Spirit Lake chairman, federal critic trade complaints about handling of child protection issue
Spirit Lake Tribal Chairman Roger Yankton and one of his sharpest critics in the long-running furor over the safety of Spirit Lake's children challenged each other's credibility and motives in a written exchange this week, with Yankton chiding Thomas Sullivan for reporting "rumor and conjecture" and Sullivan charging the chairman with interfering with his duty as a "mandated reporter" of suspected child abuse. Talk about this topicread more
Jodi Rave Spotted Bear
(Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation)Founder & Editor in Chief
Spoken Languages: English
Topic Expertise: Federal trust relationship with American Indians; Indigenous issues ranging from spirituality and environment to education and land rights
Sharing Is Caring
This article is not included in our Story Share & Care selection.
The content may only be reproduced with permission from the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance. Please see our content sharing guidelines.
© Buffalo's Fire. All rights reserved.
Help us keep the fire burning, make a donation to Buffalo’s Fire
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we exist to illuminate tribal government for everyone who cares about transparency in Native issues. Our work bridges the gap left by tribal-controlled media and non-Native, extractive journalism, providing the insights necessary for truly informed decision-making and a better quality of life. Because the consequences of restricted press freedom affect our communities every day, our trauma-informed reporting is rooted in a deep, firsthand expertise.
Every gift helps keep the fire burning. A monthly contribution makes the biggest impact. Cancel anytime.
Respect The Fire
At Buffalo's Fire, we value constructive dialogue that builds an informed Indian Country. To keep this space healthy, moderators will remove:
- Personal attacks, harassment, or hate speech
- Spam, misinformation, or unsolicited promotion
- Off-topic rants and excessive shouting (All Caps)
Let’s keep the fire burning with respect.