Standing Rock Indian Reservation

Standing Rock Indian Reservation
Name	Standing Rock Indian Reservation
Settlement type	Indian reservation
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	States
Subdivision name1	North Dakota and South Dakota
Subdivision type2	Tribes
Subdivision name2	Lakota and Dakota Sioux
Seat type	Headquarters
Seat	Fort Yates, North Dakota
Government type	Tribal Council
Leader title	Chairman
Area total sq mi	3,571.9
Population total	8,217
Population as of	2020
Population density sq mi	auto

Standing Rock Indian Reservation is a large Indian reservation located in the Great Plains of North America, straddling the border between the U.S. states of North Dakota and South Dakota. It is home to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, a federally recognized entity comprising descendants of the Hunkpapa and Sihasapa bands of the Lakota people and the Dakota people of the Yanktonai band. The reservation is named for a sacred stone formation revered in local tradition and is a central place in the history and culture of the Lakota and Dakota nations.

History

The reservation was established as part of the Great Sioux Reservation following the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, a pivotal agreement between the United States and the Lakota people. This vast territory was later reduced through a series of congressional acts, including the Sioux Act of 1889, which broke the Great Sioux Reservation into several smaller entities. The late 19th century was marked by conflict, including the involvement of leaders like Sitting Bull and Gall in the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the subsequent Wounded Knee Massacre. The early 20th century saw the implementation of the Dawes Act, which aimed to allot tribal land to individual members, further diminishing the communal land base.

Geography and demographics

Encompassing approximately 3,572 square miles, the terrain features rolling prairie, buttes, and the winding Missouri River, which forms Lake Oahe behind the massive Oahe Dam. Major communities include the administrative headquarters of Fort Yates, North Dakota, as well as Cannon Ball, North Dakota, and McLaughlin, South Dakota. According to the U.S. Census, the population was 8,217 as of the 2020 Census, with the majority identifying as American Indian.

Governance

The tribe operates under a constitution approved under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. The governing body is the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council, led by a Chairman and consisting of representatives elected from the eight districts across the reservation. The tribe maintains a sovereign government-to-government relationship with the federal government and engages with agencies like the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It also operates its own court system and law enforcement through the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Police Department.

Economy

The local economy has historically been based on agriculture and ranching. In recent decades, the tribe has pursued economic development through various enterprises, including the Prairie Knights Casino and Resort and associated hotel. The tribe also manages natural resources, though significant revenue from mineral rights on the reservation has been limited. High unemployment rates remain a challenge, and many residents rely on sectors like tribal administration, education, and healthcare for employment.

Culture and society

The reservation is a vital center for Lakota language preservation and traditional spiritual practices. Ceremonies such as the Sun Dance and pow wows, including the annual Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Powwow, are key cultural events. Educational institutions include Sitting Bull College, a tribal college founded in 1973. The tribe actively works to sustain traditional arts, like quillwork and beadwork, and oral histories that connect the people to landmarks like the original Standing Rock monument.

Notable events

In the 2010s, the reservation was the epicenter of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, a major international movement against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline near the Missouri River. The protest, drawing thousands of supporters including the International Indigenous Youth Council, highlighted issues of tribal sovereignty, environmental justice, and treaty rights. Earlier, the reservation was the site of the burial of Sitting Bull at Fort Yates and has been a focal point for activism, including efforts led by the American Indian Movement in the late 20th century.

Category:Indian reservations in North Dakota Category:Indian reservations in South Dakota Category:Lakota