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The Independent
20 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Trump's controversial statue garden ignites opposition from Indigenous groups
South Dakota officials are pushing to establish Donald Trump's proposed National Garden of American Heroes in the Black Hills, near Mount Rushmore, a move that has ignited significant opposition from Indigenous groups who consider the area sacred. A mining company has offered to donate 40 acres less than a mile from the iconic Mount Rushmore, where the colossal sculptures of four prominent presidents are carved into granite. Republican Governor Larry Rhoden has expressed strong support for the project, writing to Trump: "The Black Hills mark the perfect location to achieve your vision for the National Garden of American Heroes." He added, "Together, we will make this project happen in a way that honors America's heroes, takes advantage of South Dakota's natural beauty, and incorporates the most iconic monument to our greatest leaders: Mount Rushmore National Memorial." The Black Hills have long been a flashpoint in disputes between South Dakota and its Indigenous tribes. The 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie formally recognised the Black Hills as belonging to the Sioux people. Yet, less than a decade later, the US government seized the land for gold mining. A 1980 Supreme Court decision affirmed that the US had violated the treaty, but the tribes rejected a $1.3 billion compensation offer, steadfastly maintaining their ancestral rights to the land. Indigenous groups also oppose drilling project The mining company, Pete Lien & Sons, also has had conflicts with Indigenous groups in the area, most recently because of an exploratory drilling project for graphite near the sacred Lakota site of Pe' Sla. The company also is working with theme park designer Storyland Studios to build an attraction in the Black Hills opposed by some Indigenous groups. 'It's absurd for Storyland Studios and Gov. Rhoden to claim they care about preserving history while they watch Lien & Sons attempt to destroy Pe' Sla, and do nothing,' said Taylor Gunhammer, an organizer with the Indigenous advocacy group NDN Collective. 'They are the ones erasing and paving over history, not preserving it.' Rhoden's press secretary, Josie Harms, wrote in a statement that the garden "will have no disruption to either state or tribal land' because the tract of land is owned by Chuck Lien, owner of Lien & Sons, and his family. Pete Lien & Sons did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Trump's garden to feature 250 statues of historical figures Trump signed an executive order earlier in 2025 to build the garden, to feature 250 life-size statues of historical figures in honor of the country's 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. Applications for sculptors are due in early July, though the administration no longer seeks to have it completed by next summer. The U.S. House has approved $40 million for the project, which is being overseen by the Department of Interior and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Senate hasn't yet approved the funding. Trump first announced the project in his first term in a July 3, 2020, speech at Mount Rushmore at a time during the Black Lives Matter movement when some protesters were tearing down statues depicting Confederate generals and others. 'Angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our Founders, deface our most sacred memorials, and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities,' Trump said in that speech. 'But no, the American people are strong and proud, and they will not allow our country, and all of its values, history, and culture, to be taken from them.' In a 2021 executive order, Trump called for statues depicting a range of prominent figures, from the likes of Amelia Earhart, Muhammad Ali and Steve Jobs to more controversial ones like Christopher Columbus and President Andrew Jackson. No site was selected, however, and the garden was never funded by Congress. The Department of Interior said the revived garden project is still in the 'planning and discussion phase' and declined to say which sites it is considering. It's unclear if any other states are seeking to host the statue garden. As governor, Noem offered land for the garden When Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was the state's governor, she offered the mining company's 40 acres of land in the Black Hills. Her successor, Rhoden, doubled down on that offer in his letter, emphasizing the site would be 'in sight of Mount Rushmore.' South Dakota Republican U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson also wrote a letter to Trump, and said he will 'keep advocating for this iconic landmark to make its home in the Black Hills' in a social media post. Darren Thompson, director of media relations for the Indigenous nonprofit Sacred Defense Fund, called for more discussions with Indigenous groups in the Black Hills. 'It's a very touchy and sensitive subject that I think requires input by the local Indigenous people who have claim to the land and cultural ties to the land,' Thompson said.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fort Peck Tribes, four other groups want to join Yellowstone's fight for its bison plan
Bison cow/calf herd in Lamar Valley (NPS/Diane Renkin) The Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, along with four other groups, have asked a federal court judge to let them intervene in a lawsuit that the State of Montana filed against Yellowstone National Park, challenging its latest bison management plan. Previously, the State of Montana said that park officials and biologists had reneged on an agreement to keep the number of bison in the park lower, thereby decreasing the risk of spreading brucellosis to cattle producers in the Treasure State. However, the groups and the tribes contend that further development and decisions during the last decade have meant fewer cattle that are exposed to the bison, and that the park has adopted extensive plans to vaccinate and monitor the herds for any potential disease threat. Meanwhile, the tribes say that Montana's actions, especially its desire to reduce the number of bison in the Yellowstone National Park herds, jeopardizes their tribal treaty hunting rights, hinders their ability to feed their families, and limits their ability to help other Indigenous peoples from bison, which many Native Americans regard as sacred. Since 2013, the bison population has ebbed and flowed, usually between 4,400 and 5,900 animals, with an average around 5,000. 'As of Spring 2008, all cattle that once grazed on private and public lands in the Reese Creek area adjacent to the Park's north boundary and west of the Yellowstone River were voluntarily removed,' the complaint said. 'And, in 2009, (Montana) Fish, Wildlife and Parks signed a 30-year livestock grazing restriction and bison access agreement with the Royal Teton Ranch within Zone 2. Various government and non-government organizations, including proposed intervenor Greater Yellowstone Coalition, contributed funds to implement the agreement by purchasing grazing allotment buyouts and land leases to remove potential cattle conflicts from the landscape.' The groups claim that Montana is trying to force the park and the intra-agency bison management partners back to the plan that is now a quarter century old. 'Montana asks this court to invalidate the Yellowstone Bison Management Plan, enjoin the service from implementing its adaptive management approach and revert to rigid implementation of the 25-year-old (plan) based on obsolete circumstances and assumptions,' the lawsuit said. The proposed intervention also said that Montana's actions jeopardize the tribes' ability to exercise their rights. 'The (plan) allows for a larger buffalo population than envisioned in the 2000 (plan),' the court filing said. 'This affords the Fort Peck Indian Tribes greater opportunity to recover Plains bison on their tribal lands in which tribal members can hunt their buffalo for food sovereignty and cultural resources.' The court documents show that more than 400 Yellowstone bison have been transferred to 26 different Native American tribes, and all the animals were certified brucellosis free. The tribes and other groups, which included GYC, Defenders of Wildlife, National Parks Conservation Association and Park County Environmental Council, also told the court they have collectively raised more than $1 million for the park's quarantine facility, which helps keep bison for transfer to tribes, rather than slaughter. Plus, the groups say that Montana continues to operate against Yellowstone Park, based solely on the threat of the disease, something that is also not borne out by science and research. 'If Montana prevails on its legal claims, bison management could revert to past circumstances in which thousands of bison were killed by agency officials without any legitimate justification of preventing brucellosis to cattle,' the suit said.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Montana's federal delegation, Tribal Chief, address joint session of Legislature
Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont, addresses a joint session of the Montana Legislature on Feb. 17, 2025. (Micah Drew for the Daily Montanan) Government, by nature, is not perfect, Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke, a Republican, told members of the 69th Montana Legislature. But that's no reason for the state's lawmakers not to work hard for solutions to the problems facing their constituents. 'I wouldn't do this job unless I knew that in my heart. And there's no problem in Montana that's not fixable,' Zinke said. But, 'Don't look for perfect, because it's the government. I've never seen anything that's perfect in government.' Recently re-elected, Zinke was the first of five speakers who addressed the joint session of the Montana Legislature on Feb. 17. He was joined by fellow U.S. Rep. Troy Downing, U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy, Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court Cory Swanson and Chairman Justin Gray Hawk Sr. of the Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes. The Congressional delegation cheered on the new administration, called for bipartisan solutions to problems facing Montanans and noted their early wins in Congress, while Gray Hawk praised the state for consulting with Tribal nations and working together on meaningful outcomes. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines was out of the country meeting with the Argentinian president on Monday. In his 12 minute address, Zinke discussed the work being done by President Donald Trump to swiftly follow through on promises he made on the campaign trail last year and in the early days of his presidency — including pointing out that Google maps shows the newly renamed Gulf of America. But the Republican representative from Montana's western district also focused on bipartisan work done across the nation. 'One of the bipartisan issues in Montana and across our country is our environment, our conservation. There's a reason why we all live here, because we enjoy the great outdoors,' Zinke said. 'And the Montana I grew up in, has largely changed.' Growing up in Whitefish, Zinke said he didn't have to worry about closed roads and blocked public access. He could knock on a door and ask a property owner for hunting access. He invoked Teddy Roosevelt, and the days when America understood 'there is a great outdoors, and it's worth defending.' But now, those outdoors are threatened. He said forests near Libby are dead, wildfires ravage the state every year, decimating the lumber industry and threatening livelihoods. 'Fixing it, in this issue, will not come from one side of the aisle,' he said. He spoke about the need to balance protecting the natural environment with promoting energy investment. He pointed out a need to keep the Colstrip power plant fired up, as well as preserve the hydropower dams along the Columbia River Basin that power a vast swath of the northwest. 'Montana should be the home of energy. Montana should be the lightbulb of America, and yet we struggle,' he said. Zinke pointed to expanding natural gas production to use as a bridge, and investing in modular nuclear energy as the ways to unleash Montana energy production for the future. Zinke ended by calling out out several specific towns across the state that needed infrastructure projects — from aging bridges to nonexistent sewers, to affordable housing crises — and urged state lawmakers to partner with his office to bring solutions to their communities. 'If there's projects out there that your county would look at that's been neglected, let me know,' he said. 'I don't have a lot of power, but I have good letterhead.' Zinke was followed by fellow U.S. Navy Seal and Montana's newest Senator, Republican Tim Sheehy who ousted three-term Democrat Jon Tester in November. Sheehy also spoke about bipartisan work done by Congress in the first weeks of the new session, including passing the Laken Riley Act requiring detention of undocumented migrants charged with certain crimes. 'The most important thing, the most solemn duty that government has to its people is to keep them safe,' Sheehy said. 'Fixing potholes is important. Keeping the lights on is important, but keeping our communities safe is the highest calling of any government.' He called out additional wins by the GOP-controlled Congress, including speedy confirmations of 16 cabinet-level appointees, and an emphasis on bolstering the president's America-first agenda. Sheehy made several overtures to Democrats, asking them to leave behind 'divisive rhetoric that has characterized the last eight years of politics,' and work together. Montanans, Sheehy said, 'didn't vote against Jon Tester. They voted for the future of their children and they voted for America First.' Sheehy said the first bill he introduced as a Senator was the VA Home Loan Awareness Act to ensure veterans have the knowledge and resources necessary to purchase a home 'and live the American dream that they so well earned.' He also introduced legislation to permanently repeal the estate tax and consolidate national wildland firefighting capacity under a single agency. For a few minutes he spoke about the work being done by Elon Musk to eliminate waste and fraud in the federal government, including taking aim at USAID, an independent agency that delivers humanitarian assistance overseas. The streamlining of the federal government is necessary and will benefit Montanans, Sheehy said. 'What we've seen these past few weeks is a radical reform with the federal government, and we're reforming the federal government so it works for, not against, the people of Montana,' he said. 'It's not too much to ask for the American people that their government, that they elect and they pay for, puts their interests first.' Rep. Downing, who took office in D.C. last month, said he's already co-sponsored 39 bills, including a bipartisan one to help small businesses in rural areas. The former insurance commissioner in Montana said the state churns out university graduates with great ideas, and it has a lot of money, and he wants to help put those ideas and money together to build businesses. The newly elected Republican representative from Montana's eastern district sits on a number of committees, including on financial services. Additionally, he said, he serves on a digital assets subcommittee, which will handle blockchain and artificial intelligence, hot topics 'for the foreseeable future.' 'That is going to be something that's very exciting and very scary at the same time, how we deal with that,' Downing said of AI. Downing, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, said food security is important to him as well, a subject Sheehy also mentioned, and he said he will work hard to help farmers and ranchers stay in production and not have to sell off working land to pay taxes. 'If you want to take a country down, you make it so it can't feed itself,' Downing said. 'I think that our farmers and ranchers are struggling, and they need our support.' To applause, Downing also said he wants to rebuild the military as a way of maintaining 'peace through strength.' 'I want to make sure that we continue to build and maintain the absolute strongest fighting force on this planet, not because we ever want to go to war, but because we want others to be afraid to go to war with us,' Downing said. He also pointed to a bill he's sponsoring to limit critical minerals from Russia, in part to prevent it from dumping platinum and palladium onto the market, citing layoffs in the fall at Sibanye-Stillwater mining company. The mine pointed to imports from Russia and a dive in palladium prices as hurting its bottom line. Downing said his greater goal was to amplify the work being done in Montana at the federal level, and to that end, he invited Montanans to contact his office with concerns, whether about veterans issues or social security or passports, and he said he would be responsive. 'I want to make sure we are the most responsive office in the country in making sure that we're answering your questions,' Downing said. Tribal Chairman Justin Gray Hawk Sr., of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, told Montana politicians he appreciates outreach to Indian Country, and he said the legislature here has the largest American Indian Caucus in the country. 'The Montana voters truly showed the value, that we need a state legislature that includes Indian representatives and Indian voices,' Gray Hawk said. Gray Hawk, who addressed the Montana Legislature on behalf of the 12 federally recognized tribes in the state, said he appreciates the demonstrated commitment from the Governor's Office on issues that affect Native Americans, pointing to Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras' testimony to Congress regarding the pending Fort Belknap water settlement as one example. He pointed to other examples he said showed the state and tribal nations working together, including Fort Peck's consultation with the state Department of Transportation regarding roundabouts in Poplar, which 'proudly reflect our culture and our community.' Also, he said, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the state of Montana entered into an 'innovative' marijuana tax sharing agreement. Gray Hawk weighed in on legislation under consideration by legislators as well, warning the Montana Legislature against approving bills that affect treaty obligations, including for hunting and fishing, but he pointed to Medicaid expansion as having been 'a lifeline to Indian Country and all of Montanans.' Gray Hawk also reminded lawmakers of the Charles M. Russell painting that dominates the House chamber and the historic relationships it depicts between the tribes and those who came out West. The painting is 'Lewis and Clark Meeting Indians at Ross' Hole,' from 1912, and it depicts a meeting between Thomas Jefferson's Corps of Discovery and the Salish Indians, who helped the expedition secure horses and directions to safely cross the Bitterroot Mountains, according to the Montana Historical Society. Gray Hawk said people traveled West to seek natural resources or explore or flee religious persecution, but many tribal nations were already there. 'Many of our tribal nations have been in this territory since time immemorial,' Gray Hawk said. He said Montana is home to the some of the largest Indian reservations in the United States, and the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized tribes as having a political status, not a racial status. 'We all have much to learn from each other,' Gray Hawk said.
