25 years ago, I interviewed #ChiefLookingHorse about World Peace and Prayer Day, and was inspired to organize a solidarity event in #PortlandME (in conjunction with #PeaceActionMaine) where we made art, spoke truth, played music, and fed the #Unhoused. It took a lot of work to organize, but I'm glad it happened. It's was all about #BuildingCommunity and #MutualAid, and that's what's needed #InTheseTimes!

#WorldPeaceAndPrayerDay: The Power of Spirit

Article by @bsnorrell.blogspot.com , Censored News, noon, June 21, 2026

#MathóPahá (Bear Butte) South Dakota -- "Chief #ArvolLookingHorse, Chief began by saying the riders are coming from Green Grass and then they will proceed to the Little Big Horn.

" '#MotherEarth is sick, and we are sick, because we nourish from Mother Earth' Chief Looking Horse said.

"With a message of hope, Chief Looking Horse said his people are a people of peace and today, more than ever, the youths are singing their songs and on the ride from Green Grass.

"As World Peace and Prayer Day began, now in its thirtieth year, Chief Looking Horse said, 'Pipestone is the Blood of our People,'

"We need peace in this world more than ever."

"As World Peace and Prayer Day begins today, an elder from #Alaska speaks on the impact of a typhoon at #HooperBay. She spoke on the power of prayer, and efforts to recover. 'Their homes are totally destroyed.' Now, the federal government is depriving them of their funds."

"#Paiute #JoshDini and youth honor #MyronDewey, Paiute, and his efforts at #StandingRock. They are sharing what is happening at #ThackerPass, the #LithiumMining in Nevada.

"On the ride, now from Green Grass in South Dakota, Josh said they are able to share what is happening in Nevada and that Thacker Pass is a place of massacres.

"#Datacenters are being pushed without consultation with the tribe. The data centers are taking the land and water, even now in a #drought, the data centers are coming for the water, Josh said.

"Dr. #ValeriahBigEagle, #Nakota / #HunkpatiDakota, speaks on the power of prayer and protection of the land and water. At Sacred #Pesla, two drill rigs were stopped from going in. An injunction, and preliminary injunction was filed to stop the drilling for graphite. Then, 'they started drilling around the clock.' On May 8, the permit was rescinded.

"There were drones and helicopters overhead, but the occupation went forward with prayer, she said. The protectors had their own drone as well, for security. Big Eagle said it was an honor to be a part of this.

" 'The only weapons we had were our prayers,' she said, describing the lock downs to equipment to halt the drilling.

" 'When we are in #solidarity and #unity, we can make things happen,' she said, speaking on ongoing efforts to protect the Sacred #BlackHills."

Read more:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2026/06/live-now-world-peace-and-prayer-day.html

#ArvolLookingHorse #WorldPeaceAndPrayerDay #SummerSolstice #ProtectTheSacred #DefendMotherEarth #StandWithStandingRock #NoDatacenters #NoMining #RespectTheSacred #WaterIsLife #LandIsLife

All Nine #SouthDakota Tribes Pass Resolutions Supporting Developing Legislation To Return #FederalLands: #LakotaNation United in Effort for #BlackHills Federal Lands Return

By NDN Collective • June 9, 2026

Rapid City, SD –"All nine South Dakota Tribes have voted to move forward on developing legislation to return federal lands in the Black Hills to the #GreatSiouxNation – a historic display of Tribal unity and momentum around efforts to protect the Black Hills.

"At a recent tribal council meeting, the #CheyenneRiverSioux Tribe passed a resolution to move forward on working together to protect sacred sites, clean drinking water, and ensure better land management through the development of legislation to return federal lands in the Black Hills to the Great Sioux Nation.

"The proposal — which is still in early draft form — aims to return federal lands in the Black Hills back to the #OcetiSakowin, providing a framework for land return and management. The proposal does not involve privately owned lands, and it does not settle or involve claims by the Great Sioux Nation regarding the 1868 Ft. Laramie Treaty.

"Right now, there are 8,800 active #mining claims in South Dakota – about 17 percent of the entire Black Hills. The legal strategy would protect the Black Hills from all #ExtractiveActivities and preserve clean drinking water for all.

"#Indigenous organizations, elders, grassroots leaders, and community members have been organizing and providing support around proposed legislation since 2020, helping Tribal leaders prioritize this proposal as a critical way to protect drinking water for the region, preserve sacred sites, revitalize culture and land, strengthen sovereignty, bolster community wellbeing, and support jobs and economic development.

" 'The Oceti Sakowin people are coming together to claim the land that is rightfully and legally owed to us,' said #MadonnaThunderHawk, Cheyenne River Sioux elder. 'We are here to say, loud and clear, that the Black Hills are not for sale. We love our land, and will continue defending it – from Pe’ Sla to #CravenCanyon and beyond.”

“#CrazyHorse set the bar on how to move as Indigenous people, and how important it is to defend the Black Hills,” said Joseph Brings Plenty Sr., District 5 Council Representative for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. 'Together, we are strong – we need to be stronger than ever because we are fighting for an existence on our very own land.' "

Read more:
https://ndncollective.org/all-nine-south-dakota-tribes-pass-resolutions-supporting-developing-legislation-to-return-federal-lands/

#LandBack #IndigenousNews #NativeAmericanNews #USPol #PeSla #NoMining #WaterIsLife
#InTheSpiritOfCrazyHorse

Victory for #Lakota Youths Protecting Sacred #PeSla

Company withdraws from controversial Black Hills exploratory drilling project

"We stopped the drilling, this is a victory for the #OcetiSakowin," Lakota youths said as the drilling rig drove out of #SacredLand.

By Seth Tupper, May 8, 2026 via @bsnorrell.blogspot.com

"A company that’s being sued for exploratory drilling near a culturally significant site in South Dakota’s Black Hills is withdrawing from the project, according to a letter shared with project opponents.

"The opponents include the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, which posted a copy of the letter and a statement Friday on social media.

" 'This is a testament to the people, organizations, and tribal governments who showed unified action, determination, and courage in the face of what seemed to be overwhelming odds,' the alliance said.

"The letter from Pete Lien & Sons to the U.S. Forest Service references the #RapidCity-based company’s project near Pe’ Sla, also known as #ReynoldsPrairie, which is a high mountain meadow in the central #BlackHills. "

Source:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2026/05/victory-for-lakota-youths-protecting.html

Read more:
https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/05/08/company-withdraws-from-controversial-black-hills-exploratory-drilling-project/

#IndigenousResistance #ProtectTheSacred #LakotaYouths #BlackHillsCleanWaterAlliance

HAPPENING NOW!

#LakotaYouths are Locked Down to #Drilling Equipment at #PeSla

Drilling is Shut Down Now at 1 P.M. on Thursday: Two Drilling Sites are Shut Down and All Workers Were Sent Home. Lakota Youths Protecting Their Water Demand that all Drilling be Halted Until this is Heard in Court on Monday.

Posted by #NDNCollective, April 30, 2026, via @bsnorrell.blogspot.com

Photos by Angel White Eyes

"Lakota youth have locked down onto the drilling equipment at Pe’ Sla. An alter has been set up and community members have offered prayers. The drilling company said that law enforcement is on the way.

"At this time, we are calling on Tribes, Nations, Organizations, Collectives, and Coalitions to show support and sign the 'Stop the Drilling at Pe’ Sla' sign-on letter:

"If you are nearby, we encourage you to visit the #MysticRanger station and tell them to Rescind the permit and stop the drilling at Pe' Sla.

"#Mining activity is currently taking place at Pe' Sla despite community opposition. The Rochford Mineral Exploratory Drilling Project (#RMEDP) which seeks to drill for graphite, proposed by #PeteLien & Sons, must be stopped.

"The 2026 #MMIR March is a collaborative effort between the Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition (#MIWSAC), the Minneapolis American Indian Center (#MAIC), the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (#MIWRC), the Indian Health Board of Minneapolis, the Native American Community Development Institute (#NACDI), the Minnesota Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (#MMIR) Office, #GatheringsCafe, #Minneapolis Public Schools American Indian Education, the #IndigenousProtectors Movement, the #TRADISH Project (a MAIC program), the Culture Language Arts Network (a MAIC program), Indigenous Women’s Life Net (a MAIC Program), the Many Shields Society, Mending the Sacred Hoop, Make Voting a Tradition (a NACDI program), and the #AmericanIndianMovement (AIM)."

Source [includes photos]:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2026/04/lakota-youths-are-locked-down-to.html

Sign on letter:
https://ndnco.cc/signtosavepesla

#USPol #IndigenousNews #IndigenousResistance #ProtectTheSacred #BlackHills #NoMining #OcetiSakowin #SiouxNation #PLS #RapidCreekWatershed