Nine Native American tribes in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska have filed a federal lawsuit to halt exploratory drilling for graphite near a sacred ceremonial site in the Black Hills. The tribes allege that the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture violated federal law by approving the project without proper consultation. The drilling, conducted by Rapid City-based mining company Pete Lien & Sons, began in late April, prompting protests and legal action.
The site, known as Pe’Sla, is a meadow in the central Black Hills used for tribal ceremonies, prayer, and youth camps year-round. The tribes argue that the project would disrupt their traditional, cultural, and religious practices. Parts of Pe’Sla are owned by the Sioux tribes, who purchased land in 2012, 2015, and 2018. An agreement with the Forest Service established a two-mile buffer zone around the area.
The Black Hills, encompassing over 1.2 million acres, are sacred to the Sioux tribes, who refer to the region as He Sapa, or 'the heart of everything that is.' The area has a history of mining, including a gold rush in the 1870s that displaced Native Americans. Recent years have seen renewed mining interest due to rising gold prices, exacerbating tensions between tribes and mining interests.
The tribes' lawsuit claims that the Forest Service did not consult with them before approving the project, violating federal laws that require such consultation. The case is pending in a South Dakota federal court.