SDPR: Oglala Sioux Tribe absent at meeting over national park

It’s a warm May afternoon on the Pine Ridge Reservation as several dozen Natives and non-Natives gather at the Prairie Winds Casino for a meeting of the Shannon County Commissioners.

This informational meeting is being held to sift through the questions and complaints that have arisen recently regarding a proposal to reintroduce bison to the South Unit of Badlands National Park.

On hand is Badlands National Park superintendent Eric Brunnemann. He’s here to tell tribal members – as he’s advised them in previous meetings and on local radio – that his sole purpose is to assist the tribe in its goals for managing the South Unit IF U.S. Congressional approval is received to turn that area into the country’s first tribal national park.

Adding to the general confusion of the possible transfer of the South Unit to management by the Oglala Sioux Tribe are two issues. First, is a request by the tribe to reintroduce bison to the South Unit. Second, and of primary concern to tribal members, is an extremely premature resolution by the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council announcing plans to cancel grazing leases and/or foreclose on property used by tribal ranchers that’s located adjacent to the South Unit.

Like most tribal members, Susan Two Bulls-Shockey won’t be affected by the transfer of the South Unit to the tribe, so she’s not concerned about the possible reintroduction of bison to that area. But the tribal council’s resolution to take back land from tribal members will affect Susan’s entire family.