Post by Diane Merkel on Jan 5, 2009 23:42:11 GMT -5
The message below was posted on the LittleBighorn.info message boards, and it poses some questions I've had. Please help those of us without Indian connections understand reservation etiquette.
If you would like to answer this message, please do so here and/or go to lbha.proboards12.com/index.cgi?board=southdakota&action=display&thread=3065. Thanks.
I have taken to driving more on the reservation. I've been OK with it on the highways, well, other than the time I, as a single female, was tailed by the Reservation police (actually, he came up behind me fast, roared by and the next thing I knew he drove back by me, only to turn around and then tail me). Of course that would be bad anywhere and I was plenty creeped out in broad daylight, but I did wonder about my rules and rights in a sovereign nation at the time. But that did not deter me from returning, as I love the land, the history and (like anywhere) the great majority of good people...
But I do wonder... is a person allowed to drive off on the gravel and dirt roads? A friend and I went after a very historical geocache that was south of the Badlands Park, which required 4WD and a crossing of Potato Creek to get there. Far off from any highways. The cache was placed by a person who apparently taught in Pine Ridge (maybe at the Red Cloud School), but I don't know if that person fully had permission for its placement (many geocachers just place them without going through proper channels). We did run into hunters and just waved, but had a moment of anxiety wondering if we were "legal" on the land.
We ended up seeing what was either a bombing target - or bombing siting target - of old 1940s cars, in a circle with an additional two lines of cars forming a crosshair in the middle. I was so pleased and respectful to see that site - and sad at the land taken from the Reservation for that use for bombing practice. As the placer of the cache stated, it would likely be a historic national monument in the white culture.
Also, the Badlands National Park land that is on reservation land confuses me. Can a person just go into the park there? I've been told by park staff that if the park is not adjacent to the road - and there is private land in between - to get permission to cross it, which of course makes sense. I have hoped to see Stronghold Table and attempt to feel for what happened there. I see on maps it appears it would be a long hike/backpack in from where the park is adjacent to roads. I also have seen signs on Cuny Table, the shortest way there by dirt roads, which say it's private property with no trespassing. So I don't go on those roads. Also, what is the status of the occupation which was going on there? Was the issue of the burials vs. park digging for fossils ever resolved?
I have just wondered about the accessiblity of the roads. For example, to get into the Palmer Creek Unit one definiltely needs to cross Reservation land. However, I'm thinking one road that heads that way goes by a cemetery, which likely does offer public access?
Over Thanksgiving I got to ask a woman permission to go in and look at the memorial to Thin Milk near Cedar Creek. I was very appreciative for that.
Thanks in advance for your help! And kiktayokangi, it sounds like you and your family would be very good people to visit.
But I do wonder... is a person allowed to drive off on the gravel and dirt roads? A friend and I went after a very historical geocache that was south of the Badlands Park, which required 4WD and a crossing of Potato Creek to get there. Far off from any highways. The cache was placed by a person who apparently taught in Pine Ridge (maybe at the Red Cloud School), but I don't know if that person fully had permission for its placement (many geocachers just place them without going through proper channels). We did run into hunters and just waved, but had a moment of anxiety wondering if we were "legal" on the land.
We ended up seeing what was either a bombing target - or bombing siting target - of old 1940s cars, in a circle with an additional two lines of cars forming a crosshair in the middle. I was so pleased and respectful to see that site - and sad at the land taken from the Reservation for that use for bombing practice. As the placer of the cache stated, it would likely be a historic national monument in the white culture.
Also, the Badlands National Park land that is on reservation land confuses me. Can a person just go into the park there? I've been told by park staff that if the park is not adjacent to the road - and there is private land in between - to get permission to cross it, which of course makes sense. I have hoped to see Stronghold Table and attempt to feel for what happened there. I see on maps it appears it would be a long hike/backpack in from where the park is adjacent to roads. I also have seen signs on Cuny Table, the shortest way there by dirt roads, which say it's private property with no trespassing. So I don't go on those roads. Also, what is the status of the occupation which was going on there? Was the issue of the burials vs. park digging for fossils ever resolved?
I have just wondered about the accessiblity of the roads. For example, to get into the Palmer Creek Unit one definiltely needs to cross Reservation land. However, I'm thinking one road that heads that way goes by a cemetery, which likely does offer public access?
Over Thanksgiving I got to ask a woman permission to go in and look at the memorial to Thin Milk near Cedar Creek. I was very appreciative for that.
Thanks in advance for your help! And kiktayokangi, it sounds like you and your family would be very good people to visit.
If you would like to answer this message, please do so here and/or go to lbha.proboards12.com/index.cgi?board=southdakota&action=display&thread=3065. Thanks.
