The Rapid City Journal asked seventh-grade students at Sturgis Williams Middle School for their views on Bear Butte and encroachment on the sacred site.
Shelbi Bruse calls for compromise between tribes who use the site and developers who bring thousands of bikers to the area every year. "Bear Butte should be open to all people for their enjoyment, and it should also be available as a place of worship for the American Indians," Bruse says.
Jenifer Hall says the land should be returned to the tribes under the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868. "To give the entire Black Hills back to the American Indians is not a realistic solution, as many people call the Black Hills their home. However, we should give all of Bear Butte State Park back to the American Indians, especially since it is their place of worship," Hall writes.
Delayna LaBelle says Bear Butte isn't really that sacred. "People have felt badly for a long time about the way American Indians have been treated and are attempting to make the situation appear better by granting the American Indians special privileges," LaBelle says.
Get the Story:Views on Bear Butte (The Rapid City 4/16)
Shelbi Bruse: Compromise required to solve issue (The Rapid City 4/16)
Jenifer Hall: Give tribes sacred place to worship (The Rapid City 4/16)
Delayna LaBelle: No culture gets its land for free (The Rapid City 4/16) Relevant Links:
Bear Butte International Alliance - http://matopaha.org/wp
Defenders of the Black Hills - http://www.defendblackhills.org Related Stories:
Bill to create Bear Butte alcohol buffer zone killed (02/14)
Bill to ban new bars near Bear Butte considered (2/9)
Bill to block new liquor licenses near Bear Butte killed (2/1)
Bill would bar new liquor licenses by Bear Butte (1/29)
Opinion: Sacred Bear Butte scarred by biker bar (12/04)
Opinion: Don't use sacred Bear Butte as biker bar (08/18)
Editorial: Tribes need to buy Bear Butte land (8/15)
Kempthorne criticized for skipping Bear Butte (8/8)
Bar near Bear Butte to feature 'Best Breast' contest (8/4)
Rally to protest liquor venues near sacred Bear Butte (8/3)
Tribes gather for summit at sacred Bear Butte (8/2)
Jodi Rave: Indigenous summit at base of Bear Butte (8/1)
Bear Butte camp continues as biker week approaches (7/27)
Man plans topless contests at bar near Bear Butte (6/14)
More beer licenses approved near sacred Bear Butte (7/10)
Major gathering slated at sacred Bear Butte (7/4)
Man plans more development near Bear Butte (6/26)
Native activists work to protect sacred Bear Butte (6/14)
Battle continues over liquor near Bear Butte (05/31)
County blocks vote on beer license near Bear Butte (05/05)
Challenges filed to beer license near Bear Butte (5/4)
County approves liquor license near Bear Butte (5/3)
Protest slated for liquor license near Bear Butte (4/27)
Editorial: Tribe right to buy Bear Butte land (04/10)
Opposition to bar near Bear Butte to continue (4/7)
Editorial: Preserve Bear Butte through land buys (4/6)
Bar near sacred Bear Butte wins beer license (4/5)
Man surprised by opposition to proposed Bear Butte bar (4/4)
White Face: No development near sacred Bear Butte (4/3)
Northern Cheyenne Tribe buys land near Bear Butte (3/23)
Bill to create buffer zone around Bear Butte killed (02/01)
Bill would create buffer zone around Bear Butte (1/27)
Tribes can't collect fees in sacred site case (1/19)
Native American Day at South Dakota Legislature (1/18)
Opinion: Land use plans ignore tribal traditions (12/12)
Editorial: Permanent protection for Bear Butte (11/28)
Proposed bar near Bear Butte still under fire (10/31)
Man to change name, location of Bear Butte bar (10/28)
Respect urged at Bear Butte during high season (08/13)
Non-Indians press for access at sacred Bear Butte (07/16)
Plans for shooting range near sacred site scrapped (01/12)
Developers: Shooting range near Bear Butte still on (12/16)
Plans for shooting range near Bear Butte on hold (12/02)
Developers face deadline on proposed shooting range (11/14)
S.D. commission bans hunting at sacred site (11/07)
Janklow thought of shooting range by sacred site (10/17)
Janklow defends use of grant for shooting range (10/16)
S.D. governor says shooting range grant was OK (10/13)
Lakota group seeks protection of Black Hills (09/19)
S.D. to return grant for Bear Butte shooting range (09/19)
Protections for sacred sites called inadequate (06/19)
Federal funds used for shooting range near sacred site (03/25)
Judge to hear tribal suit against shooting range (3/19)
Four tribes file lawsuit to stop shooting range (03/4)
