Sioux tribes upset over sale of sacred site in SD

Raising money to buy the land is a monumental and controversial undertaking for the Sioux tribes. An 1868 treaty set aside the Black Hills and other land for the Sioux, but Congress passed a law in 1877 seizing the land following the discovery of gold in western South Dakota. A 1980 U.S. Supreme Court ruling awarded more than $100 million to the Sioux tribes for the Black Hills, but the tribes have refused to accept the money, saying the land has never been for sale. There are Sioux tribes in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska and Canada.

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If anyone deserves a government grant to buy land, it would be these people. They would conserve the land that was once theirs.

I don't think they will ever be able to raise the needed money on time. Hopefully, the buyers of the land can sell them some area to still be able to pray on.

Now might be a good time accept that money!

I believe this includes Mt. Rushmore. I read a while back that the Sioux view the presidents as vandalism of their land.

reply to post by rtyfx


I wouldn't doubt that they view them as monsters. The presidents have done the Native Americans no favors.

The sacred land is called Pe Sla. The Lakota creation story and it's land is very ancient to the people.

Pe'Sla

Help us reclaim part of the Black Hills

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rosebud Sioux Tribe to take a Lead on Protecting Sacred Site

ROSEBUD, S.D. - In the spirit of religious freedom, the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council announced Wednesday, Aug. 8 that it would act as the fiscal agent to bid in the Pe Sla sacred site auction in the Black Hills. The site, also known as the Reynolds Prairie Ranches, between Lead and Hill City, S.D., will be up for bidding on Aug. 25.

The Pe Sla sacred site is where, according to the Lakota spiritual tradition, the Morning Star fell to earth, killing sever beings that killed seven women. To honor the fallen, the Morning Star placed the souls of the women into the stars at the Pleiades constellation. The geographic distinction of the tradition is noted as the translation, “Old Baldy,” because of the stark contrast from the surrounding hills and trees to open prairie.

Every year, tribes within the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota nations gather to perform ritual and ceremony as a way to ensure the continued wellbeing of all people. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe is amoung those tribes that send contingents to there every year. In that spirit, the Rosebud council voted to act as the conduit to unite all the Oceti Sakowin – or Seven Council Fires of the Nation – in this stuggle to maintain its deeply rooted traditions. If successful, this will mark one of the first attempts by the Great Sioux Nation to unite in common cause, bid for ownership and shar the site for all tribal members to practice their faith.

The tribe is working with LastRealIndians.com to accept donations from both tribes and individuals, who want to join in keeping religious freedoms for Lakota people alive and intact at Pe Sla. Send contributions to: Rosebud Sioux Tribe / Pe Sla, 11 Legion Ave., P.O. Box 430, Rosebud, SD 57570 or online at: www.protectpesla.org/. All donations to the Tribe are tax-deductible and will only be used toward the purchase of Pe Sla.

Contact Info:
Alfred Walking Bull
Communications Specialist
Rosebud Sioux Tribe
605-747-5755, ext. 25
[email protected]

www.rosebudsiouxtribe-nsn.gov...

reply to post by Starchildren


Thank you for the info. I question why (if) they have 100 million in trust, they don't tap that and just use it to buy back the land. Obviously the money was for a bigger amount of land, but sometimes what is happening now is more important.

reply to post by Doodle19815

I think it a shame that they have to buy their own land. Just once I'd like to see the government do the right thing without being prodded to do so.

reply to post by rtyfx


Lol, I don't think prodding is even going to make the gov do the right thing. They would have to backtrack way to far to do the right thing here. If they were actually to do the right thing, that would uproot a whole lot of people who are now living on land that once belonged to Native Americans.

Could you imagine the major cities and towns that are now on lands that should be "given back"?
IMO, the N.A. Should take the money and make the best of the present situation. Buy back the land as it comes up for sale or use it to supply for their people.

reply to post by Doodle19815

I guess the question in this case is what is on the land they want back? Towns? Private homes?

If there's nothing there the government should just give it to them.

reply to post by Doodle19815


If they accept that money it should be enough to buy back almost all or all of the Black Hills.......

I don't know what is the best way to go but the Chiefs of the Dakota Reservations know what they're doing and they have excellent legal advice. They may have to use that money for the purchase.

Is there any other alternative? Obama won't fuggin budge!

I'm watching this story VERY VERY closely.

reply to post by rtyfx


I'll tell you whats on the land......natural resources that should not be mined

reply to post by bluemirage5

Well, that explains that. What a surprise.

reply to post by rtyfx


I am not picking on you when I say this -

Show me a piece of land that isn't already owned. I guess the gov could give back state park areas. How mad would you be though if someone knocked on your door and said ok, we are giving this land back, we need you to pack up and move.

reply to post by Doodle19815

I'm not saying displace people on the land. I'm saying if the area is uninhabited they should return it.

I don't know who owns what though. I know it sounds crazy, but if I owned a couple acres there and had nothing on it I'd give it back to the Sioux if they asked for it.

Pe' Sla: Help Save The Lakota Sioux Lands:

www.indiegogo.com...

reply to post by rtyfx


It's owned by a married couple and they have gone silent

reply to post by bluemirage5

Okay, well, I don't know what the answer is.

Do they live on the land? Do they use it for farming or grazing? How big is the parcel? What is its true value? Who did the owners acquire it from?

I can't venture an opinion. I don't know enough about it. I only know what I would do. I would try to find some kind of compromise.

reply to post by bluemirage5


Of course they have gone silent. They could have donated a couple hundred acres of the 2000, instead they are selling all for a profit. Though they were nice enough to let the tribes meet there while they owned it.

That's a lot of land. Seems to me they could part with some of it.

Some people see nothing but $$$ signs.

ETA: If the owners had any class they'd donate some. If they want to "save" their reputations they should sell it at its pre-development value, which is probably very low.

reply to post by rtyfx


I think each Lot up for auction is worth approx $2M a piece

reply to post by rtyfx


I think the Lakota Chiefs have tried to come up with a compromise and have thought of everything carefully with their top lawyers. If word got out around the World sooner, more money may have been collected for more purchases. Time is fast running out.