The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe holds a significant place in American history, embodying a legacy of resilience and a steadfast commitment to sovereignty. Established from the vast Great Sioux Reservation, their story is deeply intertwined with treaties, land disputes, and a continuous fight to preserve their cultural identity and way of life. Understanding the history of the Standing Rock Sioux is crucial to grasping the complexities of Native American rights and the ongoing dialogue between tribal nations and the United States government.
Treaty Rights and the Great Sioux Reservation
The foundation of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation lies in the Treaty of Fort Laramie of 1868, which initially established the expansive Great Sioux Reservation. This treaty, a landmark agreement between the United States and the Sioux Nation, defined the reservation’s boundaries, encompassing all of present-day South Dakota west of the Missouri River, including the sacred Black Hills region and the vital Missouri River itself. Article 2 of the treaty meticulously outlined these borders, starting from the 46th parallel of north latitude to the Missouri River’s east bank, southward along the bank to the Nebraska line, and westward to the 104th meridian of west longitude. Beyond these defined borders, Article 11 of the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty further granted the Great Sioux Nation off-reservation hunting rights across a vast territory stretching south to the Republican and Platte Rivers and east to the Big Horn Mountains, recognizing their traditional territories and sustenance practices. A critical provision, Article 12, stipulated that any land cession required the consent of three-fourths of adult males within the Sioux Nation, a clause that would later be blatantly disregarded by the U.S. government.
Reduction of the Great Sioux Reservation
Despite the treaty agreements, the United States Congress unilaterally undermined the Fort Laramie Treaty with the Act of February 28, 1877. This act illegally removed the sacred Black Hills from the Great Sioux Reservation without obtaining the legally required consent from the Sioux Nation, a clear violation of Article 12 of the 1868 treaty. The U.S. Supreme Court, in the 1980 case United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians, unequivocally condemned this action, stating, “A more ripe and rank case of dishonorable dealings will never, in all probability, be found in our history.” This ruling underscored the unjust treatment faced by the Standing Rock Sioux and the broader Sioux Nation in the seizure of their ancestral lands. Further diminishing their territory, the Act of March 2, 1889, further fragmented the Great Sioux Reservation, dividing it into six smaller, separate reservations, including the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The boundaries established for the Standing Rock Reservation in Section 3 of this 1889 act remain in place today, marking a significant reduction from their originally treaty-defined lands.
Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Governance
The Standing Rock Agency was initially established at Fort Yates in 1873, predating the formal establishment of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. An Executive Order in 1875 extended the Reservation’s northern boundary to the Cannon Ball River, further shaping its geographical limits. Today, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe operates under a constitution approved in 1959, reflecting their commitment to self-governance. The Tribal Council, the governing body, consists of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, a Secretary, and fourteen Council members, all elected by tribal members. The Chairman provides crucial leadership and administrative direction for the tribe. Council members, including both district representatives and at-large members, serve four-year terms, ensuring representation from across the reservation. The Tribal Council meets regularly to manage tribal affairs, reflecting the tribe’s dedication to maintaining their sovereignty and internal governance structures.
Cultural Identity and Tribal Divisions
The people of Standing Rock, often referred to as Sioux, are primarily members of the Dakota and Lakota nations. The terms “Dakota” and “Lakota,” meaning “friends” or “allies,” reflect a shared heritage and kinship. The term “Sioux” itself originated from the Ojibwa term “Nadouwesou,” meaning “adders,” later adapted by French traders. Within Standing Rock, the Dakota people are represented by the Upper Yanktonai (Ihanktonwana) and Lower Yanktonai (Hunkpatina) divisions, each with distinct linguistic and cultural nuances. The Lakota divisions within Standing Rock include the Hunkpapa and Sihasapa (Blackfeet), the latter distinct from the Algonquian Blackfeet. Historically, the Yanktonai maintained aspects of a Woodland lifestyle while adapting to prairie life, engaging in trade and sometimes adopting practices from riverine tribes. The Lakota, by the 19th century, fully embraced a nomadic Plains culture centered on the horse and buffalo. Today, Yanktonai communities are primarily located in the North Dakota portion of the reservation, while Lakota communities are predominantly in South Dakota.
Contemporary Issues and Sovereignty
The Dawes Act, also known as the Allotment Act of 1889, profoundly impacted the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation by opening reservation lands to non-Indian settlement, leading to a checkerboard pattern of land ownership. Despite this fragmentation, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe maintains jurisdiction over all reservation lands, including rights-of-way and waterways. This assertion of jurisdiction frequently leads to complex legal disputes in criminal and civil courts, highlighting the ongoing tensions between tribal, state, and federal governments, exemplified by cases like Nevada vs Hicks. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe remains steadfast in its assertion of treaty rights and self-government, engaging in government-to-government relations with state and federal entities. They uphold the treaties of 1851 and 1868 as foundational to their sovereignty and rights, viewing these agreements as equally valid today as when they were originally established.
Conclusion
The story of the Standing Rock Sioux is a powerful narrative of historical injustice, cultural endurance, and unwavering sovereignty. From the broken treaties and the illegal seizure of their lands to the ongoing challenges of jurisdictional disputes, the Standing Rock Sioux have consistently demonstrated resilience and a commitment to self-determination. Their rich cultural heritage, rooted in the Dakota and Lakota traditions, combined with their robust tribal governance, underscores their enduring strength. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s continued assertion of their treaty rights and sovereign status serves as a vital reminder of the ongoing struggle for Native American rights and the importance of respecting tribal sovereignty in the 21st century.
