Tribal elders in South Dakota shared their memories of life on the Missouri River at a conference in Pierre, The Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports.

Vern Ashley, 89, a member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, remembers the plentiful resources and "all the fruit you can think of" along the river. But that was lost when the construction of dams in the 1940s and 1950s flooded the reservation and forced the tribe to relocate.

Maxine Grass Rope, a member of the Lower Brule Tribe, said the reservation once had "everything." But the tribe also had to be relocated due to flooding cause by the dam projects.

The tribes along the river have been compensated financially by the federal government. But Ashley said "life has never been the same" due to the loss of culture and valuable lands.

Get the Story:
Indians lament river dams, lakes (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 5/25)

Related Stories:
Missouri River Master Manual documents - http://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/mmanual/mast-man.htm

Related Stories:
Army Corps starts work to help tribe avoid water crisis (04/21)
Tribes sign plan to protect Missouri River sites (04/14)
Tribes and Army Corps to sign Missouri River plan (04/09)
Tribes seek more input into Army Corps decisions (03/17)
Land transfer still a sore issue among critics of Daschle (3/8)
Daschle: Missouri River plan ignores sacred sites (3/2)
Yankton Sioux remains reburied along Missouri River (07/09)
Court won't halt transfer of burial sites to state (06/18)
Appeals court debates S.D. land transfer (03/18)
Judge: S.D. tribe not consulted (7/1)
S.D. grave protection uneven (6/24)
Editorial: 'Offensive' stance on remains (6/17)
Sacred site protection topic of debate (6/13)
Judge halts work at S.D. site (6/12)
Judge refuses to dismiss burial lawsuit (6/11)
Tribal members insulted at hearing (6/10)
Hearing scheduled on Sioux remains (6/7)
S.D. tribe files suit over remains (6/6)
State admits moving tribal ancestors (6/5)