Flandreau Indian Reservation

Tribal information

• Reservation: Flandreau Santee Sioux Reservation
• Division: Santee
• Bands: Mdewakanton, Wahpekute
• Land Area: Approximately 2,356 acres
• Tribal Headquarters: Flandreau, SD
• Time Zone: Central
• Traditional Language: Dakota
• Enrolled members living on reservation: 726
• Major Employers: Royal River Casino, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, Flandreau Indian School

  Government

• Charter: Yes; Constitution and Bylaws: Yes - non-IRA
• Date Approved: April 24, 1936
• Name of Governing Body: Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribal Council
• Executive Committee: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and 4 additional Trustees who are elected by the tribal members. Tribal Treasurer is appointed.
• Dates of Constitutional amendments: October 16, 1967, November 14, 1984, May 23, 1990, May 13, 1997

  Elections

• Primary election is at least forty-five days prior to the general election and General Election is held in conjunction with the August General Council meeting.
• Number of Election districts or communities: 1

Meetings

Education and media

Leaders: past and present

• Chief Little Crow spent much of his life in Minnesota, where he was the head of a Santee band. Little Crow, established himself as a spokesman for his people. After becoming chief around 1834, he sought justice for his people, but also tried to maintain relations with whites. In 1862, he led the fight now known as the Minnesota Santee Conflict. In fact, this war was launched only in the face of starvation and only after the federal government didn’t present land payments as promised. Little Crow was killed the following year. He is buried near Flandreau.

  Notable Flandreau people

• Dr. Charles Alexander Eastman, physician, author, and member of the Flandreau Santee Sioux.

  Legalization of cannabis