# Lake Traverse Indian Reservation

The Lake Traverse Indian Reservation is the homeland of the federally recognized Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, a branch of the Santee Dakota group of Native Americans. Most of the reservation covers parts of five counties in northeastern South Dakota, while smaller parts are in two counties in southeastern North Dakota, United States.
The Reservation was created by treaty on April 22, 1867 A.D. and called the Flatiron Reservation, in reference to its triangular shape. It was created for the "friendly Dakota" from the Minnesota hostilities of 1862-1866. Signatories of the treaty were Gabriel Renville, John Otherday plus twenty-one other Sisseton and Wahpeton leaders. Gabriel Renville was the first Chief of the Reservation.
Its resident population of 10,408 people, was counted during the 2000 census. About one-third of its inhabitants identify as of solely Native American heritage. Its largest community is the city of Sisseton, South Dakota. It operates a tribal college, Sisseton-Wahpeton Community College.

## Geography

Over 60% of its land area lies in Roberts County, South Dakota, but there are lesser amounts in Marshall, Day, Grant and Codington counties in South Dakota, as well as Sargent and Richland counties in North Dakota.

## Tribal information

* Reservation: Former Lake Traverse; parts of Marshall, Day, Codington, Grant and Roberts counties
* Division: Santee
* Bands: Sisseton (Sinsin Tunwan: "Swamp Village"), Wahpeton (Wahpetowan: "Leaf Village")
* Land area: 106,153 acres/ 42,959 hectares (without boundaries)
* Tribal headquarters: Agency Village, SD
* Time zone: Central
* Traditional language: Dakota
* Enrolled members living within former reservation area: 9,894
* Major employers: Dakota Magic Casino, Dakota Sioux Casino, Dakota Western, Dakota Crossing Grocery, Dakota Connection Casino, tribal government, Bureau of Indian Affairs

## Tribal government

* Charter: None; Constitution and Bylaws: Yes -IRA
* Date Approved: October 16, 1946
* Name of Governing Body: Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribal Council
* Number of council members: (7) seven council members
* Dates of Constitutional amendments: November 21, 1978, June 9, 1980
* Number of Executive Officers: (3) Tribal Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Tribal Secretary

## Tribal elections

* Primary election is held in October and the general election in November. Members of council shall serve terms of two years. Any council and executive committee member shall serve no more than two consecutive terms for a total of four years in the same office. Any council member or executive committee member may again file for office after a two-year time period.
* Number of election districts or communities: 7

## Tribal Council meetings

* The council shall meet regularly on the first Tuesday, Wednesday and third Thursday of each month or upon call of the chairman of the council.
* Quorum number: General Council members is ten percent of eligible members

## Education and media

* Tribal College: Sisseton-Wahpeton Community College, Agency Village
* Weekly newspaper: Sota Iya Ye Yapi ("smoke signals")

## Notable people

* Paul War Cloud, (1930–1973), artist
* Gabriel Renville (1824–1892), chief
* Woodrow W. Keeble (1917–1982), U.S. Army Medal of Honor recipient

## Communities

* Agency Village, South Dakota
* Claire City, South Dakota
* Goodwill, South Dakota
* Lake City, South Dakota (most, population 46)
* Long Hollow, South Dakota
* New Effington, South Dakota
* Ortley, South Dakota
* Peever, South Dakota
* Rosholt, South Dakota
* Sisseton, South Dakota
* Summit, South Dakota
* Veblen, South Dakota
* Waubay, South Dakota (part, population 15)