Black Hill Controversy

I just finished reading an article on the Black Hill Controversy. The article described the event in which the Sioux people were forced out of their land, the Blacks Hills, due to the gold found in the area by whites. The Native Americans were promised in Fort Laramie Treaty that the Black Hills land would be set aside "for the absolute and undisturbed use and occupation of the Sioux". I've always heard of the Americans going against agreements made with Native Americans, but this event was the first time I actually saw it happen. After being promised the land, the Native Americans welcomed the opportunity to make it their home, and they did. The US Army even patrolled the area to keep American citizens at bay and allow the natives peace. Fifty years after settling, a miner discovered gold in the mountains. The US offered to buy the land from the natives for $400,000 a month as rent, but the Sioux wouldn't settle for anything less the $70 million flat. After being refused the purchase of the hills, The US Government killed many Sioux Native Americans as the brutally invaded the area. The natives, upset about their land being taken away, sued the American Government, and won approximately 106 million dollars. Refusing to touch the money, the Native Americans further complained about not getting their land back. Not touching their money, the natives allowed it to quadruple the original sum given to them by the government. Even today the Sioux still fight for their land, and remain unsuccessful. It is interesting that a group of people can come into a foriegn country, and push the countries natives around however they wish.

Friggens, Paul. Gold and Grass: The Black Hills Story. Boulder, CO: Pruett Publishing Co.,1983; Robinson, Charles M. A Good Year to Die: The Story of the Great Sioux War. New York : Random House, 1995.