40th anniversary of Mt. Rushmore occupation

A commemoration of the events on August 29, 1970:

Native Americans mark 40th anniversary of reclaiming Mount Rushmore

By Jason TarrIt is the survival of what he and other civil rights leaders say are years of lies and broken promises. That's why Native Americans celebrate the 40th anniversary of the reclaiming of Mount Rushmore.

On this day in 1970, 23 Native Americans occupied the monument, some of them setting up camp for three months on top of the mountain. More than a century ago, the U.S. government set aside the Black Hills for the Sioux Tribe through the signing of the Fort Laramie Treaty. But, that land was taken by miners just about a decade later when gold was discovered there.And:The last time the Supreme Court took up the issue was in 1980. The high court ruled that the Black Hills were illegally taken and that restitution should be paid. The Lakota refused the settlement.

"The total consensus of the Sioux nation is we will never accept money for our sacred sites. We will never accept money for our burial sites," said Quanah Parker Brightman, Vice President of United Native Americans.Comment:  Someone posted a perhaps inevitable "get over it" comment. That's pretty funny coming from the culture that fetishizes Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, July 4th, the Founding Fathers, the Civil War, World War II, etc. Get over your own self-glorifications before you criticize other people for doing the same thing.

For more on Mt. Rushmore protests, see Indians Accosted Near Mt. Rushmore and Greenpeace Spotlights South Dakota. For more on Mt Rushmore in general, see Reactions to Natives at Mt. Rushmore and Baker to Become Parks' Tribal Representative.