RESOLUTION 9

Urgent Mineral Withdrawal for all of the Black Hills

PREAMBLE

We, the delegates of the 12th World Wilderness Congress convened in the sacred lands of the Black Hills, recognize these lands belong to the Lakota. The Black Hills are unceded Lakota territory guaranteed for their “absolute and undisturbed use and occupation” by the Treaties of Ft. Laramie 1851 and 1868. Treaties are the supreme law of the land according to Article VI of the US Constitution. It must be said the Lakota have inherent sovereignty to their land that pre-dates the treaties.

However, these lands, and the meanings attached to these lands by the Lakota, are under threat from mining activities, which pose irreversible damage to the environment and violate the treaties that protect these lands. The Lakota have called for an end to mining in the Black Hills, 80% of which are considered Federal lands, and the Lakota are leveraging the administrative mechanism of a Mineral Withdrawal. A Mineral Withdrawal is a process of the United States Forest Service which removes a specific area from mineral entry, meaning no new mining claims will be issued. This is effectively a 20-year mining ban. There is currently an ongoing proposed Mineral Withdrawal in the Black Hills for parts of the Pactola Reservoir and Rapid Creek. The Black Hills Sioux Nation Council, the Sicangu Lakota Oyate Treaty Council, the Oglala Sioux Tribe, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, have all passed resolutions or signed letters supporting the Mineral Withdrawal at Pactola, asking for the expansion of the Mineral Withdrawal, and for a Mineral Withdrawal of all the Black Hills. We will follow the lead of the Lakota people and support the current proposed Mineral Withdrawal at Pactola, see it expanded to all of the Pactola Reservoir and Rapid Creek Watershed, and lastly call for a new Mineral Withdrawal for the entirety of the Black Hills. We will do this by sending this resolution to the USFS and the Bureau of Land Management, and will write a letter that all members and attendees of WILD 12 can send out from their individual organizations.

WHEREAS

The Black Hills belong to the Lakota; and Treaties are the supreme law of the land, and the treaties of Fort Laramie (1851 and 1868) legally recognize the rights of the Lakota Nation to the Black Hills, affirming the land is “set apart for the absolute and undisturbed use and occupation” by the Lakota; the Lakota have inherent sovereignty to the law under Natural Law; and

The Lakota have always fought against mining and the destruction of their sacred land; and

The Black Hills Sioux Nation Council, the Sicangu Lakota Oyate Treaty Council, the Oglala Sioux Tribe, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, have all passed resolutions or signed letters supporting the Mineral Withdrawal at Pactola, asking for the expansion of the Mineral Withdrawal to all of the Pactola Reservoir and Rapid Creek Watershed, and for a Mineral Withdrawal of the Black Hills,

THEREFORE

The delegates to the 12th World Wilderness Congress (WILD12), convening in He Sapa, the Black Hills of the Oceti Sakowin Oyate are hereby

RESOLVED

1. To follow the lead of the Lakota by supporting the Mineral Withdrawal at Pactola, and ask for it to be expanded to all of the Pactola Reservoir and Rapid Creek Watershed;
2. To call for a Mineral Withdrawal for all of the Black Hills;
3. That civil society will follow up by communicating our support by using the correct processes and channels to the Federal Governmental agencies, and will provide template letters of support to all of our attendees and members aiding in this effort;
4. To urge all levels of government, including the United States federal government, to honor their treaty obligations, uphold the sovereignty of the Lakota Nation, and collaborate with Indigenous communities ensuring that the Black Hills remain free from the pervasive and destructive impacts of mining for future generations.

PROPOSERS

Name: Beatriz Padilla Martínez
Title: President, Fundación Biosfera del Anáhuac, A.C.
Country: Mexico
Email: bea.padilla@funba.org

Name: Alan Watson
Title: Social Scientist and Member of IUCN WCPA Wilderness Specialist Group
Country: Missoula, Montana
Email: wildmule.watson@gmail.com

Name: Bill Masure
Title: Content Producer, Wildlife Protection Solutions
Country: USA (Denver, Colorado)
Email: bill.masure@gmail.com

SECONDERS

Name: Ernesto Enkerlin
Country: Mexico
Email: enkerlin@gmail.com

Name: Michael Charton
Country: England
Email: michaelcharton@inheritsouthafrica.com

Name: Patricia Rojo Blanco
Country: México
Email: patriciarojo@gmail.com