer.[10][11] His most recent term ended when he was defeated by Troy "Scott" Weston in November 2016.[12]

In 2020, Steele ran for an eighth term as president against Weston and the incumbent, Julian Bear Runner;[13][14] however, he was unsuccessful in his bid.[15]

Policies

Steele is known for his "aggressive lobbying" of the United States on behalf of the tribe.[10] He has testified before Congress multiple times, advocating for tribal sovereignty and reminding the US of its treaty obligations.[1] He also urged them to recognize the Lakota code talkers with Congressional Gold Medals.[16][17]

Economic Policy

In 1989, Oglala Lakota County (then known as Shannon County) held the distinction of having the worst poverty rate in the United States. When Steele took office in 1992, he stated that free enterprise was the solution, and worked to open casinos as an anti-poverty measure.[18] At least one casino, the Prairie Winds Casino, opened during his first term in office; he then helped it expand into a much larger facility during his 5th term.[3]

Health Policy

In February 2015, faced with a large number of suicides among teens and pre-teens on the reservation, Steele declared an emergency. He successfully got the Indian Health Service to deploy additional counselors, but suicides continued to rise. Steele expressed his frustration with the situation, saying "When you have a good understanding of what’s happening, come back and tell me."[19]

Following Russell Means' death from cancer, Steele also said he wanted to see a "war on cancer in Indian country" and would host a conference on cancer treatments and preventions.[20]

Personal life

Steele is married to Anna Little Dog from the Manderson District. They have 9 children and 23 grandchildren.[1]

References

1. "OGLALA SIOUX PRESIDENT JOHN YELLOW BIRD STEELE BIOGRAPHY" (PDF). United States House of Representatives. Retrieved 2020-11-29. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
2. Sandlin, Scott (2015-09-18). "$940M settlement". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
3. Reinhardt, Akim D. (2015). Welcome to the Oglala Nation : a documentary reader in Oglala Lakota political history. Lincoln, NB: University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-8436-4. OCLC 914715232.
4. "Morning Fill Up with John Yellow Bird Steele". The Numad Group | Communications + Fundraising for Nonprofits. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
5. Harlan, Bill (2002-11-20). "Steele wins rare Oglala Tribe re-election". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
6. Reinhardt, Akim D.; Kidwell, Clara Sue (2007). Ruling Pine Ridge : Oglala Lakota politics from the IRA to Wounded Knee. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press. p. 220. ISBN 0-89672-601-0. OCLC 71004236.
7. Crash, Tom (2008-12-04). "Steele passes pipe on to Two Bulls". Lakota Country Times. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
8. Howell, Randall (2010-11-04). "Native Sun News: Yellowbird Steele wins Oglala Sioux presidency". indianz.com. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
9. Ecoffey, Brandon (2012-12-06). "Native Sun News: Oglala Sioux Tribe prepares for inauguration". Indianz.com. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
10. Ecoffey, Brandon (2014-11-05). "Native Sun News: Oglala Sioux Tribe chooses a new president". indianz.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
11. "Yellow Bird Steele elected leader of Oglala Sioux". The Mitchell Republic. 2014-11-05. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
12. Casey, Tom; Ecoffey, Brandon (2016-11-10). "Weston President Elect Oglala Sioux Tribe". Lakota Country Times. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
13. "Unofficial primary results have Killer, Steele facing off in General for OST President". Lakota Country Times. 2020-10-15. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
14. Crash, Tom (2020-09-24). "OST Election Commission releases certified candidate list". Lakota Country Times. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
15. Crash, Tom (2020-11-12). "Unofficial results give Killer, Mousseau strong wins". Lakota Country Times. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
16. "Contributions of Indian Codetalkers". C-SPAN. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
17. "Code Talkers: Hearing Before the Committee on Indian Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Second Session, on Contributions of Native American Code Talkers in American Military History", September 22, 2004, Washington, DC.. (2004). United States: U.S. Government Printing Office. p 89-92 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
18. Kilborn, Peter T. (1992-09-20). "Life at the Bottom -- America's Poorest County/A special report.; Sad Distinction for the Sioux: Homeland Is No. 1 in Poverty (Published 1992)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
19. Bosman, Julie (2015-05-01). "Pine Ridge Indian Reservation Struggles With Suicides Among Its Young (Published 2015)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
20. "PRESS RELEASE from the Oglala Sioux Tribal President, John Yellow Bird Steele | Lakota Times". Lakota Country Times. 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2020-12-03.