Harold Frazier

Harold C. Frazier is an American politician and tribal leader who is the former Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, serving in that position since 2014.[1] A member of the Democratic Party, Frazier serves concurrently as the Chairman of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association, a position he was elected to in 2018.[2]

Harold Frazier
Ta Hunska Luta (His Red Leggings)
TitleCheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman
Term2014 to November 6, 2022
PredecessorKevin Keckler

Early life

Frazier was born on November 23, 1966, to Sam Frazier (Itazipco) and Greta Takes The Knife (Mnicoujou) his Lakota name is Ta Hunska Luta (His Red Leggings) In 1985, Frazier graduated from Cheyenne Eagle Butte High School in Eagle Butte, SD and went on to receive his AAS in Ag Business from Eastern Wyoming College in 1989. Frazier worked for the Cheyenne River Gas Company and Cheyenne River Telephone Authority until 1998 when he was elected to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council.[3]

Political career

Chairman Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

In 2002, Harold was elected at large as the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman, during his first chairmanship, he was elected as the Great Plains Area Vice President of National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), as well as the honorary Sergeant at Arms for the 2004 Democratic Convention. In 2006 he was defeated for a Second term by Joseph Brings Plenty.[4] Frazier then ran and was re-elected at large as the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman succeeding Kevin Keckler in 2014. He has been subsequently re-elected to this position which he continues to serve in.[1]

Campaigns for NCAI President

In 2017 Frazier ran for NCAI President losing to then Chickasaw Nation Lt. Governor Jefferson Keel who was elected as the 22nd President of NCAI after a close run-off with outgoing NCAI 1st Vice President and Quinault Indian Nation President Fawn Sharp.[4] Frazier ran again for NCAI President in 2019 coming in second place to current NCAI President Fawn Sharp.[5]

Chairman Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Association

In 2018, Frazier succeeded Tex Hall as Chairman of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Association a cooperative body "made up of the 16 Tribal Chairmen, Presidents, and Chairpersons in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska."[6]

Political Positions

Keystone XL Pipeline

Frazier was a staunch opponent of the Keystone Pipeline which the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe has opposed since 2008. In 2014, the tribal council passed a resolution prohibiting pipeline workers from operating on tribal land[7] In 2019, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Yankton Sioux Tribe, and Dakota Rural Action filed suit to challenge the State of South Dakota's approval of the pipeline.[8]

COVID-19 Checkpoints

In 2020, in an attempt to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Frazier ordered the tribal government to establish traffic checkpoints throughout reservation territory. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem opposed the checkpoints and ordered the tribe to take them down.[9] Frazier, refused to comply, arguing that the establishment of the checkpoints was within the tribe's right as a 'sovereign nation'.[10]

Mount Rushmore Fireworks

In April 2021, Governor Kristi Noem sued the Department of the Interior after the National Park Service denied the state of South Dakota a permit to hold a fireworks display at Mount Rushmore on the Fourth of July, citing the risk of forest fire.[11] In May, Frazier and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit arguing that they were being misrepresented by Noem who claimed to have consulted with tribal leadership prior to applying for the fireworks permit.[12] Later that Month, federal judge Roberto Lange ruled that the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe would be allowed to join legal arguments opposing Noem’s efforts to put on a July Fourth fireworks display at Mount Rushmore.[13]

Personal life

Frazier lives in White Horse, South Dakota. He has one daughter, two sons, and one grandchild.

References
  1. "Tribal Government". CRST.
  2. "Harold Frazier: Where are the Indians in the National Congress of American Indians?". Indianz.
  3. "United States House of Representatives" (PDF).
  4. Melmer, David. "Change is status quo for Great Plains elections". Indian Country Today.
  5. Kaczke, Lisa. "S.D. men fall short in election bid to lead National Congress of American Indians". Argus Leader.
  6. "Home". gptca.net.
  7. McKenna, Phil (July 13, 2018). "'We Will Be Waiting': Tribe Says Keystone XL Construction Is Not Welcome".
  8. "The Latest: Keystone XL opponent says 'fight is not over'". AP NEWS. June 15, 2018.
  9. "Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Chairman On Checkpoints: 'We're Doing It To Save Lives'". NPR.org.
  10. "Native American tribe says their sovereignty allows checkpoints in South Dakota". PBS NewsHour. May 13, 2020.
  11. "Noem's lawyers sue Biden administration, seeking permit for Mt. Rushmore fireworks". April 30, 2021.
  12. "Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe says they are misrepresented in Gov. Kristi Noem's Rushmore fireworks lawsuit". May 20, 2021.
  13. "Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman speaks about Noem fireworks lawsuit, importance of protecting the Black Hills". May 21, 2021.
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