Tribes Reach $9 Million Goal and Purchase Sacred Site of Pe' Sla
Tribes Reach $9 Million Goal and Purchase Sacred Site of Pe' Sla
VINCENT SCHILLING :: November 30, 2012
In a historic culmination of events leading up to the Pe’ Sla purchase deadline of November 30, the Great Sioux Nation, or Oceti Sakowin has managed to raise the $9 million necessary to secure the sacred land in the Black Hills of South Dakota. In a private affair between the Reynolds family and representatives of the Great Sioux Nation, the contracts have been signed and the land is now in the hands of the nation.
According to Rosebud Sioux Tribe Chairman Cyril “Whitey” Scott, the purchase is a done deal. “I can tell you that Pe' Sla, the sacred land on behalf of the Oceti Sakowin, is secured. The $9 million was secured, Pe' Sla has been purchased.”
In an interview with Chairman Scott minutes ago, he read the only official statement released by the Great Sioux Nation and said anything stated before his comments have been “unofficial.”
“The historic requisition of Pe’ Sla started today in Rapid City, South Dakota. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe, the Crow Creek Tribe, and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Tribe community gathered in a historic assembly of the United Tribes.
Pe’ Sla is sacred because it is related to the Lakota creation and it is the site for annual ceremonies. It has historically hosted many village gatherings. Black Elk, the Lakota visionary sought his visions at Pe’ Sla. It is the high mountain on a prairie in the heart of the Black Hills.
The land of Pe’ Sla was once protected by the 1868 and 1851 Sioux nation treaties. The United States violated those treaties and took the Black Hills in violation of the fifth amendment of the Constitution. Today the requisition is a historic event for the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people. The tribes will work together to form the Oceti Sakowin Sacred Land Protection Commission to protect Pe’ Sla. We will preserve the sacred site for traditional and cultural ceremonies and keep it in a pristine state for our future generations.
We are grateful to stand together before the creator and to help our people in reclaiming one of our most sacred sites. We are not waiting for the United States to deal with this justly on the Black Hills rights and we ask that now that we are exercising our inherent sovereign authority to protect this most sacred site. We must perpetuate our way of life for future generations.
We thank the members of the public who donated to this cause to create justice for all people and now we are more determined than ever that the United States must provide justice for our people. We thank the Reynolds family for working with us in our requisition of Pe’ Sla as a sacred site for Lakota, Nakota and Dakota people.”
According to Scott, The Reynolds family was also present at the signing. Though he said he was not able to release any other details Scott did say, “This was one of the most heartwarming experiences I have ever experienced in my life besides becoming a leader of the Oyate Sakowin.”
Story Courtesy of:: Indian Country Today media Network
Author :: Vincent Schilling
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/article/tribes-reach-9-million-goal-and-purchase-sacred-site-pe-sla-146015
Rosebud Sioux Tribe Kindergarten Class Donates $50 Toward Purchase of Pe’ Sla
VINCENT SCHILLING :: November 23, 2012
On November 16 Rosebud Sioux Tribal Chairman Cyril “Whitey” Scott received what he calls the best contribution the tribal council and the Oceti Sakowin, the Seven Council fires of the Great Sioux Nation, has received toward the purchase of Pe’ Sla, the sacred site in the Black Hills.
On that Friday, during a tribal council meeting, Oyate Burnette’s kindergarten class from Rosebud Elementary in Rosebud, South Dakota dropped off $50 in change they had collected over the course of two weeks.
Scott said the children’s visit was the greatest source of joy throughout the entire Pe’ Sla fundraising process because they worked so hard.
“These kids are the greatest that raised $50 in pennies and change to help secure Pe’ Sla,” he said. “It makes me proud to see that our young people as far down as kindergarten understand the sacredness of this land. Our babes have raised $50 cash money which will never be forgotten. I thank them and I thank their teachers for doing this.”
Burnette, the kid’s teacher, said the fundraiser took two weeks. The children dropped whatever change they could collect or earn into the “Pe’ Sla Piggy Bank.” Starting with just 14 cents, the children eventually raised $50.
Burnette started the effort in her classroom to teach the children to be independent, to step forward and to do things themselves. “I think it’s important for a child to grow up and look back and say that they were a part of that and to see their name listed as a contributor to the sacred Pe’ Sla.”
After collecting the money, the students made a special trip to a tribal council meeting and presented their donation in person. In a gesture of appreciation, chairman Scott and the other councilmen shook every hand of each child that visited that day in honor of their donation.
“It gives me a happy heart to speak on the issue of our youth that raised $50,” said Scott. “In the whole fundraising issue for Pe' Sla, this is the best part of everything.”
Currently, Scott, spokesperson for the Great Sioux Nation says the Oceti Sakowin are not yet able to disclose any details on the purchase of Pe ’Sla. The deadline for the purchase is November 30.
Story Courtesy of:: Indian Country Today media NetworkAuthor :: Vincent Schilling
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/article/rosebud-sioux-tribe-kindergarten-class-donates-50-toward-purchase-pe%E2%80%99-sla-145803
Stars help Sioux tribes trying to buy sacred Black Hills land
Stars help Sioux tribes trying to buy sacred Black Hills landDaily Republic - Thu, 15 Nov 2012 04:33:09 -0800
Tribes of the Great Sioux Nation hope to buy nearly 2,000 acres in the Black Hills that they call Pe' Sla. The property is important to their creation story, and tribal members have long held ceremonies there. When the land was put up for sale, tribal ...
http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/event/article/id/72542/
Hollywood and Hip Hop Unite to Help Save Lakota Sacred Site
Hollywood and Hip Hop Unite to Help Save Lakota Sacred SiteHuffington Post (blog) - Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:40:01 -0800
Hollywood and hip hop have joined forces in a final push to save the Lakota sacred religious site Pe'Sla from the auction block. Ezra Miller, now starring in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and producer Sol Guy went to South Dakota to meet with ...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/georgianne-nienaber/hollywood-and-hip-hop-unite_b_2143615.html
Tribes Preparing To Close On Pe' Sla
Tribes Preparing To Close On Pe' Sla
KELOLAND TV - Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:04:42 -0800
In September, area tribes struck a deal to purchase a sacred tract of Black Hills land known as Pe' Sla. What followed was a fundraising campaign to help cover the $9 million price tag ahead of the November 30 closing deadline. It may look like prime ...
http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/tribes-preparing-to-close-on-pe-sla/?id=140006
Great Sioux Nation Comes Together in Historic Gesture of Unity in the Name of Sacred Pe’Sla
Great Sioux Nation Comes Together in Historic Gesture of Unity in the Name of Sacred Pe’Sla
By Vincent Schilling :: October 25, 2012
Read more at :: Indian Country Today Media Network
In the first time since the Battle of Little Big Horn, the Great Sioux Nation has stated publicly that they have come together in a committed gesture of unity in their efforts to reclaim the sacred site of Pe’ Sla.
On Friday, October 5 tribal leaders of the Great Sioux Nation met in Rapid City, South Dakota to discuss collaborative efforts and steps to take in order to re-obtain nearly 2,000 acres of sacred land known in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Though tribal leaders did not reveal to the public specific details about their discussions, in his first statement to the press, appointed Great Sioux Nation spokesperson and Rosebud Sioux Tribe Chairman Cyril “Whitey” Scott told ICTMN, “This is a historic day in Indian Country.”
“We are coming together as the Great Sioux Nation. We are one,” he said. “No tribe will be left behind. The last time we had gathered as one was during the Battle of Little Bighorn. Today we are all back together as one.”
Scott said all of the tribes collectively agreed he would be speaking on their behalf.
“They made me the spokesperson of all the tribes here in Rosebud. Our only comment at this time is that we are all united as the Oceti Sakowin (Seven Council Fires) as it should be, to move forward to obtain these sacred lands.”
Scott said that though the tribes are not yet releasing any details on how the tribes would share the cost of purchasing Pe’ Sla, he stated definitively that the meeting was a historic and positive step for the collective group of tribes that would now consider themselves all part of the Great Sioux Nation.
“We are going to have another meeting toward the end of the month and then we will be releasing a full-blown press release,” he said. “What we want to give out now is that we are united and we are one in the hunt for our sacred lands.”
“It is very historic what went on there today—the discussion was great, we spoke as one and we came out as one. That is where we are at right now,” he said. “We are one people once again. We are together.”