Bear Butte Press Release!

Debra White Plume
Owe Aku, Bring Back the Way
Manderson, SD  57756-0325
605-455-2155 Voice Ph
605-455-1287 Fax Ph
lakota1@gwtc.net
www.bringbacktheway.com

17 July 2006

PRESS RELEASE

On Thursday July 20, 2006 at 10am at the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Bear Butte  Lodge
there will be a Press Conference called by Alex White Plume, President of  the
Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Floyd Hand,  Delegate of
the Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council, Carter Camp, one of the Coordinators
of the Intertribal Coalition to Defend Bear Butte, and Chief Oliver Red  Cloud of
the Oglala Band of the Lakota Nation.  The Press Conference is held in  order for
President White Plume to announce that his office is calling for a Congressional
Hearing regarding the development occurring near Bear Butte, a National Historic
Site that is also a South Dakota State Park as well as considered as a sacred
mountain to the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) people of his tribe as well as many other
Indian Nations.  President White Plume's office has received many requests from
other Tribe's who are also involved in work to protect what they consider to be
sacred land, and who will be attending the Summit of Indigenous Nations scheduled
for August 1-4 at Bear Butte.
Carter Camp of the Intertribal Coalition to Defend Bear Butte, Floyd Hand and
Chief Oliver Red Cloud will announce the Summit of Indigenous Nations which will
gather activists and Tribal Leaders from across North America who are involved in
working to protect what they consider to be sacred land, and which in many cases,
is territory identified in Treaties with the United States.  The Intertribal Coalition to Defend Bear Butte has received many notices from grassroots environmental groups as well as social justice organizations that are inquiring about working collectively to call for Senate Hearings in the State of South Dakota.  This will be discussed at the Press Conference as well, on Thursday July 20, 2006 at 10am at the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Lodge are Bear Butte,
right off Highway 79, two miles past the entrance to the Bear Butte State Park entrance.
Currently the Gathering of Nations to Defend Bear Butte is encamped at the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Bear Butte Lodge conducting spiritual ceremonies with the tribal members encamped there, who are also in preparation for the Summit  of Indigenous Nations.  There are approximately 150 tribal members at camp, with several local and national environmentalist groups, and Christian groups, including the Christian Peacemaker Team, encamped as well.
Please call 605-867-4021 for Joe Red Cloud, Assistant to President White Plume,
if you have questions or comments.