Seeking Advice About Visiting Black Hills and Devil's Tower Sacred Grounds

[Mister Ed]

I'm contemplating a trip to the Black Hills (and possibly Devil's Tower) with my wife and daughter this summer. I know that these are sacred grounds to some Native American peoples, but I'm entirely ignorant of the details. I want to avoid any transgression, so I'm seeking advice on what rules we should follow when visiting these places. Also, I'm wondering if the presence of white folks at these sites is a trespass or a sacrilege in and of itself. If that's the case, then I'll make certain to vacation elsewhere.

Many thanks, and please forgive my ignorance and naivety on this topic.

[Waya]

1. Tourist Etiquette in American Indian Communities

In order to make your visit as enjoyable and respectful as possible, the following briefly outlines some general rules of thumb to follow when visiting Indian Country.

American Indian communities contain a diversity of tribal members who practice varying degrees of tradition. Traditionalists expect tribal members and visitors alike to conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful of tribal religion and ceremonies. With this in mind, it must be recognized that a code of conduct practiced at one community or event may not be appropriate at another.
Moral precepts in appropriate dress, speech and behavior, and adherence to them, are highly regarded at ceremonial events.
Behaviors that are frowned upon include excessive questioning regarding ceremonial events, excessive talking or laughing, demanding or sneaking photographs or sketches, demanding preferential seating or viewing of a ceremonial event.
An unkempt appearance is very offensive at a ceremonial event, where many people wear their finest. Ragged jeans and especially high riding shorts are also offensive at ceremonial events, though they may be acceptable at other gatherings such as craft fairs and some powwows.
The ancestors of today's tribes left many artifacts and ruins behind. So should you by resisting the impulse to pick up souvenirs. American Indian remains and artifacts are protected federally by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which carries stiff penalties.
Courtesy Scott Jones, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe



For detailed information on proper etiquette for visiting Indian Reservations in South Dakota, contact the ANA Office in Lower Brule, [e-mail], or call (605)-473-0561.

http://www.travelsd.com/onlyinsd/sioux/etiquette.asp


If you want to learn a bit more about the region and the people before you travel there - here are some links - from history to modern day - on the people and places you might encounter.

http://www.uic.edu/educ/bctpi/historyGIS/blackhills_1wk/bhdocuments.html

[itsmesgd]

2. how nice is it that "white folks" as he call himself care....

about decorum and etiquitte. I think that the renewed interest not only of Native American culture but respect to the same is a welcomed change. For someone to actually ask whether or not he should go is a new one for me. I'm only 31 but it is nice to see the change in attitude of many people from treating Native culture as an oddity or as a lesser culture to the growing view that several of the Native tribes were on the right track when it comes to the environment, nature conservancy, and personal responsibility. I also feel proud to see that Native cultures are more and more being portrayed as people deserving of respect and less like the "savage" from generations past. It continues to look more and more like Black Elk was onto something when he said that healing would begin to take place seven generations after him. Let's hope that more and more families take the time to learn about the culture before visiting, and with this also appreciate the places and people instead of stopping by the casino gift shop to buy their kid a rubber tomahawk as they leave the reservation.

As a side note. I am new to this forum and have read many of your postings. You are doing a good job keeping this forum going and interesting. I hope that I can contribute in a positive way as well.

[Mister Ed]

3. Thank you! This is very helpful. n/t

[CountAllVotes]

4. my advice

I went to the Black Hills of South Dakota to do some research about 10+ years ago. I was advised not to go by a Sioux medicine woman. I did not take her advice. I went anyway. I lasted about 2 days and ended up leaving at 2:00 AM driving 90 MPH the whole way out and I couldn't look back in the mirror and those Black Hills. There are lots of very angry spirits in the Black Hills. I'd never ever go back there again, never.

I'd recommend you find another place to go as the Black Hills are sacred grounds and no human belongs there no matter how you identify yourself.

[itsmesgd]

5. what happened?

where exactly did you go?

[CountAllVotes]

6. let's just put it this way

I had a very angry spirit visit me in the middle of the night and set the room on FIRE. I kid you not! I got so freaking scared that I packed up my car and prayed the sucker would kick over. Luckily it did and I LEFT.

The Black Hills are creepy and I wouldn't recommend that anyone except perhaps Sioux medicine people go there.

It scared the hell out of me.

It turned out that that very same room - the last "inhabitant" committed suicide in the bed I was given to sleep in! YIKES!!! I drove 3,000 miles to get there and was back to my point of origin within two days - that is how freaked out I was.

I remember calling my Indian mother from Shawnee, Wyoming at the one phone to be found in this isolated place and I told her what happened. She said, "You were right to get the hell out of there!"

I replied to her, "Yep, I sure was. I've decided that anyone living in this place is either a spiritual zombie or absolutely insane!"

No one ever questioned any of this and the people that owned the place where I was staying, a bunch of good ol' boys hoping for a big fire to break out so they'd get a lot of overtime money thought it was "funny".

Haha. Not.

Also: Mt. Rushmore is beyond disgusting! UGH.


:dem: :kick: