Rosebud Sioux Tribe declares state of emergency citing the escalating threats posed by widespread methamphetamine and illicit drug use, trafficking, and related gun violence

SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) — Rosebud Sioux Tribe has declared a state of emergency.

Cliff Ave. closure impacting 2 busy Sioux Falls streets
Tribe president Kathleen Wooden Knife cited the escalating threats posed by widespread methamphetamine and illicit drug use, trafficking, and related gun violence as catalysts for the declaration, according to a Facebook post from the tribe.

“This crisis poses immediate and severe risks to public safety, community health, and tribal welfare,” she wrote in a Facebook post.

In her declaration, Wooden Knife also wrote a call to action, asking for increased patrol and investigative support from federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

She also asked the community for “cooperation and vigilance in reporting suspicious or criminal activities”.