Great Sioux Nation tribal representatives and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (March 19, 2026) for co-stewardship of the Black Elk Wilderness on the Black Hills National Forest in Mystic, South Dakota.
The agreement focuses on active management for recreation, habitat improvement, wildlife benefit, invasive species mitigation and wilderness management. With a goal of enhancing opportunities for tribal guidance, knowledge and consultation regarding wilderness management, resource protection, recreation and cultural interpretation at the discretion of the Tribes as permitted under federal law, the MOU also ensures tribal interests of preservation, site protection, wilderness integrity, cultural practice and access are adhered to.
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Chairman Boyd Gourneau said MOUs such as this are important because Lakota children are the most important resource for the future of their Nation. He said they want their kids to have a chance to visit their sacred lands, plant trees and enjoy Mother Earth where their ancestors once roamed free.
Rosebud Sioux Tribe Treasurer Wayne Boyd said their most sacred lands are the Black Hills and Black Elk Peak is tied to their Holy Man, Black Elk. Boyd said it’s an honor for the Great Sioux Nation to care for the lands at Black Elk Wilderness. Furthermore, he said they welcome the jobs and opportunities this creates for their kids and the chance to teach their culture and history to their neighbors.
Tribes represented in the agreement include: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and Yankton Sioux Tribe.
The Black Elk Wilderness was congressionally designated in 1980 and spans 13,534 acres in the center of the Black Hills National Forest in western South Dakota. This historic partnership serves as a model for future co-stewardship agreements. The U.S. Forest Service and the Great Sioux Nation will continue to work closely together to implement the agreement, with upcoming joint initiatives.
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