IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 5 /PRN/ -- On Aug. 16, 1988, the nation's Sioux Indians will march to Mt. Rushmore where they plan to hold a Sioux Nation Black Hills rally as part of their continuing crusade to recover lands in the Black Hills that were, according to the Great Sioux Nation, illegally confiscated from them by the U.S. government in 1877.
The rally at Mt. Rushmore, which will be attended by approximately 20,000 tourists, is part of an effort by the Sioux Nation to counter what they feel is misleading propaganda that is being disseminated to tourists by the Open Hills Association, a group that is seeking to block legislation that is designed to return approximately 1.3 million acres of unoccupied federally held land in the Black Hills to the Sioux Indians.
The Sioux Nation will appear at Mt. Rushmore in strength, with representatives from the Oglala, Rosebud, Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes participating in the event.
Prior to the event at Mt. Rushmore, a major Sioux encampment, including a large number of tepees, will be established on Aug. 15, at the Pine Creek Overlook, a campsite that is approximately 1.7 miles from Mt. Rushmore and close to Horse Thief lake. At the encampment site, the Sioux will mobilize and prepare for the march to Mt. Rushmore.
On Aug. 16, the Sioux have planned a program of entertainment and speeches for the tourists at Mt. Rushmore. Joni Mitchell, the well-known singer and lyricist will participate in the event, as will Iron Eyes Cody, the famous indian actor who has appeared in scores of western films. Sioux leaders will also present speeches relative to the history of the Black Hills and the Sioux efforts to achieve justice relative to the Black Hills issue.
The public is invited to visit the Sioux encampment area, as well as participate in the special program to be held at Mt. Rushmore.
The Sioux Nation states that regarding the illegally confiscation of the Black Hills from the Sioux people, the U.S. Supreme Court declared in 1980 that the taking of the Black Hills from the Sioux Indians was "...the most ripe and rank case of dishonorable dealing, in all probability, in the history of our nation." The Supreme Court also said the Sioux were entitled to receive "fair and just compensation" for the grievous crime, yet eight years have passed since the Supreme Court ruling and, according to the Sioux Nation, not one square foot of land, nor one dollar in compensation has been paid to the Sioux in reparations for the crime.
The Sioux seek to recover only unoccupied federally held lands in the Black Hills -- lands that have remained unoccupied for the past 111 years and that, according to the Sioux Nation, rightfully belong to the Sioux people. The Sioux do not seek the return of Mt. Rushmore, any occupied federally held lands, any state-held lands nor any privately held lands as part of the proposed land settlement plan. They also seek to receive fair and just compensation for damages inflicted upon them as a result of the taking of their lands and the plundering of more than $18 billion of Sioux gold, silver and other natural resources confiscated from the lands, according to the Sioux Nation.
CONTACT -- Phil Stevens, special chief of the Sioux Nation, 714-833-3865
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