Native activists protested Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne's appearance at the opening of the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally on Monday.

Holding up signs, activists briefly chanted "Protect Bear Butte" as Kempthorne unveiled four motorcycle-themed postage stamps. Some protesters outside the event urged bikers not to ride by sacred Bear Butte.

Kempthorne arrived in South Dakota on Sunday and met briefly with some tribal leaders. But he didn't go to Bear Butte, where Native activists are camping to protest encroachment on their sacred place.

"This man has never taken time to learn about Indian affairs, and he�s in charge of all our affairs," Ponca elder Carter Camp told The Rapid City Journal. Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-South Dakota) visited the camp Monday morning, the paper said.

As part of the campaign to protect Bear Butte, members of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana are setting up a roadside booth to share information with bikers, tourists and local residents.

Get the Story:
Stamps, protest, ride: Festivities, controversy mark rally's opening day (The Rapid City Journal 8/8)
Tribal members offer Bear Butte info (The Rapid City Journal 8/8)

Relevant Links:
Bear Butte International Alliance - http://matopaha.org/wp
Defenders of the Black Hills - http://www.defendblackhills.org

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