Dakotans for Equal Rights was organized to protect the environment, local economic stability, and the customs and cultures of all citizens through the protection of civil rights and property rights for all people. The 150 DER members are both Tribal members and non members working together to find solutions to reservation problems.  Four counties are completely  within the boundaries of Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux  reservations in both North and South Dakota.

DER is concerned about a tribal practice of implementing business, tax, and regulatory schemes over non tribal businesses and private lands. The local tribes proposal to implement a business license was vigorously apposed as it would have subjected non tribal members to tribal authority. Non members do not have a voice in tribal government resulting in taxation without representation.

The Federal government's delegation of regulatory authority to Indian tribes without accountability to all citizens is unconstitutional. The Environmental Protection Agency's proposed granting of regulatory primacy over all lands within the reservations outer boundaries to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, would have resulted in private lands being subjected to tribal regulations and enforcement. The sovereign immunity that Indian Tribes have, would make the regulations they enacted unchallengeable by members and non members alike. As a practical matter these tribal governments would be unaccountable to the EPA as well, with a political climate that emasculates elected officials under threat of being labeled racist if they challenge tribal government. DER wrote letters and testified against this transfer of authority. We feel that this power should rest with the state that the lands are in.

Local counties struggle with jurisdictional conflicts. County sheriffs are elected by all the citizens of the county but they do not have any authority over tribal members resulting in an inability to protect all citizens. Limited resources are inefficiently spent when large geographic areas have duplicating services, with confusing authorities.

DER has assisted property owners and individuals who's civil rights have been violated by helping to fund and write legal briefs in support of their cases. We reprint and publish nine thousand Citizens Equal Rights Alliance (CERA) news letters along with additional local articles and have them inserted in five area newspapers.

Most important of all, DER supports all citizen's basic civil rights regardless of race or membership.

35 Annual Membership (includes $10 for a joint CERA membership)