Can anyone confirm? Re: Sioux Nation and Planned Parenthood Clinic

[benevolent dictator]

I went to my campus Planned Parenthood group meeting on Wednesday. The subject of South Dakota, of course, came up. When I mentioned the Sioux President's statement, the woman from Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio who was there said that basically, she had made that statement without first consulting Planned Parenthood. There was internal debate, but eventually it was decided that since Planned Parenthood is challenging the South Dakota law, and the clinic that they have there already is under-utilized and starting a new clinic is expensive, they won't be starting a new one on the Sioux lands. So, basically, if they want to put an independent clinic there, that's cool, but it isn't going to be a Planned Parenthood clinic.

It seems like they're putting the politics before women's health. I don't like it.

Has anyone else heard any developments on this?

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. On another board, it was mentioned that the legislature in SD

could counter this clinic idea by making it illegal for women to go to the reservation for health care. That doesn't sound too far fetched to me, since I recently learned that stem cell therapy is not only banned where I live in Kansas, but if I go out of state for it, I can be arrested when I come back to Kansas.

[Tempest]

3. The reservation's clinic would be for Indian clients only

At least that's what the tribe's president indicated when she made the announcement.

[benevolent dictator]

4. I didn't get that impression

from what I've read here on DU, but the only article I've read about it was this one: http://www.indianz.com/News/2006/013061.asp which really makes no statement either way.

[Tempest]

5. Her words

“To me, it is now a question of sovereignty,” she said to me last week. “I will personally establish a Planned Parenthood clinic on my own land which is within the boundaries of the Pine Ridge Reservation where the State of South Dakota has absolutely no jurisdiction.”


The state has sovereignty over all non-Indian citizens, even on tribal lands. If a non-Indian commits a crime on tribal lands, the county or state police make the arrest (the tribal police only have the power to detain a non-Indian suspect), bring the charges and tries the accused.

The only sovereignty the tribe has is over its own members.

If a non-Indian goes to the reservation for an abortion, and it's against the state law, they can be tried in state court.

[benevolent dictator]

6. That makes sense

but it still bums me out that Planned Parenthood isn't going to put a clinic there.

[Tempest]

7. PP didn't say they wouldn't put a clinic on tribal lands

Only that it's not under consideration at this time.

PP believes (rightfully) that they will win in federal court and have the law vacated.

The law is obviously illegal.

[benevolent dictator]

8. How would going to a Sioux clinic compare with

women leaving the state to get abortions? If they went to say, North Dakota, and got an abortion, then came back, could they still be arrested? Could SD pass a law saying people can't leave the state to get medical care?

[Tempest]

9. That's a good question

I imagine the state could try to use some commerce laws against them, but I doubt they would be successful.

It wouldn't stop them from trying I'm sure.

[Tempest]

2. Confirmed

You should be able to find the story on PP's statement in Google news.