Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

05/08/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

8 May 2026

CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE AND OČÉTI ŠAKÓWIN TRIBES WIN LAWSUIT!

Anpétu Wašté Mitákuyapi!

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe learned today that Pete Lien and Sons, Inc. ("PLS) has decided to drop its exploratory mining project near Pe 'Sla in the Black Hills. By letter dated May 7, 2026, PLS notified the U.S.
Forest Service of its intent to withdraw its Plan of Operations for the Rochford Mineral Exploratory Drilling Project ("Project"). PLS also asked the USFS to withdraw its decision approving the Project.

"This is an important victory for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the Očeti Sakówin, and all those who stood together to protect PeSla. We thank the Creator that our prayers were heard, our youth, our elders all the oyáte stood united, and our leaders took action! Wopila tanká! Standing together we shall continue doing our best in protecting and defending our sacred sites." - Chairman LeBeau

Last week, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and eight other Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota tribes sued the Forest Service to stop the Project. Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler entered a restraining order halting the Project.

Judge Theeler ruled that the Tribes were likely to succeed on their claim that the USFS violated the National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA") when it approved the Project by applying a categorical exclusion that is only available for mineral exploratory projects that will be complete within one year or less. Judge Theeler ruled that the PLS project will not be complete within one year, since reclamation activities will continue for up to three years after all drilling is completed. The court's ruling and the decision by PLS to drop the Project are important victories for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and all other tribes of the Oceti Sakowin. The sacred lands at Pe'Sla are safe, and the Tribes' sacred ceremonies and practices on those lands may continue without disruption.

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05/05/2026

TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER GRANTED!
Today is a good day for our Lakota oyáte!

Today’s ruling temporary halts the drilling and desecration of PeŠla!

We will continue to stand strong and work together in a good way for our people, for our land, and for our future generations!

Líla wopíla tanká to everyone involved in continuing to defend and protect Hésapa! Hoka! ✊🏽

05/04/2026

****NOTICE****
Please be advised that the ceremonies honoring the CEB E-Sports State Qualifiers and the CEB & Dupree School Wrestling State Qualifiers will be held at a later date. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

We are incredibly proud of all our students and their impressive accomplishments.

05/04/2026

05/04/2026

Anpétu wašté mitákuyapi!

Free ride to today’s PeŠla Hearing in Rapid City. Leaving 11:00 AM from CRST Transit.

13 spots available!

05/01/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 1, 2026

CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE FILES JOINT LAWSUIT ON U.S. FOREST SERVICE

Anpetu Was'te Mita'kuyapi!

In a historic demonstration of unity, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and eight other Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota tribes of the Oceti Sakowin, or Seven Council Fires of the Great Sioux Nation, have come together to sue the U.S. Forest Service for approving a graphite mineral exploration project in the Black Hills. The project is near the sacred site known as Pe 'Sla, which is owned and used by Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota tribes for traditional, cultural, and religious ceremonies and practices.

The other tribes who filed suit are the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Santee Sioux Tribe, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and Yankton Sioux Tribe. Their suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota.

The project, which will involve vegetation removal, road construction and reconstruction, reclamation, and other ground-disturbing operations, in addition to exploratory drilling and extensive noise pollution. Tribes argue these activities will harm the land and natural and cultural resources in the Black Hills, which the tribes refer to as He Sápa, and will especially harm Pe'Sla, disrupting and interfering with sacred ceremonies and practice there.

The mining company is Pete Lien and Sons, Inc., which is a corporate subsidiary of Quikrete Holdings, Inc., a multi-billion-dollar materials conglomerate based in Atlanta, Georgia.

In approving the project, the Forest Service concluded that no historic properties will be affected by the project and, therefore, the project is not subject to many of the protections and requirements in the National Historic Preservation Act. The Forest Service also concluded that the project is entitled to a categorical exclusion from the environmental review process in the National Environmental Policy Act. No environmental assessment or environmental impact statement was conducted before the Forest Service approved the project.

The tribes' lawsuit contends that the Forest Service violated the NHPA by failing to include Pe'Sla within the area of potential effects, failing to conduct an adequate cultural resource survey, and failing to engage in meaningful, mutual, and legally required government-to-government consultation with the tribes. The tribes also contend that the Forest Service violated NEPA by using a categorical exclusion that is only available for projects that will last one year or less, when the Forest Service has admitted that this project will last more than a year, and by failing to consider extraordinary circumstances, including the project's impacts on recognized Indigenous sacred sites.

Pete Lien and Sons, Inc., has started initial drilling and road construction. The tribes are asking the
U.S. District Court to stop the project until the court can hear and decide the case on the merits.

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04/22/2026

CHAIRMAN'S UPDATE TO THE OYÁTE
April 13" - April 25", 2026

Anpétu Wašté Mitakuyapi!

The Chairman's Office continues advancing key priorities through representation, planning, and coordination at both the local and national levels.

This week's efforts include:
• Participation in the Native Bio AI Ready meeting

• Representation at the Council of Large Tribes (C**T) quarterly meeting

• Attendance at the HHS Secretary's Tribal Advisory Council (STAC) meeting in Washington, D.C. o Earth Day community cleanup efforts, including remarks on the CRST H**p Day Summit

• Claims and Legislation Committee meeting 4/24/269:00 AM @ Chairman's Office

• Coordination with elders, BIE schools, and the Lakotiyapi Language team to advance immersion school development

• Community meeting hosted by the LBH Greasy Grass Team to discuss planning for the 150th Little Bighorn event 4/25/26 10:00 AM @ Cultural Center

Last week's April 13-17 progress included:
• Participation in the Indigenous Data Sovereignty Summit, with a focus on developing laws to protect Tribal data

• Hosting the CRST Agriculture meeting, including coordination of h**p bale processing and return of h**p housing kits

• Participation in regional planning efforts with Sioux Nation relatives, Dakota relatives from Canada, and Cheyenne and Arapaho allies for the 150th anniversary of the Little Bighorn; meeting at Rosebud Sioux Tribe

The Chairman's Office will continue advancing these efforts and providing updates as progress is made.

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04/21/2026

Anpétu Wašté Mitákuyapi! ☀️🌎

Here’s a listing of CRST Earth Day events 4/22/2026.

04/21/2026

Anpétu Wašté Wakpá Wašté Oyáte! 🪶

This Saturday April 25th we will host the 150th Battle of Little Big Horn CRST Planning Meeting from 10 AM - 2 PM @ the Cultural Center.

Zoom link is provided below for your convenience and on the poster.

A meal will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3100698838?pwd=85PwSBB6P6s8rFJ0cXDrL7dI8HYeF4.1&omn=87824545584

Meeting ID: 310 069 8838
Passcode: CRST1

04/14/2026

On Monday, April 20, 2026, a project is scheduled to begin on U.S. Highway 212 from just east of Eagle Butte to La Plant. The initial phase of the work will include milling of the existing surface and shoulder improvements near Eagle Butte. The project will next move to the east end near La Plant with continued milling and placement of a two-inch lift of asphalt concrete. Work will be progressing at multiple locations along the work zone.

Traffic will be controlled with flaggers and a pilot car during working hours and open to two-way traffic during non-working hours. Motorists should be prepared for delays of up to 15 minutes. Motorists are cautioned to reduce their speed when traveling through the work zone.

View the full press release: https://dot.sd.gov/inside-sddot/media/press-releases/project-scheduled-to-begin-on-us-highway-212-between-eagle-butte-and-la-plant/

For the latest on road and weather conditions, road closures, construction work zones, commercial vehicle restrictions, and traffic incidents, please visit https://sd511.org or dial 511.

04/10/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 10, 2026
CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE REAFFIRMS ICE BAN

Anpétu Wašté Mitákuyapi!

We received information about a recent meeting held at the Dewey County Sheriff's Office in Timber Lake, SD, on 4/10/2026, representatives from the Dewey, Ziebach, and Corson County Sheriff's Departments who met with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agent.

The ICE Agent (P. Dadeh) initiated the meeting to introduce himself and to outline the agency's roles and responsibilities in our region. We are in the process of correcting the situation in so doing the ICE agent is contacted and will be escorted off the reservation.
Homeland Security regional office was informed of the situation and the behavior of the ICE agent trespass. ICE is not welcome on CRST nor are they allowed within our boundaries per the Tribes resolution. We remind all citizens of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe that, as of January 20, 2026, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is banned from operating within the boundaries of the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe reaffirms its commitment to protecting Tribal citizens from all threats, both foreign and domestic - including ICE agents. ICE's presence on the reservation is neither requested nor authorized, and there are no intentions to change this. As an inherently sovereign Tribal Nation, we will continue to safeguard our people at all costs.

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