Native American tribes have set up checkpoints to block thousands of bikers attending a 10-day motorcycle rally in South Dakota from entering reservation lands.
The Cheyenne River Sioux tribe has set up strategic checkpoints around reservation land to prevent attendees of the 10-day Sturgis Motorcycle Rally from coming in for fear of a potential coronavirus outbreak in the city of 7,000 people.
The annual event anticipated to attract 250,000 bikers kicked off Friday and guests have been seen without masks, as they’re not required, and flouting social distancing guidelines as they pack in for concerts, at bars, and riding events.
The Cheyenne River Sioux announced Saturday the checkpoints would be set up as a part of the tribe’s larger COVID-19 prevention policy, which was launched by seven tribes that make up the Great Sioux Nation, spokesman Remi Bald Eagle said.
Federal and state authorities claim the checkpoints are illegal and the tribes have sued.
Only commercial and emergency vehicles will be let through the checkpoints onto reservation land, a duty officer for the tribe said to The Guardian on Saturday.
The Cheyenne River Sioux tribe has set up strategic checkpoints around reservation land to prevent attendees of the 10-day Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota from coming in for fear of a potential coronavirus outbreak in the city of 7,000 people
The Cheyenne River Sioux announced Saturday the checkpoints would be set up as a part of the tribe’s larger COVID-19 prevention policy, which was launched by seven tribes that make up the Great Sioux Nation, spokesman Remi Bald Eagle said
Those checkpoints were set up during pandemic to prevent people from entering tribal land to block the virus. A coronavirus tribal checkpoint pictured on a state highway pictured in May
The Department of Transportation released a map showing which roads are closed to tourists including parts of U.S. 212 and SD 20, 63 and 65 on the reservation, and where checkpoints surround reservation land are located
Officials say a number of bikers have tried to enter the land but were turned away.
Other reservations in the area including the Oglala Sioux were also turning away bikers that tried to pass through sovereign land over the weekend.
Under the Cheyenne River’s tribal guidelines non-residents driving non-commercial out-of-state vehicles are never allowed through the reservation.
During the rally non-commercial vehicles even with South Dakota plates cannot get through.
The Department of Transportation released a map showing which roads are closed to tourists including parts of U.S. 212 and SD 20, 63 and 65 on the reservation.
The Sturgis rally is alarming for locals as it’s the largest gathering of people since the COVID-19 pandemic.
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