Protect
Sacred Sites Indigenous People, One Nation is a grass roots organization,
working towards the protection of sacred sites across the country. Our
organization has been actively involved with the ongoing struggle to Protect
Bear Butte for several years. We are continuing these efforts, our organization
is currently leading the campaign regarding the new developments and further
expansions at Bear Butte. Please visit our main website at
www.ProtectSacredSites.org
There are four National designations for Bear Butte
National Historical Landmark, listed on December
21, 1981
National Historical Places, listed on June 19,
1973
National Natural Landmark, listed on April 1965
Registered National Trail (Bear
Butte Summit Trail), listed on June 1,1971
Bear Butte was established as a State Park in 1961.
Protect Bear Butte,
our sacred ground is not their
playground!
Bear Butte is a sacred mountain located
in the Black Hills, just eight miles east of Sturgis, South Dakota.
Bear Butte is sacred to approximately
thirty of the Plains Tribes, including Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, Northern Cheyenne
and Arapaho. The Tribes, have traveled to Bear Butte for thousands of years for
their annual ceremonies, generally in the months of June through August.
When people come to the sacred mountain
for their ceremonies, they prepare for this journey for one year. Bear Butte is
where people go for healing, or to ask for guidance about any hardships and
issues they may be faced with. The sacred mountain, Bear Butte and Grandmother
Earth are our church.
The blatant disregard for the spiritual
beliefs and ceremonies of Native People and the sacredness of this mountain is
evidenced by the increased presence of bars, clubs, strobe lights, campgrounds
that sell alcohol, concert venues and helicopters over the mountain.
Instead of praying in peace, traditional
people are forced to pray with loud music from bars, motorcycle noise, flashing
strobe lights over the mountain, and intoxicated campers nearby.
In the past couple years, the rally has
expanded and development is encroaching right toward Bear Butte. In 2006, Jay
Allen owner of Broken Spoke developed at property one mile from Bear Butte
called Sturgis County Line. He has been very disrespectful from the very
beginning to the Native people in this issue, completely disregarding our
concerns of his development.
Over the past two years, there has been
an ongoing struggle to Protect Bear
Butte against this development. Recently, this location has further expanded
and developed, they also changed the name to Broken Spoke Campground. Some of
their expansions include opening year round, hosting rally type events all
summer long, hosting concerts each night and their latest attack, offering
helicopter rides over the mountain during the rally. These expansions will
virtually make it impossible, all summer to pray in peace at Bear Butte.
A campaign called
“Bikers for Bear Butte” is in
progress to educate bikers, in regards to the significance and protection for
Bear Butte. This has been an on-going effort to create awareness over the past
two years. People from across the nation have participated in reaching out to
the bikers. It is through awareness that we can help make a difference with this
issue. We have support from many people within the biker community but most
people remain unaware of the struggle. Many bikers have stated they were not
aware of the significance of Bear Butte previously, but will now support us and
act accordingly.
We ask for respectful behavior from
people who are near the mountain. We want to limit the noise, intrusive
lighting, alcohol consumption and stop the helicopter rides over Bear Butte.
Today, Native people are struggling to
protect sacred sites across the
country. Protecting what is sacred, our identity, culture and spirituality.
These sites have been sacred since the beginning of time. Tribes received their
creation stories from these sites, their medicine and their way of life.
Our sacred sites represent who we are as
a people, connect us to our ancestors and to the Creator. If these places vanish
where we go to pray, to fast, to speak with our ancestors, where our ancestors
are laid to rest, what will happen to tradition and spirituality?
The loss of sacred sites, or ability to
have the natural serenity and tranquility needed for cultural and ceremonial
use, ultimately affects the life of seven generations yet to come.
Timeline for Bear Butte issue
February
2003 - The Northern Cheyenne, Rosebud Sioux, Crow Creek Sioux and
Yankton Sioux tribes and Defenders of the Black Hills file lawsuit to stop
shooting range four miles north of Bear Butte.
During his time in office, Governor
Janklow provided faulty information in order to obtain money from the Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The program also received an illegal
grant of $825,000.00 from Housing Urban Development (HUD) program.
January
2004 – Sturgis Industrial Expansion Corp. (SIEC) and the City of
Sturgis announce they are abandoning plans to develop shooting range near Bear
Butte.
Governor
Rounds, now in office and returns the funds to HUD.
August
2005 – Jay Allen announces developing the world’s largest biker bar,
calling it “On Sacred Ground” just north of Bear Butte. Also, erecting a 80 foot
Indian statue pointing towards the mountain and tipi’s. The property will
include a bar, concert venue, restaurant and RV park.
October
2005 – After objections from local tribes and Native people, Jay
Allen changes the name of bar from “On Sacred Ground” to “Sturgis County Line”
January
2006 - Paul Valandra, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and Jim
Bradford, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, sponsor HB1233. The bill would
create a four-mile buffer zone around Bear Butte, the bill would prohibit liquor
licenses from being issued for establishments around Bear Butte.
February
2006 – House Local Government Committee voted 9-3 to reject HB1233
March 2006
– Jay Allen breaks ground with the new development of Sturgis County Line.
April 4,
2006 – Over 1,000 supporters, both Native and non showed support to
protect Bear Butte for the protest gathering held at Meade County Commissioners
courthouse.
The Meade County Commissioner’s
unanimously voted 5-0 to approve Jay Allen’s liquor license.
May 2006
– Meade County denies submitted petition requesting a county vote on approval of
Jay Allen’s liquor license. The Commissioners determined the approval of the
license was an "administrative action" therefore, the issue
cannot be referred to a vote. More than 750 signatures were collected within
Meade County, which was more than enough votes to overturn the Commissioners
decision.
July 4,
2006 – Gathering of Nations to Defend Bear Butte encampment begins,
running through August 7th.
August
2006 – Sturgis Bike Rally Week. Jay Allen’s Sturgis County Line opens
its doors.
Protest walk from Bear Butte encampment
to Sturgis is held during the rally. Approximately 500 people are in attendance.
December
2006 – on sale license renewed
June 2007
– Jay Allen’s, Sturgis County Line, off sale license revoked due to poor
character, based upon unpaid bills to local contractors. Meade County
Commissioner’s warn Allen if bills are not paid, his on sale license in December
will be in jeopardy.
August
2007 – 2nd year open for Sturgis County Line.
Two organizations, Protect Sacred Sites,
Indigenous People One Nation, BBIA, a few private citizens and Northern
Cheyenne’s hosted a prayer camp at the base of Bear Butte on the Northern
Cheyenne property off hwy 79. A smaller presence than 2006, is held from August
1st – 15th, during bike week.
December
2007 – Meade County Commissioners revoke Jay Allen’s Sturgis County
Line on sale liquor license due to poor character, based upon the continued
unpaid bills to local contractors.
Governor Rounds proposes House Bill 1275
to the 2008 state Legislature. This bill would enact a conservation easement for
the area around Bear Butte. A request for the state of South Dakota to purchase
743 acres of land that adjoined Bear Butte State Park.
There is hereby appropriated from the
general
fund the sum
of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($
250,000
), or so
much thereof as may be necessary, and five hundred ninety- three thousand seven
hundred seventy-seven dollars ($593,777), or so much thereof as may be
necessary, of federal fund expenditure authority, and three hundred forty-three
thousand seven hundred seventy-seven dollars ($343,777), or so much thereof as
may be necessary, of other fund expenditure to the South Dakota Department of
Game, Fish and Parks for a portion of the costs related to the acquisition of
easements adjacent to Bear Butte State Park located in Meade County, South
Dakota.
January 2008 –Jay Allen appeals
revocation of liquor license due the character issues.
February
2008 – Governor Rounds, House Bill 1275 An act to make an
appropriation for a portion of the costs related to the acquisition of easements
adjacent to Bear Butte State Park and to declare an emergency. FAILS YEAS 24,
NAYS 44
April 2008
– Jay Allen’s appeal was held before Judge Bastian, at the Meade County
Courthouse. Allen testified he had signed a Memorandum of Understanding,
purchase agreement on February 26, 2008 with Target Companies, a travel
corporation from Boston, MA. The agreement terms were to be finalized on May 3,
2008. Allen stated upon completion of the agreement, his only role in the
Sturgis County Line would be as a promoter, and because he was no longer the
owner, his character could not be basis for license revocation. Judge Bastian
remanded the decision back to Meade County Commissioners. His instructions asked
the Commissioners to reconsider their decision to revoke, based upon the new
information that Allen would no longer be the “owner” of Sturgis County Line.
The Meade County Commissioner’s held an
Executive Session Meeting on April 24, 2008. They unanimously voted to appeal
Judge Bastian’s decision. It has been directed to South Dakota Supreme Court for
further clarification, to determine if Judge Bastian had the legal authority to
make such a decision. A court date will be scheduled in the upcoming months.
May 2008
– Supreme Court denies appeal, sending it back again to Meade County
Commissioners to make final determination.
Target Logistics states they have made a
legal decision to “lease” the Broken Spoke Campground property from Jay Allen,
until the pending litigation is completed.
June 2008
– Meade County Commissioners defer the Broken Spoke Campground liquor
license issue to the July meeting.
Broken Spoke Campground announces they
will be hosting concerts every night during the rally and are now offering
helicopter rides over Bear Butte during the rally.
Complaints are filed regarding
helicopter issue and violation of Native American Freedom of Religion Act, to
the FAA by Protect Sacred Sites Organization and South Dakota State Parks.
Protect Sacred Sites, submitted a request for legal action and assistance to the
Native American Rights Fund.
Request for resolution from NCAI
regarding opposition to liquor license issue is requested by Protect Sacred
Sites and approved from NCAI. Resolution is submitted to Meade County
Commissioners.
July 2008
– Meade County Commissioners approve 3-2, Jay Allen’s previously revoked on sale
liquor license. New investors Target Logistics have paid all the previous debts
off in full, with the exception of one currently in litigation.
Protect Sacred Sites organization,
submits a draft resolution to Greater Plains Tribal Chairs Association, for
protection of Bear Butte. Approved by Tribal Chairs on July 10, 2008.
7-20-08
