Defenders of the Black Hills  - Hesapa O'nakijin

Form letters for you to copy and send

The mission of Defenders of the Black Hills is to ensure that all of the provisions of the Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851 and 1868 are upheld by the federal government of the United States.

A dedicated site is now available for the Sioux Nation Treaty Council please visit www.siouxnationtreatycouncil.org

In August of 2002, South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle passed a legislative "rider" that exempted thousands of acres of logging and many miles of road construction in the Black Hills National Forest from all laws. This "rider" was passed under the guise of "forest fire protection," but has done nothing but wreak havoc on the natural environment and sacred lands of the Black Hills.

Although plans for the shooting range near Bear Butte have been canceled, there is more to be done. Bear Butte needs permanent legal protection as a national historic site so proposals like the shooting range don't continue to threaten it.