Difference between revisions 155997288 and 155997289 on dewiki

[[Image:Black hills from space.jpg|frame|The Black Hills, [[South Dakota]], [[United States]] image from space.]]'''The Black Hills Land Claim''' is an ongoing land dispute between Native Americans from the Sioux nation and the United States Federal Government.

== Background ==
=== Geography ===
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=== Origin of the land claim ===
In 1849 the [[Californian Gold Rush]] attracted more settlers to the Black Hills.<ref name="AW2">Allen Weinstein,. Story of America Freedom and Crisis From Settlement to Superpower (New York: DK Pub. Co., 2002), 320.</ref> As a result, the [[Treaty of Fort Laramie (1851)]] was formed to establish land rights and maintain peace between travel
ling miners and the Sioux. Under this treaty, the formation of reservations began where pieces of allotted land were distributed to several tribes.<ref name="AW4"/>

(contracted; show full)opriations bill in February 1851 to allow Commissioner of Indian Affairs Luke Lea to negotiate with the Native Americans living on the Black Hills.<ref name="SMB">Smith Burton, “Politics and the Crow Indian Land Cessions.” ''Montana'': ''The Magazine of Western History'' 36, no. 4 (Autumn. 1986), 27.</ref>  The Fort Laramie Treaty was developed to prevent further harm of the natural resources in the Black Hills that were damaged by miners travel
ling to California.<ref name="SMB" />  The treaty also developed boundaries for the Sioux and promoted peace between white settlers and plain Indians. Consequently, the treaty favoured United States expansionism when the Sioux agreed to the development of railroads and trails within their territory.<ref name="EL61">Edward Lazarus, ''Black Hills/White Justice The Sioux Nation versus the United States, 1775 to the Present'' (New York: HarperCollins, 1991), 16-20.</ref>

In contrast, the treaty did prove beneficial to the Sioux nation, where the government agreed to pay the tribe $50,000 each year for 50 years and recognized land rights of the Sioux and their right to self governance within their boundaries.<ref name="EL881">Edward Lazarus, ''Black Hills/White Justice The Sioux Nation versus the United States, 1775 to the Present'' (New York: HarperCollins, 1991), 17.</ref> However, the United States violated the treaty a year later on May 24, 1852 when the United States Senate decreased the payment of $50,000 for fifty years to ten years.<ref name="SMB223">Smith Burton, “Politics and the Crow Indian Land Cessions.” ''Montana: The Magazine of Western History'' 36, no. 4 (Autumn. 1986), 28.</ref>

=== 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty ===
On December 21, 1866 a supply train, travelling on [[Bozeman Trail]] was attacked by Sioux Indians. Soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel William Fetterman at Fort Philip Kearny retaliated but were all killed by a small Sioux army led by Red Cloud.<ref name="EL981">Edward Lazarus, ''Black Hills/White Justice The Sioux Nation versus the United States, 1775 to the Present'' (New York: HarperCollins, 1991), 38.</ref>  

United States Congress responded on July 20, 1867 by passing a bill for an Indian peace commission.<ref name="EL881">Edward Lazarus, ''Black Hills/White Justice The Sioux Nation versus the United States, 1775 to the Present'' (New York: HarperCollins, 1991), 45.</ref>  The peace expedition was led by Lieutenant General William T Sherman.<ref name="AW98">Weinstein, Story of America, 323.</ref>  While negotiating, Sioux Indian Spotted Tail, representing the Indians of Powder River stated “We object to the Powder River road. The country which we live in is cut up by white men, who drive away all the game. That is the cause of our troubles.” <ref name="EL98">Lazarus, ''Black Hills/White Justice'', 46.</ref>  General Sherman responded by saying that the government would not close down the trail but would compensate the Indians for any damages travellers may have caused to the land. Red Cloud hesitated to sign the treaty, but eventually agreed to the terms on November 6, 1868.<ref name="AW6898">Weinstein, ''Story of America'', 324.</ref>   

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The Sioux are re-emerging with new faith and are ready to start working with President Barack Obama where they have publicly announced their eagerness for “government to government negotiations to explore innovative solutions to resolve the long-standing dispute over the sacred Black Hills in a fair and hono
urable manner. “<ref name="ABC" /> 

There is no current government activity on the Black Hills. However, on November 5, 2009 President Obama stated to the Native American population that "You deserve to have a voice,” and “You will not be forgotten as long as I'm in this White House."<ref name="CNNN">''Washington-CNN'', “Obama pledges new relationship with Native Americans.CNN Politics, November 5, 2009, http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/0(contracted; show full)*[http://www.crazyhorsememorial.org/ Official Website of the Crazy Horse Memorial]

[[Category:Black Hills]]
[[Category:Lakota]]
[[Category:Internal territorial disputes of the United States]]
[[Category:Native American history of South Dakota]]
[[Category:Native American history of Wyoming]]
[[Category:Aboriginal title in the United States]]