Native Vote

Bryan Brewer Elected President of Oglala Sioux Tribe

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION – In a close race Bryan Brewer has beat John Yellow Bird Steele for the presidency of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in yesterday's election.

President Elect Bryan Brewer – Oglala Sioux

Brewer won the election by 138 votes. The unofficial results were Byran Brewer 2,266 votes to 2,128 for current President John Yellow Bird Steele. The election results will become official on November 14, according to a representative of the Oglala Sioux Tribe's Election Commission.

Brewer is founder and director of the highly successful Lakota Nation Basketball Invitational held annually in Rapid City, South Dakota in December.

“I began this event with humble means on Pine Ridge in the mid-70s, when schools would not play all-Indian basketball teams. Every year it has grown. Now, it is a huge event,”

Brewer commented last December to the Native News Network.

2012 Results of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Election – November 6, 2012

President

Bryan Brewer 2,266
John Yellow Bird Steele 2,128
(just under 300 challenges)

Vice President

Tom Poor Bear 2,461
William Shorty Brewer 1,927

Pine Ridge District

Irv Provost 408
Robin Tapio 378
Larry Eagle Bull 374
Ella John Carlow 359
Lyle Jack 356 and
Gerald Big Crow 327
(between 60-80 challenges)

Wounded Knee District

Garfield Steele 231
Kevin Yellow Bird Steele 200
Paul Pawnee Leggings 190
Glen Gibbons 164 and
Garfield Apple 114
(26 challenges)

LaCreek District

Charlie Cummings 176
Donn Fire Thunder 173
(8 challenges)

Wakpamni District

Jacqueline Rowland-Siers 315
Dan Rodriguez 303
Debbie Blue Bird 254 and
Tom Conroy 223
(41 challenges)

Porcupine District

Scott Weston 235
Dani LeBeau 190
Beverly Tuttle 188 and
Pat Ross 185
(40 challenges)

Medicine Root District

Stanley Little White Man 310 and
Austin Watkins Sr. 238
(34 challenges)

Oglala District

Barbara Dull Knife 257
Paul Little 243
Martha Two Bulls 209 and
Valerie Janis 199
(35 challenges)

Pass Creek District

James Cross 190
Lydia Bear Killer 171
Ron Duke 168 and
Joseph Reddest 87
(7 challenges)

Eagle Nest District

Jim Meeks 171
Ruth Brown 163
Larry Romero 147 and
Floyd Wilcox 122

posted November 6, 2012 1:50 pm est