Tetuwan Oyate
Tetuwan Oyate: Black Hills Sioux Nation
Treaty
of 1868, April 29, 1868, top of page 1
The Black Hills of Dakota are sacred to the Sioux
Indians. In the 1868 treaty, signed at Fort Laramie and other military
posts in Sioux country, the United States recognized the Black Hills as
part of the Great Sioux Reservation, set aside for exclusive use by the
Sioux people. However, after the discovery of gold there in 1874, the United
States confiscated the land in 1877. To this day, ownership of the Black
Hills remains the subject of a legal dispute between the U.S. government
and the Sioux.
The
United States agrees that the following
district of country, to wit, viz:
commencing on the east bank of
the Missouri river where
the 46th parallel of north latitude crosses the same,
thence along low-water mark down said east bank to a point opposite
where the northern line of the State of Nebraska strikes the river, thence
west across said river, and along the northern line of Nebraska to the
104th degree of longitude west from Greenwich,
thence north on said meridian to a point where the
46th parallel of north latitude intercepts the same, thence due east along
said parallel to the place of beginning; and in addition thereto, all existing
reservations of the east back of said river, shall be and the same is,
set apart for the absolute and undisturbed use and occupation of the Indians
herein named, and for such other friendly tribes or individual Indians
as from time to time they may be willing, with the consent of the United
States, to admit amongst them; and the United States now solemnly agrees
that no persons, except those herein designated and authorized so to do,
and except such officers, agents, and employees of the government as may
be authorized to enter upon Indian reservations in discharge of duties
enjoined by law, shall ever be permitted to pass over, settle upon, or
reside in the territory described in this article, or in such territory
as may be added to this reservation for the use of said Indians, and henceforth
they will and do hereby relinquish all claims or right in and to any portion
of the United States or Territories, except such as is embraced within
the limits aforesaid, and except as hereinafter provided.