Cheyenne River Indian Reservation

Not to be confused with Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.

Cheyenne River Indian Reservation
—  Reservation  —
Farmland on the reservation
Location of Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, South Dakota
Coordinates: 45°04′35″N 101°13′33″W
Country	United States
State	South Dakota
Counties	Dewey / Ziebach / Stanley / Haakon / Meade
Established	1889
Government
• Governing body	General Tribal Council
Area
• Total	4,266.987 sq mi (11,051.447 km2)
Population (2000)
• Total	8,470
Time zone	MST (UTC-7)
• Summer (DST)	MDT (UTC-6)
Website	Official Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Website

The Cheyenne River Indian Reservation was created by the United States in 1889 by breaking up the Great Sioux Reservation, following its victory over the Lakota in a series of wars in the 1870s. The reservation covers almost all of Dewey and Ziebach counties in South Dakota. In addition, many small parcels of off-reservation trust land are located in Stanley, Haakon, and Meade counties.

The total land area is 4,266.987 sq mi (11,051.447 km²), making it the fourth-largest Indian reservation in land area in the United States. Its largest community is North Eagle Butte. The Land Acts of 1909 and 1910, opened up the Cheyenne River Reservation to white settlement. Currently, the correct size of the Cheyenne River Reservation is 2,211 sq. mi. Only the southern part of the Reservation is Indian. In fact, this Reservation is closed. A small part of the northwestern part of the Cheyenne River Reservation was set aside for Ute's in 1907. A total of 4 townships or 92,160 acres, was set aside for the Utes. Including that area and the Lake Oahe Project Lands and government owned land which covers 4,554 acres, the Cheyenne River Reservation covers 1,606,812 acres or 2,510 sq. mi.

History

The terms of the Treaty of Fort Laramie concluded in 1868 granted the Lakota a single large reservation that covered parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, and four other states. After conclusion of the Indian Wars in the 1870s, the US government confiscated about one half of this reservation and assigned bands to five distinct reservations in the area. Many notable Lakota chiefs settled here, most notably Touch the Clouds, who lived here until his death in 1905.

Chief Sitting Bull lived on the Cheyenne River Reservation. He was fond of the Grand River area which in the 1880s, was the boundary between the Cheyenne River Reservation and the Standing Rock Reservation. In 1890, the United States became very concerned about chief Sitting Bull who they learned was going to lead an exodus off the Reservation. What troubled chief Sitting Bull was the breakup of the huge Reservation promised by treaty.

Spys were sent to keep a watch on the psychic who followed prophecy. Several hundred Indians were commencing to gather near the Grand River on the Cheyenne River Reservation in December of 1890. Chief Sitting Bull had a history of leading diasporas away from the whites and the leaders of the United States were fully aware of that and chief Sitting Bull's appeal to the Indians. A force of 39 policemen and 4 volunteers, were sent to chief Sitting Bulls residence near the Grand River on December 16, 1890, to arrest him. They were going to halt the exodus.

At first chief Sitting Bull cooperated but became angry once led out of his residence and noticed around 50 of his soldiers were there to support him. During some point while outside of chief Sitting Bulls residence, a battle commenced in which the legendary leader was assassinated. A total of 18 casualties occurred in the battle. Among the killed were chief Sitting Bull and his son. Of the 18 casualties 14 were killed.

Chief Sitting Bulls half brother, Big Foot, assumed the role of leading the exodus off the Cheyenne River Reservation. Since they were heading south, it could indicate chief Big Foot was possibly attempting to flee to Mexico. They were captured on December 28, 1890 on the Pine Ridge Reservation, about 30 miles to the east of the settlement of Pine Ridge. They numbered about 350 in all. Next day they were massacred by over 500 white soldiers. Near 200 Indians were killed and wounded during the massacre. Around 150 were killed. The exodus was stopped. However, that did not stop other diasporas.

Those who survived the massacre either settled down to live on the Pine Ridge Reservation or returned to the Cheyenne River Reservation. Since then the Cheyenne River Reservations northern border has changed. It is no longer the Grand River.

The government dammed the Missouri River for electrical power and flood control. Started in 1948, the project resulted in the submerging of an additional 8 percent of the land area of the Reservation.

Current conditions

The CRIR is the home of the federally recognized Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) or Cheyenne River Lakota Nation (Oyate). The members include representatives from four of the traditional seven bands of the Lakota, also known as Teton Sioux: the Minnecojou, Sans Arc, Blackfoot and Two Kettles.

The CRIR is bordered on the north by the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, on the west by Meade and Perkins Counties; on the south by the Cheyenne River; and on the east by the Missouri River in Lake Oahe. Much of the land inside the boundaries is privately owned. The CRST headquarters and BIA agency are located at Eagle Butte, South Dakota. The reservation is reached via US-212.

The 2000 census reported a population of 8,470 persons. Many of the 13 small communities on the Cheyenne River Reservation do not have water systems, making it difficult for people to live in sanitary conditions. In recent years, water systems have been constructed that tap the Missouri Main Stem reservoirs, such as Lake Oahe, which forms the eastern edge of the Reservation.

With few jobs available on the reservation or in nearby towns, many tribal members are unemployed. Two-thirds of the population survives on much less than one-third of the American average income. Such dismal living conditions have contributed to feelings of hopelessness and despair among the youth. Indian Country Today reports than one in five girls on the Cheyenne River Reservation has contemplated suicide and more than one in ten has attempted it. As of 2009, a modern medical center was under construction in Eagle Butte to replace an outdated facility.

Beginning on January 22, 2010, a blizzard and ice storm swept across the reservation, downing as many as 3,000 power lines and leaving thousands of residents without power, heat or water. Response to the disaster was slow. Although the state government declared a state of emergency, the situation did not initially receive much attention in the media or from legislators. Power was finally restored to most residents as of February 12, 2010, but overall conditions were still grim.

On February 14, 2010, the TV commentator Keith Olbermann highlighted the situation on his program Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Within 48 hours more than $250,000 in donations was raised for the reservation. As of February 24, 2010, more than $400,000 in donations had been raised. No deaths had been reported as a result of the disaster. Several elderly residents dependent on dialysis treatment were evacuated to nearby towns. As of February 26, 2010, tribal representatives are turning attention to raising awareness about the reservation's damaged water infrastructure.

Communities

When including the original 1880s Reservation boundaries, the communities of Bullhead, Little Eagle, and Wakpala can rightfully be included. Iron Lighting and Thunder Butte can be included as well. Nearly all communities on the Cheyenne River Reservation including in the land area lost in the 1909 and 1910 Land Acts, are predominantly Native American. Most are tiny communities struggling to get by. The communities are among the poorest in the United States. However, Eagle Butte and North Eagle Butte, which are the same community, is a community which is doing well. Main Street in Eagle Butte looks like the normal American city of 2,000 to 3,000 people. Much of Eagle Butte is located off-Reservation. Of course, i am referring to the land lost in the 1909 and 1910 Land Acts.

• Dupree
• Green Grass
• Isabel
• La Plant
• North Eagle Butte
• Timber Lake
• Whitehorse
• Swiftbird
• Cherry Creek
• Red Scaffold
• Bridger

See also

• Great Sioux Reservation
• Sue (dinosaur)
• Thunder Butte
• Madonna Swan, Lakota author from Cheyenne River Indian Reservation

References

• Cheyenne River Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, South Dakota United States Census Bureau

External links

• Cheyenne River Reservation at the Open Directory Project
• Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Official Website