RAPID CITY, SD — For months now, various groups including NDNCollective, the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, and Remembering the Children Memorial have taken verbal action regarding exploratory graphite drilling currently occurring in the two-mile radius of Pe’ Sla. 

Yesterday, activists shut down drilling operations which organizations say violate federal law and the autonomy of Native Americans over their land.

Pe’ Sla is a centrally important prayer and ceremonial site in the heart of the Black Hills known to contain several thousand years worth of significant historical artifacts. In 1868 the Fort Laramie treaty guaranteed the area of the Black Hills, including Pe’ Sla, to the Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation) however though this right to the land has been repeatedly acknowledged as legally legitimate, it has not been materially observed in practice. In 2016 the site was made a federal land trust and placed under the stewardship of the Oceti Sakowin, with federal authorities establishing a two-mile buffer zone around the area of the site which was meant to prevent development which could endanger the environment or destroy artifacts around the site.

This buffer zone is the main point of contention for NDN and other native groups, who have learned that drilling operations have begun within the buffer and took direct action. NDN has filed a lawsuit against Pete Lien & Sons at this time, and at drilling sites groups have engaged in prayer and protest calling for the protection of the threatened land. Remaining through the night, these Treaty Defenders on the scene bound themselves to equipment, setting up a prayer altar soon after, according to Indian Country Today. 

An estimate of the location of drill pads in relation to Pe’ Sla and the two mile protective buffer zone put in place by the U.S. Forest Service and tribes. (Courtesy of NDNCollective)

“We are standing in prayer to protect our sacred places and clean drinking water for all. Every single person has a moral duty to protect our world from harm. The illegal drilling activities of Pete Lien & Sons is a threat to us all.” say Defenders on-site “We ask for the immediate halt of all drilling activities, that a full [Environmental Impact Study] be completed, along with proper consultation with tribal nations. We ask for expanded community support so that we can work toward a better future for all people and Mother Earth“.

In a press conference held this afternoon representatives of both Native American Rights and Environmental groups, as well as representatives from the Oglala Sioux Tribe reaffirmed the actions of protest conducted by treaty defenders. Amy Sazue called on activists to heed the call of local groups and lend their support. Non-Native American allies from NDN, as well as BH Clean Water alliance called for support from the local community, with Dr. Lilias Jarding calling for any who care about a safe watershed and protected ecosystem, and anyone who cares about maintaining a beautiful area for people to visit to not take these actions lightly. “We need to show our support” said a representative of NDN, speaking as an ally for Native American Rights “We need to be willing to take on the risk too”.

According to NDN, the route to the demonstration sites have been blocked by police, who are requesting IDs of those who attempt to enter, and who are not allowing food or water to be delivered to protestors. In a preemptive statement by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement are calling this an attempt to stop, “legally permitted drilling activities through illegal means”.

Statements from officials suggest Treaty Defenders plan on remaining at the site throughout the weekend, and are encouraging individuals interested in supporting the cause to join them at the protest site, call the US Forest service at 605-343-1567 to demand the drilling permit be revoked, and to text “SAVEPESLA” to 50302.