Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Photo by E_Bass
Rosebud Opposes Land Transfer
By Vi Waln
Lakota Times Correspondent
lakotacountrytimes.com ROSEBUD – The Rosebud Sioux Tribe has issued a statement opposing the federal transfer of land located in the Black Hills to the state of South Dakota. The proposed law [H.R.5871 | S.3254] was quietly introduced to both the House and Senate with little to no consultation with tribes who have a vested interest in land matters relating to the Black Hills. According to a press release “The Rosebud Sioux Tribe and other Oceti Sakowin Tribes were not notified or consulted by federal or state government on this matter.” “We demand that all legislation on this federal to state land exchange of Black Hills parcels cease. We also demand that any further legislation involving the transfer of federal Black Hills lands to the state of South Dakota not be initiated without first consulting with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the other Oceti Sakowin Tribes,” the press release stated. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe has gone on record through Resolution 2016-230, which states in part “the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council hereby opposes the State of South Dakota Governor and Congressional Delegation efforts and any and all legislation for the federal-state land exchange because those lands are part of the 1851 and 1868 Ft. Laramie Treaty, and belong to the Oceti Sakowin Dakota, Lakota and Nakota tribes.”
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The press release also states that South Dakota’s Congressional Delegation, “at the behest of SD Governor Dennis Daugaard have introduced legislation intended to facilitate a federal-state land transfer of 1,992 acres” located in the Black Hills. The land in question rightfully belongs to the Great Sioux Nation, according to the press release. Questions can be directed to Philimon Two Eagle of the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council at (605) 856-2998. (Vi Waln is an enrolled citizen of the Sicangu Lakota Nation and is a nationally published journalist.) Find the award-winning Lakota Country Times on the Internet, Facebook and Twitter and download the new Lakota Country Times app today.
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