Relief for Tribes, Land Auction Canceled

In a surprising move, the owners called off the auction of the nearly 2,000 acres of Black Hills land considered sacred by Native American tribes in South Dakota.

Though the reasons for cancelation are not known, this gives the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota tribes some time to reach a resolution regarding the fate of the sacred land they call Pe’Sla or The Heart of Everything that is. These tribes believe that the Pe’Sla is part of their creation. Every year they perform certain ceremonies at the site, which they believe is important to sustain their way of life.

These tribes have always had access to the land, though it is privately owned by Leonard and Margaret Reynolds. The tribes feared that once the land was sold, they would not have access to it. As a desperate measure, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe decided to buy the land, for which they had raised nearly $250,000.

The auction was to be conducted by the Brock Auction Co. A message on the auction firm’s website stated that the auction is being cancelled at the land owners’ direction.

And as long as the family does not conduct a private sale, the move could give tribes a chance to plan how to buy the land or block the sale, Donna Salomon, spokeswoman for the Oglala Sioux Tribe told the Rapid City Journal.

“Pe Sla has been taken off the auction block. However, the property is publicly listed. The Tribes of the Great Sioux Nation are moving forward on their own behalf with Lastrealindians, Inc. in continuing to raise money to ensure Pe’ Sla will be protected as a sacred site, forever,” a statement on their website said.