RAPID CITY, SD (KOTA) – Land is an integral part of Indigenous culture and to demonstrate that importance, the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council of the Rosebud Sioux Reservation hosted the 12th World Wilderness Congress in the Black Hills.

The World Wilderness Conference began in South Africa in 1976 and has been held in a different country each year since then. Its aim is to bring together wilderness activists from around the world to address the root causes of the environmental crisis.

This year’s event is different because it is also the first Indigenous-led conference of its kind. Leaders and organizers say this success is a big step toward bringing Indigenous voices and beliefs to the forefront of conversations about the climate crisis.

“In the Lakota concept we have something called maka si tomnia, which means everything on earth. That includes the four-legged and the winged and the creatures in the ground, so we are very concerned about wildlife,” said executive director Phil Two Eagle.

“It’s very special that it’s taking place here on Oceti Sakowin and Lakota lands. I’m really grateful that the eyes of the world are here and on Indigenous peoples around the world and on our contribution to climate justice and climate resilience around the world,” said Tatewin Means, Executive Director of Thunder Valley CDC.

Two Eagle and Means said they hope to open people’s eyes to a different way of thinking about land ownership and conservation to restore balance among all living things.

Do you see a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please Click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a current news story? Send it to us here with a short description.

All rights reserved.