A nation within a state: An examination of Native-state relations in South Dakota and the political challenges of the late twentieth century

When South Dakota was founded as a state it was assumed that the Dakota/Lakota/Nakota people within the state's boundaries would assimilate into the mainstream. By the late twentieth century, however, it was clear that the Dakota/Lakota/Nakota were permanent political entities. This thesis explores Native-state relations in South Dakota during the late twentieth century as the Dakota/Lakota/Nakota and the state faced the challenge of adjusting to one another's presence. While the Dakota/Lakota/Nakota governments defended their jurisdiction and exerted their sovereignty, the state had to come to terms with the existence of politically separate entities within state boundaries. The situation was further complicated by the complex jurisdictional legacy left behind by previous federal policies, and a lack of federal guidance.;It is argued that the relationship between the Dakota/Lakota/Nakota and the state did not improve during this period, and that Native-state relations were primarily contentious in the 1980s and 1990s. While racial and cultural factors undoubtedly played a role in causing tension, this thesis argues that political issues and concerns were highly responsible for the adversarial nature of the relationship. The issues of sovereignty, self-determination and jurisdiction were prominent in many of the conflicts between the Dakota/Lakota/Nakota and the state, and this thesis examines how these issues affected Native-state relations in the 1980s and 1990s.Ultimately it seems that a fundamental difference of opinion on these political issues significantly undermined cooperation during this period; the failure to resolve this attitudinal gulf helps to explain why relations did not improve by 2000 in spite of reconciliatory efforts.