Terry Two Bulls

Terry Two Bulls
Name	Terry Two Bulls
Occupation	Politician; Attorney
Nationality	Oglala Lakota

Terry Two Bulls is an American attorney and politician affiliated with the Oglala Sioux Tribe who has served in public office and engaged in legal advocacy on tribal sovereignty, civil rights, and energy policy. He has been active in tribal leadership, state and federal legal matters, and public policy debates involving Native American rights, environmental regulation, and criminal justice. Two Bulls' career spans legal practice, tribal governance, and electoral politics, drawing attention from Indigenous organizations, state institutions, and national media.

Early life and education

Two Bulls was born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, within the historical territory associated with the Oglala Lakota and the Great Sioux Nation. He was raised amid cultural institutions such as the Oglala Sioux Tribe and local schools on the reservation, and his early life intersected with regional developments like the Wounded Knee legacy and the influence of leaders from the American Indian Movement and tribal councils. Two Bulls pursued undergraduate studies before attending law school, earning a Juris Doctor from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and gaining admission to the bar in South Dakota. His education included exposure to curricular themes addressed by institutions like the University of South Dakota, tribal colleges such as Oglala Lakota College, and legal clinics that work with the National Congress of American Indians and the Native American Rights Fund.

Legal career and activism

As an attorney, Two Bulls worked on cases involving tribal jurisdiction, treaty rights, and resource development disputes that engaged the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Department of the Interior, and the Indian Health Service. He represented clients in matters before state courts of South Dakota and in federal litigation that touched on precedent set by the United States Supreme Court and circuit courts, drawing upon doctrines articulated in cases involving the Trust Doctrine and Indian Child Welfare Act litigation. Two Bulls has collaborated with advocacy organizations including the Native American Rights Fund, the National Congress of American Indians, and regional legal aid societies. His activism has placed him in dialogues with environmental groups, energy companies, and federal agencies over pipeline projects, mineral leases, and Clean Water Act enforcement, intersecting with debates involving the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Two Bulls has also engaged with criminal justice reform efforts on the reservation, working alongside tribal law enforcement, tribal courts, and partners such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, tribal public defenders, and nonprofit organizations addressing substance use and reentry. His legal practice frequently addressed sovereignty issues that relate to tribal governance frameworks recognized by the Department of the Interior and interpreted through statutes like the Major Crimes Act and precedents from federal appellate rulings.

Political career

Two Bulls entered elective politics through tribal elections and ran for offices that placed him in contention with state legislators and federal representatives. His political trajectory has brought him into campaigns that referenced figures and institutions such as the South Dakota Legislature, the United States Congress, gubernatorial offices, and tribal councils. During campaigns and public service, he engaged in policy discussions pertaining to energy development projects with stakeholders including tribal enterprises, utility companies, and federal regulatory bodies like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Two Bulls also participated in coalitions with organizations such as the Democratic Party of South Dakota and national groups concerned with Native American voter mobilization, aligning at times with leaders from the National Congress of American Indians and regional political figures.

He has sought elective positions where interactions with entities such as the South Dakota Secretary of State, county commissions, and election boards shaped campaign strategy and electoral outcomes. Two Bulls' tenure in public office included collaboration with tribal presidents, council members, and administrative officials in implementing tribal ordinances and coordinating with federal programs administered by agencies like the Indian Health Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Key legislative initiatives and positions

In legislative arenas and public policy debates, Two Bulls advocated for measures addressing tribal authority over natural resources, sovereignty protections, criminal justice reforms, and economic development on reservations. He supported legislation and regulatory approaches that intersected with statutes and institutions such as the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, the Indian Child Welfare Act, and funding mechanisms administered through the Department of Health and Human Services. Two Bulls pressed for tribal participation in permitting processes overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers, and he backed local control of mineral lease revenues tied to regulations in the Bureau of Land Management and the Office of Natural Resources Revenue.

On social policy, he emphasized improving access to health services via programs run by the Indian Health Service and advocated for educational support involving tribal colleges and the Bureau of Indian Education. Two Bulls also addressed infrastructure financing mechanisms, engaging with federal grant programs from the Department of Transportation and economic development tools linked to the Economic Development Administration.

Controversies and public response

Two Bulls' tenure drew public attention and controversy over decisions on development projects, law enforcement practices, and administrative appointments, prompting scrutiny from media outlets, political opponents, and advocacy groups. Debates involved stakeholders such as environmental NGOs, energy corporations, tribal advocacy organizations, and state officials, and referenced federal oversight by agencies like the Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice. Public responses included demonstrations, opinion editorials in regional newspapers, and testimony before legislative bodies at state and federal levels. Legal challenges to policy decisions prompted litigation in state and federal courts, engaging judges from the South Dakota judiciary and federal district courts.

Personal life and affiliations

Two Bulls is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and has been affiliated with tribal cultural institutions, community nonprofits, and professional associations such as state bar organizations and Native legal networks. He has participated in intertribal conferences, collaborations involving the National Congress of American Indians, and regional partnerships with organizations like the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Association. Two Bulls' personal affiliations also connected him to faith communities and local civic organizations on the Pine Ridge Reservation, and he has engaged with academic partners at institutions including tribal colleges and state universities. Category:Native American politicians