Oglala Sioux move closer to establishing first tribal national park

Reclaiming tribal lands and focusing on the future of the tribe was the theme of the day when the Oglala Sioux Tribe, in a historic moment of agreement with the United States Government, signed a document that propels forward the vision of the first ever Tribal national Park. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis presented the final General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for the South Unit of Badlands National Park, which recommends the establishment of the nation’s first tribal national park. In a statement released about the announcement, Salazar said, “Our National Park System is one of America’s greatest story tellers. As we seek to tell a more inclusive story of America, a tribal national park would help celebrate and honor the history and culture of the Oglala Sioux people. Working closely with the Tribe, Congress, and the public, the Park Service will work to develop a legislative proposal to make the South Unit a tribal national park.” The National Park Service is expected to sign the Record of Decision this summer, however, congressional legislation is necessary before the Service can implement the Plan’s Preferred Management Option. Depending on congressional action, the South Unit could be being administered through a variety of options, including as a unit of the National Park System managed by tribal members hired as NPS employees or managed by tribal members as employees of the Tribe...more

My advice to the Sioux:

° Make sure tribal lands remain tribal lands - do not transfer lands to NPS.
° Park should be managed and run by the tribe, not the NPS.
° Do not accept language in the federal legislation which in any way restricts your management options