The Cheyenne River Youth Project, a Native American-led nonprofit organization, recently purchased nearly 40 acres of land in the Black Hills of South Dakota as part of a movement that seeks to return land to Indigenous people. The purchased land is located adjacent to Bear Butte State Park, a sacred place for the Lakota Nation that holds historical significance. The U.S. government seized the Black Hills in the late 19th century, leading to the loss of access to this sacred area for Indigenous communities.
Julie Garreau, the executive director of the project, emphasized the importance of preserving access to sacred places as urban areas expand and land values increase. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1980 that the U.S. had illegally taken the Black Hills, yet the Lakota people refused the awarded $105 million as the land was never for sale. The organization’s decision to purchase the land aims to facilitate access to a region where Indigenous communities have deep roots but face barriers such as long travel distances and high lodging costs.
The acquisition of this land by the Cheyenne River Youth Project is part of a larger trend where tribes in various countries, including the U.S., Canada, and Australia, are reclaiming their ancestral lands through movements like Land Back. These efforts represent a significant step towards recognizing and restoring the rights of Indigenous peoples to their traditional territories, addressing historical injustices, and preserving cultural heritage for future generations.