Black Hills Society Of South Dakaota ...by Shannon Cloud
The Black Hills will always be sacred land to the people who first set foot into its vast hills,and passes.The heritage alone of this historical land covers several counties here in the now present state of South Dakota.(Yes,a dash of Wyoming too!),and memories of the past still call to the present day ancestors,and those doing research to listen closely.
The Black Hills Society is a preservation group who strives to share the history of this special region,by holding hands with the fellow historians,museums,and historical societies here in the state.We strive to keep the memories alive from past days,and for those who have called the "Black Hills" their home.
Heritage is alive & well here still to this very day,and the history from so many long ago,is magic in the making when the ancestors of today,take the time to dwell back in time of this historic land looking into their families story.There is so much to tell.
The Native American people still hold close to their hearts the sacred belief the Black Hills is alive,and a very spititual place that is part of them,part of their heritage.
The Black Hills is a vast piece of land in the western part of South Dakota,and continues just into the edge of Wyoming.It's about 4500 square miles,and history sings from its hills.
It's believed man has been living in the hills perhaps as long as 7000 years,right after the last ice age.There are new discoveries every year at various archaeological sites,that shed new light on its past.
To give the reader a brief history on the Native Americans that resided,or at one time did reside in the Black Hills.One travels trough many years of history,and the cultures of the various tribes that once occupied the Black Hills.
The Arikara were the first Native Americans that one could say were permenent residence of the Hills,but traveled seasonally to various close locations in the land to harvest their staples.They arrived in the early 1500's,and perhaps may have even had some of the small nomadic tribes that were in the area,inter-mingle with them,because they were a gentle & kind people.
This part of history leaves questions with many historians on what happened to the very small tribes prior to the Arikara in the area.There is no warfare mentioned from stories that were past down from the elders mentioning conflict,just stories of teaching others how to grow,where to hunt.The reason why that's an interesting topic,because not long after the first Europeans arrived,the land changes hands many times.Even before the first Europeans step foot in the Hills,events outside created changes instelf having other tribes migrating away from the European Invaders.
The Arikara were also growers,and in many ways farmers if you'd like to call it that. From corn,squashes,and wild carrots,and managing what the land produced with amazing skill,that they they truely were farming Indians,who'd also take advantage of the Bison for their meat,along with other game at the time.The world was a different place back then,and the land truely did take care of the people.
Later on the Cheyenne,Crow,Kiowa,and Pawnee made their way into the Sacred Hills.With each one of these tribes having a unique history that's breath taking when reading the journey of the tribe's history.In many ways,they hold the same fate as the Arikara in the end.Being pushed,having to adapt to new ways of life,and ground that was no longer their home of heritage.
The land changed hands many times through the various tribes that worked their way into the territory.
One such tribe was the Lakota,also called the The Sioux.They were the last to hold the Black Hills.Pushed there by the Ojibwe from the east in Minnesota,who also had firearms courtesy of the U.S. Army at the time,who had them do the fighting for them in the grasp for territory if one could not tame its occupiers.
The political history of the Black Hills will in itself,explain alot to the reader why certain events happened to take place.I strongly encourage you to read up on the various tribes,and their history to get the whole picture of the events that took place,and why events turned out the way they did.
The Black Hills could be perhaps one of the most disputed pieces of land through out the centuries here in the states,and the Europeans were the ending factor,but a far cry from being the only historical aspect of this historic place when one is documenting the past.
The dispute for the Black Hills still continues today in the U.S. Courts.
The question remains to be answered,will the "Treaty of Fort Laramie" be honored?
Starting in the 1860's through out the 1870's,the Black Hills was full of Indian confrontations, and clashes.
Then a congressional committee in 1865 designed a study of the Indian uprisings,and wars out in the great frotiers of America,calling this documented study the "Report on the Condition of the Indian Tribes".This report came out 1867,and for a governmental study,it can easily be interpreted as a land grab,and an attempt to buy time with the tribes while disecting them one at a time,and taking their land while relocating them in unwanted lands with little,to no resources.
This report was colored up as a just cause,and created the "Indian Peace Commission" to end the conflicts with the Native Americans through treaties,and in order to prevent future Indian conflicts,they felt best to rid themselves of the tribes entirely by relocating them,and uprooting them to lands far out of reach at what was wanted presently at the time.
Treaties such as this drawn up in a rush,to temporaily keep the peace to end hostile encounters,and confrontations that lead to Red Cloud's War.
In the creation of the "Treaty of Fort Laramie" the U.S. Government accidentally gave land away,that belonged to the Ponca Tribe,and they were forced to relocate by force to useless land in Oklahoma.The Sioux demanded their land as well,because U.S. Law made it so.
There has never been a peaceful transition when land changed hands,and history shows us that.The Black Hills is filled with sorrow as well,and the heritage of today still has many calling it their historical lands.
Black Hills Society
We're from all walks of life here,and some of us still contribute our thoughts,hopes,and wishes to the various societies located through out South Dakota that help keep the history alive.More importantly to give the message these scared lands need our help,to preserve them,and to continue to teach others the history.
There is so much to discuss,such as the Historical aspects of Mining Heritage in the Black Hills.
The discovery of gold is another huge chapter in itself of Black Hills History,and the Native American presence intermingled with that as well.
Towns sprung up,Indian attacks increased,robberies,bandits,and a flock of prospectors poured in.
The Black Hills offers so much history,that many who visit are distracted by its beauty alone.It's hard to imagine a place so beautuful,and special having so much sorrow in the pages of its history.
You don't have to visit the Black Hills,to learn the history here.
The Black Hills is more than a tourist spot along some highway.It's part of American History,and the events that have taken place here should be shared by all,all over the world.
Learn the history.
What's most unique about the history of the Black Hills,is that one could say it was a significant region in the new lands where some of the most political maneuvers/actions U.S. Government / Indian Nations ..Relations,Dialogue,Treaties,and hostilities took place.There was always a strong politcal force here between all.
History classes today don't go over the government policies back in the day,only what's in the history books,and sorry to say many of the history books are nothing but a collection of dates when things occured in history,lacking the attempt to teach the history.
A history book should explain the history,as if a child asking the whole time while being written "why?".
We should all be greatful to the historical societies,and those who keep the heritage alive,because it's them who pass on the story.
The truth has a way of staying alive,and one really learns alot when they look into specific regions,and check out the various societies in the area to get an indepth understanding that one could not get by reading a book just alone.
We have alot in store this coming year,and hope to make more contacts with others who come foward with something to add.There are still alot of mysteries to unlock,and once again we're all very greatful to all who contribute in one way,or another to shed light on the history of this historic land.
Below you'll find some good links to assist you on your research.I recommend checking out the State Archives at the South Dakota State Historical Society.
They have archives that go back to the early 1890's,and you'll find a vast amount information there on the history of South Dakota.These records are available for the public.So if you have a research project going in the state,you'd better look into the State Archives,they really cover alot of ground in the early history of the state,and every event that seems to have taken place here,always tends to have some politics involved.So there is a good chance you'll dig something up there on your quest for information.
Rootsweb also has alot of valuable resources while looking into specific cases here in the state,that you don't want to pas up.So take a look there as well.There are many of us history buffs there,and we might have what you're looking for,or clues that will help continue your journey
Important Resources For Research
Roots Web Ancestry
South Dakato State Historical Society
Metal Detecting Mn
We appreciate your feedback,or if you'd like to see particular topics added,please contact us below.
The Black Hills Society is a preservation group who strives to share the history of this special region,by holding hands with the fellow historians,museums,and historical societies here in the state.We strive to keep the memories alive from past days,and for those who have called the "Black Hills" their home.
Heritage is alive & well here still to this very day,and the history from so many long ago,is magic in the making when the ancestors of today,take the time to dwell back in time of this historic land looking into their families story.There is so much to tell.
The Native American people still hold close to their hearts the sacred belief the Black Hills is alive,and a very spititual place that is part of them,part of their heritage.
The Black Hills is a vast piece of land in the western part of South Dakota,and continues just into the edge of Wyoming.It's about 4500 square miles,and history sings from its hills.
It's believed man has been living in the hills perhaps as long as 7000 years,right after the last ice age.There are new discoveries every year at various archaeological sites,that shed new light on its past.
To give the reader a brief history on the Native Americans that resided,or at one time did reside in the Black Hills.One travels trough many years of history,and the cultures of the various tribes that once occupied the Black Hills.
The Arikara were the first Native Americans that one could say were permenent residence of the Hills,but traveled seasonally to various close locations in the land to harvest their staples.They arrived in the early 1500's,and perhaps may have even had some of the small nomadic tribes that were in the area,inter-mingle with them,because they were a gentle & kind people.
This part of history leaves questions with many historians on what happened to the very small tribes prior to the Arikara in the area.There is no warfare mentioned from stories that were past down from the elders mentioning conflict,just stories of teaching others how to grow,where to hunt.The reason why that's an interesting topic,because not long after the first Europeans arrived,the land changes hands many times.Even before the first Europeans step foot in the Hills,events outside created changes instelf having other tribes migrating away from the European Invaders.
The Arikara were also growers,and in many ways farmers if you'd like to call it that. From corn,squashes,and wild carrots,and managing what the land produced with amazing skill,that they they truely were farming Indians,who'd also take advantage of the Bison for their meat,along with other game at the time.The world was a different place back then,and the land truely did take care of the people.
Later on the Cheyenne,Crow,Kiowa,and Pawnee made their way into the Sacred Hills.With each one of these tribes having a unique history that's breath taking when reading the journey of the tribe's history.In many ways,they hold the same fate as the Arikara in the end.Being pushed,having to adapt to new ways of life,and ground that was no longer their home of heritage.
The land changed hands many times through the various tribes that worked their way into the territory.
One such tribe was the Lakota,also called the The Sioux.They were the last to hold the Black Hills.Pushed there by the Ojibwe from the east in Minnesota,who also had firearms courtesy of the U.S. Army at the time,who had them do the fighting for them in the grasp for territory if one could not tame its occupiers.
The political history of the Black Hills will in itself,explain alot to the reader why certain events happened to take place.I strongly encourage you to read up on the various tribes,and their history to get the whole picture of the events that took place,and why events turned out the way they did.
The Black Hills could be perhaps one of the most disputed pieces of land through out the centuries here in the states,and the Europeans were the ending factor,but a far cry from being the only historical aspect of this historic place when one is documenting the past.
The dispute for the Black Hills still continues today in the U.S. Courts.
The question remains to be answered,will the "Treaty of Fort Laramie" be honored?
Starting in the 1860's through out the 1870's,the Black Hills was full of Indian confrontations, and clashes.
Then a congressional committee in 1865 designed a study of the Indian uprisings,and wars out in the great frotiers of America,calling this documented study the "Report on the Condition of the Indian Tribes".This report came out 1867,and for a governmental study,it can easily be interpreted as a land grab,and an attempt to buy time with the tribes while disecting them one at a time,and taking their land while relocating them in unwanted lands with little,to no resources.
This report was colored up as a just cause,and created the "Indian Peace Commission" to end the conflicts with the Native Americans through treaties,and in order to prevent future Indian conflicts,they felt best to rid themselves of the tribes entirely by relocating them,and uprooting them to lands far out of reach at what was wanted presently at the time.
Treaties such as this drawn up in a rush,to temporaily keep the peace to end hostile encounters,and confrontations that lead to Red Cloud's War.
In the creation of the "Treaty of Fort Laramie" the U.S. Government accidentally gave land away,that belonged to the Ponca Tribe,and they were forced to relocate by force to useless land in Oklahoma.The Sioux demanded their land as well,because U.S. Law made it so.
There has never been a peaceful transition when land changed hands,and history shows us that.The Black Hills is filled with sorrow as well,and the heritage of today still has many calling it their historical lands.
Black Hills Society
We're from all walks of life here,and some of us still contribute our thoughts,hopes,and wishes to the various societies located through out South Dakota that help keep the history alive.More importantly to give the message these scared lands need our help,to preserve them,and to continue to teach others the history.
There is so much to discuss,such as the Historical aspects of Mining Heritage in the Black Hills.
The discovery of gold is another huge chapter in itself of Black Hills History,and the Native American presence intermingled with that as well.
Towns sprung up,Indian attacks increased,robberies,bandits,and a flock of prospectors poured in.
The Black Hills offers so much history,that many who visit are distracted by its beauty alone.It's hard to imagine a place so beautuful,and special having so much sorrow in the pages of its history.
You don't have to visit the Black Hills,to learn the history here.
The Black Hills is more than a tourist spot along some highway.It's part of American History,and the events that have taken place here should be shared by all,all over the world.
Learn the history.
What's most unique about the history of the Black Hills,is that one could say it was a significant region in the new lands where some of the most political maneuvers/actions U.S. Government / Indian Nations ..Relations,Dialogue,Treaties,and hostilities took place.There was always a strong politcal force here between all.
History classes today don't go over the government policies back in the day,only what's in the history books,and sorry to say many of the history books are nothing but a collection of dates when things occured in history,lacking the attempt to teach the history.
A history book should explain the history,as if a child asking the whole time while being written "why?".
We should all be greatful to the historical societies,and those who keep the heritage alive,because it's them who pass on the story.
The truth has a way of staying alive,and one really learns alot when they look into specific regions,and check out the various societies in the area to get an indepth understanding that one could not get by reading a book just alone.
We have alot in store this coming year,and hope to make more contacts with others who come foward with something to add.There are still alot of mysteries to unlock,and once again we're all very greatful to all who contribute in one way,or another to shed light on the history of this historic land.
Below you'll find some good links to assist you on your research.I recommend checking out the State Archives at the South Dakota State Historical Society.
They have archives that go back to the early 1890's,and you'll find a vast amount information there on the history of South Dakota.These records are available for the public.So if you have a research project going in the state,you'd better look into the State Archives,they really cover alot of ground in the early history of the state,and every event that seems to have taken place here,always tends to have some politics involved.So there is a good chance you'll dig something up there on your quest for information.
Rootsweb also has alot of valuable resources while looking into specific cases here in the state,that you don't want to pas up.So take a look there as well.There are many of us history buffs there,and we might have what you're looking for,or clues that will help continue your journey
Important Resources For Research
Roots Web Ancestry
South Dakato State Historical Society
Metal Detecting Mn
We appreciate your feedback,or if you'd like to see particular topics added,please contact us below.
