SOUTH DAKOTA — A recent celebration at the Pactola or Ȟe Sápa, Black Hills, Visitor Center in South Dakota commemorated two new memorandums of understanding between the Oceti Sakowin Great Sioux Nation Tribes and the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region. USDA Under Secretary Dr. Homer Wilkes and Forest Service Chief Randy Moore attended the occasion along with numerous Tribal and Forest Service representatives.

Participants acknowledged the strong connection that Indigenous people have with the Black Hills and were enthusiastic about the new co-stewardship plan to protect the Black Hills moving forward.

“The Sioux Tribes have worked together over several months to develop the MOU. It will be implemented with subsequent stewardship agreements and provides an important structure for the tribes to participate in stewardship activities in the Black Hills National Forest,” stated Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out.

“This is a historic moment in the history of our country with respect to our relationships with Tribes,” said Regional Forester Troy Heithecker, “and we’re honored to have entered into this agreement with the Great Sioux Nation Tribes. This inspirational action will allow us to work together to better steward their ancestral homelands and enhance understanding of their cultural history and spiritual connection to the Black Hills,” he added.  

The first MOU establishes an ambitious framework for consultation, land and water conservation, sustainable forest stewardship, landscape scale restoration, cultural resource and sacred site protection, fuel reduction, wildfire management, youth programs, workforce development and enhanced visitor relations.

The second MOU invites participating Tribal nations, particularly elders, to shape the visitor center’s educational and interpretive programs. By conveying their stories, traditions and practices, the Oceti Sakowin Great Sioux Nation Tribes can help current and future generations better understand their origins and identity while enhancing the experience for all visitors who will learn first-hand about the area’s culture and history.

Participants enjoyed a lunch of bison tacos, corn cakes and wojapi berry sauce provided by the Box Elder Job Corps Culinary Arts students. Tribal members presented Under Secretary Wilkes and Chief Moore each with a symbolic and sacred Star Quilt. Gift baskets were presented to the Tribal leaders. Themes of the luncheon celebration included Tribal food sovereignty, shared land stewardship values and strength in working together.

Participating Tribes in the memorandum include the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe. The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska, and the Yankton Sioux Tribe are in the discussions and will potentially join the formal agreement in the near future.