U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson has reintroduced a bill to protect 40 acres at the Wounded Knee Massacre site, aiming to safeguard the land on behalf of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
The Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act passed the House in 2023 but failed to progress through the Senate.
The bill, now reintroduced in the new Congress, seeks to place the land in restricted-fee status, preventing it from being sold, taxed, or leased without approval from Congress and the tribes.
The massacre occurred on December 29, 1890, when hundreds of Army soldiers surrounded a Lakota camp, resulting in the deaths of 200 to 300 Lakota people.
In 2022, the Oglala and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes purchased the 40 acres of land, and this legislation aims to protect that land as a sacred site for future generations.
Sen. Mike Rounds plans to reintroduce a similar bill in the Senate, hoping for bipartisan support to pass it. However, last year’s effort was delayed due to Sen. Thom Tillis’ opposition, linked to his push for federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe.
The two tribes’ leaders, including Oglala Sioux President Frank Star Comes Out, strongly support the bill, emphasizing the importance of preserving the site for its historical and cultural significance.
Additionally, efforts to rescind medals of honor awarded to soldiers involved in the massacre remain pending, with a review by the Department of Defense still without a conclusion.