Native activists are working with tribes, ranchers and religious groups to protect sacred Bear Butte in South Dakota. The coalition is worried about development associated with the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. They are opposing beer and liquor licenses for bars and concert venues near Bear Butte. Anne White Hat equates the development with desecration. She prays at Bear Butte every day with her husband and three sons. "When these guys are our age, what's the face of this land going to look like?" White Hat said, The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. On the other side is the Meade County Commission. Despite protests, the county has approved all of the beer and liquor licenses and has said some of its actions can't be challenged. Some local residents also question the movement to prevent property owners from using their land. "[A] lot of what the Indians say now is just made up," said Hank Bruch. "They can make a new Vatican City out of it, but that doesn't change the history." Get the Story:
Near Sturgis, a fight over the sacred (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 6/14)
pwlat Relevant Links:
Defenders of the Black Hills - http://www.defendblackhills.org/defenders Related Stories:
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 (03/04)