A view of Harney Peak in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Photo from BHrock / Wikipedia
The South Dakota Board on Geographic Names voted 4-1 on Monday to retain the name of Harney Peak despite its connection to the massacre of tribal people. Board members said the public does not support a change to "Hinhan Kaga," the Lakota name for the sacred site in the Black Hills. But confusion arose in the process because the board initially considered "Black Elk Peak" as the name. The board in fact held five meetings to discuss "Black Elk Peak." According to news reports, there was near unanimous support from the public for that name. "Hinhan Kaga" was a newer suggestion. Officials in Pennington County opposed that name, which translates to Place of Owls, according to Delphine Red Shirt, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Basil Brave Heart, also Oglala, originally proposed "Black Elk Peak" as the new name. Black Elk was an Lakota medicine man who died in 1950. Brave Heart's proposal is being considered by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The South Dakota board's vote will be considered as a recommendation as part of the process. Tribal members support a new name because General William S. Harney led a massacre of the Lakota people in 1854 during the Indian wars. Get the Story:
Harney Peak’s name will stay (The Black Hills Pioneer 6/30)
SD name panel flips, says keep Harney Peak moniker (AP 6/29)
They want to stick with Harney Peak (KELO 6/29)
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Lakota Country Times: Efforts to rename sacred peak ramp up (3/30)
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