When two Oglala Lakota scouts heard drilling was expected to begin on Pe’ Sla, the sacred prairie in the Black Hills of South Dakota, they set out on back trails. They needed to find out where. That’s when they saw a deer break ahead, and a red-tailed hawk soar above them — less like coincidence than being led, the scouts said. Over a rise, they came upon a road freshly cut to the dirt. They followed it, past a parked truck. “Oh my god,” one of them said, seeing a drill turning. “They’re drilling now!”
kAm(92E 92AA6?65 ?6IE H2D D@>6E9:?8 E92E 2=>@DE ?6G6C 92AA6?D :? x?5:2? r@F?ECJi p 4@2=:E:@? @7 EC:36D 2?5 @C82?:K6CD 32?565 E@86E96C 2?5 5C@G6 @FE 2 >:?:?8 4@>A2?J :? 2 >2EE6C @7 52JD]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 ;FDE ?@E FD65 E@ H:??:?8[” D2:5 sC] '2=6C:29 q:8 t28=6[ H9@ 5:C64ED E96 q=24< w:==D H@C< @7 }s} r@==64E:G6[ 2? x?5:86?@FD\=65 25G@424J ?@?AC@7:E 32D65 :? #2A:5 r:EJ] “(6’C6 2 A6@A=6 FD65 E@ 36:?8 D4C6H65 @G6C 3J E96 8@G6C?>6?E[ 2E 6G6CJ =6G6=[” D96 E@=5 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^64@?@>:492C5D9:A]@C8Qm%96 t4@?@>:4 w2C5D9:A #6A@CE:?8 !C@;64Ek^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E968F2C5:2?]4@>Qm%96 vF2C5:2?k^2m]k^Am
kAm%96 7:89E E@ AC@E64E 2?46DEC2= =2?5 7C@> >:?:?8 :D 2 4@>>@? @?6[ 2?5 E96 DECF88=6D 2C6 @7E6? =@?8[ 92C5 2?5 =@DE] x? |2C49[ E96 8@G6C?>6?E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4C@?<:E6?6HD]2KA3D]@C8^a_ae^_b^`e^C6D@=FE:@?\4@AA6C\@2<\7=2E\=2?5\EC2?D76C^Qm92?565 ~2< u=2Ek^2m[ 2? pA2496 9@=J D:E6 :? pC:K@?2[ E@ 2 4@AA6C 4@>A2?J E@ 8@F86 @FE @?6 @7 E96 =2C86DE >:?6D :? }@CE9 p>6C:42 — 2 EC2?D76C E96 EC:36 :D DE:== :? 4@FCE ECJ:?8 E@ C6G6CD6] x? pAC:=[ E96 $6?2E6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]<2I6]@C8^=@42=\?6HD^a_ae\_c\`e^FD\D6?2E6\G@E6D\E@\C6G6CD6\>:?:?8\32?\?62C\3@F?52CJ\H2E6CDQmG@E65 E@ DEC:Ak^2m AC@E64E:@?D 7C@> |:??6D@E2’D q@F?52CJ (2E6CD[ 2 H2E6CD965 :? ~;:3H6 EC62EJ E6CC:E@CJ H96C6 E96 32?5D DE:== 9F?E[ 7:D9 2?5 82E96Cj E96 32EE=6 92D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>AC?6HD]@C8^DE@CJ^a_ae^_g^`g^H2=K\6I64FE:G6\@C56C\3=@4<\4@AA6C\>:?:?8\?62C\3@F?52CJ\H2E6CDQmD:?46 >@G65 E@ E96 DE2E69@FD6k^2m] %96 4@?D6BF6?46D @7 =@D:?8 2C6?’E 23DEC24Ei k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A3D]@C8^?6HD9@FC^?2E:@?^?2G2;@\?2E:@?\?6H\>6I:4@\C6249\D6EE=6>6?ED\@G6C\a_`d\>:?6\DA:==QmA@:D@?65 H2E6Ck^2m[ D24C65 8C@F?5 EFC?65 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]<;KK]@C8^EC:32=\?2EFC2=\C6D@FC46D^a_ad\_b\`h^8@G6C?>6?E\C6A@CE\@2<\7=2E\H@F=5\36\5:C64E=J\2?5\A6C>2?6?E=J\52>2865\3J\C6D@=FE:@?\4@AA6CQm@A6? A:Ek^2m 2?5 E96 =2DE:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3=@8]F4D]@C8^492?6D6\7@CE6^FD\FC2?:F>\>:?:?8\=6824J\DE:==\92C>D\E96\?2G2;@\?2E:@?^Qm962=E9 E@==k^2m 6IEC24E:@? =62G6D @? }2E:G6 =2?5 H9:=6 E96 AC@7:ED 7=@H 6=D6H96C6]k^Am
kAmqFE 2E !6’ $=2[ H92E E96 vC62E $:@FI }2E:@? 42==D E96 “962CE @7 6G6CJE9:?8 E92E :D[” E96 4@2=:E:@? 3C@<6 E96 A2EE6C?[ >@G:?8 @? 6G6CJ 7C@?E 2E @?46] xE H2D 2 =6DD@?[ E96J D2:5[ :? H92E @C82?:K65 A@H6C 42? DE:== H:?]k^Am
kAm%96 E9C62E 2CC:G65 E96 H2J E96D6 E9:?8D FDF2==J 5@i 2D A2A6CH@C<] ~? u63] af[ E96 &]$] u@C6DE $6CG:46 BF:6E=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7D]FD52]8@G^C_a^3=24<9:==D^AC@;64ED^efgbgQm2AAC@G65 6IA=@C2E@CJ 5C:==:?8k^2m 3J !6E6 {:6? U2>Aj $@?D[ 2 =@42= >:?:?8 2?5 4@?DECF4E:@?\>2E6C:2=D 4@>A2?J] %96J 4@F=5 5C:== `g 3@C69@=6D @? ?2E:@?2= 7@C6DE =2?5[ 2E =62DE E6? @7 E96> :?D:56 2 a\>:=6 3F776C 2C@F?5 E96 46?EC2= >625@H E92E E96 EC:36D 2?5 E96 286?4J 925 28C665 E@ AC@E64E] xE H2D H2G65 E9C@F89 H:E9 2 “42E68@C:42= 6I4=FD:@?” E92E D<:AA65 6?G:C@?>6?E2= C6G:6H @? =2?5 AC2J65 @G6C 7@C E9@FD2?5D @7 J62CD]k^Am
kAm!6’ $=2 9@=5D 2 D24C65 A=246 :? E96 H@C=5 @7 E96 vC62E $:@FI }2E:@?] (:K:A2? {:EE=6 t=< v2CC:@EE — E96 AC6D:56?E @7 }s} r@==64E:G6 2?5 2 7@C>6C x?E6C:@C 56A2CE>6?E @77:4:2= — 56D4C:36D :E 368:??:?8 H:E9 E96 D<J] xE :D H96C6 u2==6? $E2C 42>6 E@ 62CE9[ 2?5 H96C6[ :? 2 H@C=5 D4@FC65 3J 7:C6 2?5 H2E6C[ E96 A6@A=6 H6?E :?D:56 E@ DFCG:G6 2?5 =2E6C 6>6C865] xE’D 2=D@ H96C6 EC25:E:@?2==J 7@C2865 A=2?ED =:<6 E96 E:>ADF=2[ E96 AC2:C:6 EFC?:A H:E9 :ED D9@CE DA:<6 @7 AFCA=6 7=@H6CD[ 8C@H[ 2?5 :ED C@@E[ 9:89 :? 42=4:F>[ :D E96 C62= 8:7E] !6’ $=2 :D 2 49FC49[ 2 A2?ECJ 2?5 2 A92C>24J 2E @?46 — E96 46C6>@?J[ E96 7@@5 2?5 E96 >65:4:?6 2== C:89E E96C6 :? E96 8C@F?5[ E96 8C@F?5 E92E H2D 2=>@DE 5C:==65 @A6?]k^Am
kAm(92E E96 4@>A2?J H2D 5C:==:?8 7@C @?=J D92CA6?65 E96 :?DF=E] vC2A9:E6 :D 2 “4C:E:42= >:?6C2=” @7 E96 6?6C8J EC2?D:E:@?[ E96 DEF77 :? 6=64EC:4\42C 32EE6C:6D] (9:49 >62?D E96 5C:==D 3@C:?8 :?E@ E96 3:CE9A=246 @7 2 A6@A=6 H6C6 E96C6 E@ 96=A D2G6 E96 A=2?6E]k^Am
kAm“xE’D E@ D6E 2 AC64656?E E@ 2EE24< 2== D24C65 D:E6D[” q:8 t28=6 D2:5] “%9:D :D?’E 92AA6?:?8 ;FDE 96C6 — :E’D 92AA6?:?8 2== @G6C E96 4@F?ECJ]” u@C E96 @C82?:K6CD[ E96 8C2A9:E6 :D 2=>@DE 36D:56 E96 A@:?Ei ~?46 2 4@>A2?J 92D E96 C:89E E@ 5C:==[ :E 42? =@@< 7@C H92E6G6C 6=D6 :D 5@H? E96C6]k^Am
kAm%96 4=62? 64@?@>J <66AD AF==:?8 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E:>6]4@>^2CE:4=6^a_ae^_g^_c^4C:E:42=\>:?:?8\2>6C:42\A9@E@\6DD2J^Qm>:?6C2=D @7 2 8C66? 7FEFC6k^2m @FE @7 E96 D2>6 4@=@?:K65 8C@F?5 2D 4@2= 2?5 @:=] |@C6 E92? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?AC]@C8^a_ac^_`^ah^`aae`ade`f^56>2?5\7@C\>:?6C2=D\DA2C<D\762C\@7\>:?:?8\23FD6D\@?\:?5:86?@FD\A6@A=6D\=2?5DQmfdT @7 E96 ?2E:@?’D =:E9:F>[ 4@AA6C 2?5 ?:4<6= C6D6CG6D =:6 H:E9:? bd >:=6D @7 2 C6D6CG2E:@?k^2m[ 2?5 E96 4@>>F?:E:6D :? E96:C A2E9 2C6 2>@?8 E96 >@DE F?56C\:?G6DE65 :? E96 4@F?ECJ] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^52E24@>>@?D]@C8^A=246^86@x5^ce`_aQm~8=2=2 {2<@E2 r@F?EJk^2m[ 9@>6 E@ E96 !:?6 #:586 C6D6CG2E:@?[ 92D 2 A@G6CEJ C2E6 23@G6 d_T]k^Am
kAmtG6? E9@F89 E96 A6C>:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^394=62?H2E6C2==:2?46]@C8^a_ae^_c^_a^=2HDF:E\7:=65\E@\DE@A\8C2A9:E6\AC@;64E\2E\A6\D=2^Qm5C6H 3C@25 @AA@D:E:@?k^2m — 7C@> EC:36D[ =@42= @77:4:2=D 2?5 E96 AF3=:4 — E96 u@C6DE $6CG:46 8C2?E65 :E 2?JH2J] $@ E96 4@2=:E:@? @7 EC:32= ?2E:@?D[ E96 }s} r@==64E:G6 2?5 EH@ 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 8C@FAD 6D42=2E65]k^Am
kAm%96 =682= 7C@?E >@G65 7:CDEi x? 62C=J pAC:=[ }s} r@==64E:G6[ E96 q=24< w:==D r=62? (2E6C p==:2?46 2?5 t2CE9H@C<D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]<@E2EG]4@>^a_ae^_c^_c^=2HDF:E\492==6?86D\7@C6DE\D6CG:46\A6C>:E\6IA=@C2E@CJ\8C2A9:E6\5C:==:?8\?62C\A6\D=2^QmDF65 E96 u@C6DE $6CG:46k^2m[ 2?5 ?62C=J 6G6CJ EC:36 :? E96 s2<@E2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]43D?6HD]4@>^?6HD^h\EC:36D\DF6\6IA=@C2E@CJ\5C:==:?8\3=24<\9:==D\D24C65\D:E6\52<@E2D\?63C2D<2^Qm7:=65 2 D64@?5 DF:E @7 E96:C @H?k^2m] qFE E96 4@FCED H6C6 D=@H[ 2?5 E96 4@>A2?J H2D BF:4<] (96? !6E6 {:6? U2>Aj $@?D =62C?65 2 C6DEC2:?:?8 @C56C 925 366? 7:=65[ :E H6?E E@ C@F?5\E96\4=@4< 5C:==:?8[ 3@C:?8 2D >2?J 9@=6D 2D :E 4@F=5 367@C6 2 ;F586 CF=65]k^Am
kAm%96 @C82?:K6CD 4@F=5?’E H2:E 7@C E96 4@FCED] %92E’D H96? E96 EH@ ~8=2=2 {2<@E2 D4@FED H6?E @FE E@ 7:?5 H96C6 E96 5C:==:?8 925 8@?6]k^Am
kAmq67@C6 52H? @? pAC:= b_[ @C82?:K6CD D6?E FA 2 5C@?6 2?5 7@F?5 E96 4@>A2?J 925 >@G65 @G6C?:89E[ :ED 4C6HD ?@H @? EH@ =:E A25D 24C@DD E96 9:89H2J] %96 4@?G@J 925 2=C625J D6E @FE — 2 42C2G2? @7 23@FE 2 5@K6? G69:4=6D DECF?8 2=@?8 E96 9:89H2J F?56C 2 9:89[ 3C:89E >@@?] (:E9 E96 8C@F?5 DE:== 7C@K6?[ E96J 4=:>365 E96 u@C6DE $6CG:46 C@25D] pE E96 @?=J C@25 :?[ D@>6 c_ @7 E96> 3=@4<65 E96 H2J 369:?5 E96> 2?5 AFE E96:C 3@5:6D @? E96 5C:== A25D D@ ?@ C:8 4@F=5 CF?]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D DFAA@D65 E@ 36 @?6 52J[ E@ >2<6 2 DE2E6>6?E[” #@36CE q@C562FI[ 2 $:čáŋǧF {2<@E2 A@6E H9@ ;@:?65 E96 @44FA2E:@?[ E@=5 >6 7@C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A62462?5C:@E]@C8^E96\2?DH6C\:D\:?\E96\9:==DQm!6246 U2>Aj #:@Ek^2m] “xE H6?E D@ H6== H6 564:565 E@ DE2J]”k^Am
kAmu@C D6G6? 52JD[ E96J =:G65 @? E9@D6 A25D — :?E6C86?6C2E:@?2= 3J 56D:8?i 2 J@FE9 4@F?4:= @FE 7C@?E 2?5 6=56CD 2?49@C:?8 E96 42>A] %96J 96=5 :E E9C@F89 96=:4@AE6CD @G6C9625[ E9C66 =:?6D @7 A@=:46 2?5 AC:G2E6 D64FC:EJ[ 2?5 2 ?:89E E92E 76== E@ E6? 568C66D H:E9 ?@ 7:C6D 3642FD6 E96 9:==D H6C6 6IA6C:6?4:?8 2 5C@F89E] %96J DE2J65 H2C> H:E9 92?5 H2C>6CD 2?5 6249 @E96C] tG6? E96?[ E96 D4@FED D2:5[ E96 42>A 76=E DEC2?86=J 42=> — 96=5[ AC@E64E65 — 2D :7 E96 C6=2E:G6D E96J’5 AC2J65 E@ H6C6 H:E9 E96>]k^Am
kAm“%96 @?=J H62A@?D H6 925 H6C6 @FC AC2J6CD[” q:8 t28=6 D2:5 — DE625J 2?5 H2C>[ E96 3:8 D:DE6C @7 E96 42>A]k^Am
kAmr6C6>@?J H2D?’E 2 A2FD6 7C@> E96 DEC2E68J] xE H2D E96 DEC2E68J] %96C6 H6C6 2=E2CD @? 3@E9 5C:== A25D] p?5 H96? E96 =@42= ?6HD 42==65 E96> “2C>65 2?5 52?86C@FD[” E96J =:G6\DEC62>65 E96:C @H? G6CD:@? @7 6G6?ED] %96J <?6H :E H2D 325 @AE:4D E@ 5C28 2? x?5:86?@FD AC2J6C 42>A @77 2 >@F?E2:? @? 42>6C2]k^Am
kAm~? |2J c[ 2 7656C2= ;F586 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D@FE952<@E2D62C49=:89E]4@>^a_ae^_d^_d^@AA@?6?ED\H:?\E6>A@C2CJ\@C56C\282:?DE\5C:==:?8\AC@;64E\?62C\4F=EFC2==J\D:8?:7:42?E\3=24<\9:==D\D:E6^Qm92=E65 E96 5C:==:?8k^2m[ 7:?5:?8 E96 A=2:?E:77D H6C6 =:<6=J E@ AC@G6 E92E E96 u@C6DE $6CG:46 925 F?=2H7F==J H2G65 E9C@F89 2 DFAA@D65=J F?56C\2\J62C AC@;64E H9@D6 A6C>:E C6BF:C65 E9C66 J62CD @7 H@C<] $E:==[ E96 @C82?:K6CD 5:5?’E =62G6 — E96J 5:5?’E ECFDE 2 4@>A2?J E92E 4@F=5 A2J 2 7:?6 E@ DE@A]k^Am
kAms2JD =2E6C[ !6E6 {:6? U2>Aj $@?D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D@FE952<@E2D62C49=:89E]4@>^a_ae^_d^_g^4@>A2?J\H:E95C2HD\7C@>\4@?EC@G6CD:2=\3=24<\9:==D\6IA=@C2E@CJ\5C:==:?8\AC@;64E^QmHC@E6 E@ E96 u@C6DE $6CG:46[ H:E95C2H:?8 :ED A=2?k^2m 2?5 D2J:?8 :E H@F=5 ?@E 7:=6 2?@E96C] %96 4@>A2?J ?6G6C D2:5 H9J[ 3FE @C82?:K6CD 36=:6G6 E96 4@>A2?J H@F=5 =@D6 E9:D C@F?5 :? 4@FCE[ 2?5 DE2CE:?8 @G6C 4@F=5 E2<6 J62CD] u@C 2 72>:=J =:>6DE@?6\2?5\4@?4C6E6 3FD:?6DD[ 2? F?AC@G6? 8C2A9:E6 AC@DA64E =:<6=J H2D?’E H@CE9 E96 7:89E] W!6E6 {:6? U2>Aj $@?D 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ E96 vF2C5:2?’D C6BF6DED 7@C 4@>>6?E]Xk^Am
kAmu@C E96 ?6IE 4@>>F?:EJ DE2C:?8 5@H? 2 D:>:=2C 5C:== A6C>:E[ E96 =6DD@? :D?’E 2?J D:?8=6 E24E:4 — :E’D E96 DE24<:?8 @7 E96>] p =2HDF:E 2=@?6 :D D=@Hj 2? @44FA2E:@? 2=@?6 :D 62DJ E@ 4=62Cj 2 8@@5 DE@CJ 2=@?6 492?86D ?@E9:?8 H:E9@FE =6G6C286 369:?5 :E] !6’ $=2 H@C<65 3642FD6 E96 A:646D AC@E64E65 6249 @E96C]k^Am
kAm%92E 4@@C5:?2E:@? C624965 :?E@ E96 =2Hi %96 4@2=:E:@? EC62E65 x?5:86?@FD D@G6C6:8?EJ ?@E 2D DJ>3@=:D> 3FE 2D 2 =682= :?DECF>6?E — ?:?6 ?2E:@?D :? 7656C2= 4@FCE :D 2 7@C46 ?@ 25G@424J 8C@FA 42? DFAA=J] %96 C6DE :D 9@>6H@C<i $@>6H96C6 :? E96 8@G6C?>6?E’D @H? A2A6CH@C<[ @? 2=>@DE 6G6CJ CFD965 A6C>:E[ :D E96 D9@CE4FE :E E@@< E@ 86E E96C6] pE !6’ $=2[ :E H2D 2 @?6\J62C 6I6>AE:@? DEC6E4965 @G6C 2 E9C66\J62C AC@;64E]k^Am
kAm“}@?6 @7 E9:D >@G6D 7@CH2C5 H:E9@FE 2== @7 FD H@C<:?8 4@==64E:G6=J[” D2:5 p?:DD2 |2CE:?[ H9@ =625D }s}’D q=24< w:==D {2?5 q24< 42>A2:8?] “tG6CJ3@5J 925 2 C@=6[ 2?5 H6 F?56CDE@@5 E92E]”k^Am
kAm%9:D :D ;FDE @?6 @7 >2?J 7:89ED E96 vC62E $:@FI }2E:@? 92D H2865 7@C 86?6C2E:@?D[ 7C@> >:?:?8 4=2:>D E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E968F2C5:2?]4@>^FD\?6HD^a_ae^>2J^`_^D@FE9\52<@E2\D:@FI\@:=\A:A6=:?6Qm@:= A:A6=:?6Dk^2m] %96 2:> :D 2 7F== >:?6C2= H:E95C2H2= 2?5 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:4E?6HD]@C8^?6HD^=6256CD\5C27E\3:==\E@\C682:?\D@>6\@7\D24C65\3=24<\9:==D^Qm$24C65 w6 $áA2 #6DE@C2E:@? p4Ek^2m[ 6?5@CD65 3J 2== ?:?6 @7 $@FE9 s2<@E2’D EC:36D[ E@ C6EFC? E96 C68:@?’D AF3=:4 =2?5D]k^Am
kAmpD< |2CE:? H92E H:??:?8 7:?2==J =@@<D =:<6[ 2?5 D96 E9:?<D 3:886C E92? 2?J 3:==] “|2J36 }s} H@?’E 6G6? 6I:DE 2?J>@C6[” D96 D2:5 D@7E=J[ “3642FD6 @FC A6@A=6 H:== 36 =:36C2E65] %96 =2?5 H:== 36 =:36C2E65]”k^Am
kAm|@?E9D =2E6C[ @? E96 C64=2:>65 8C@F?5 H96C6 E96 8C2DD :D 4@>:?8 324<[ 96C H@C5D 5:5?’E D@F?5 =:<6 2 D=@82?] %96J D@F?565 =:<6 2 A=2?] p?5 E96J 925 ;FDE[ 282:?DE 6G6CJ @55[ H@C<65]k^Am
kAmk6>mr@\AF3=:D965 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]64@?@>:492C5D9:A]@C8Qmk6>m%96 t4@?@>:4 w2C5D9:A #6A@CE:?8 !C@;64Ek^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5k^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E968F2C5:2?]4@>^FD\?6HD^a_ae^2F8^ad^?2E:G6\2>6C:42?\EC:36\5C@G6\@FE\>:?:?8\4@>A2?JQmk6>m%96 vF2C5:2?k^6>mk^2mk6>m]k^6>mk^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^64@?@>:492C5D9:A]@C8^a_ae^_g^C2C6\H:?\:?\:?5:2?\4@F?ECJ\EC:36D\5C@G6\@FE\>:?:?8\4@>A2?J^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]64@?@>:492C5D9:A]@C8Qmk6>m%96 t4@?@>:4 w2C5D9:A #6A@CE:?8 !C@;64Ek^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2m]k^Am
