Home / Environment / Sacred Site Saved: Indigenous Power Halts Drilling
Sacred Site Saved: Indigenous Power Halts Drilling
25 Aug
Summary
- Indigenous groups successfully halted drilling on sacred Pe' Sla prairie.
- A coalition of tribes and organizers drove out a mining company.
- The victory demonstrated the power of organized collective action.
In a significant victory for Indigenous rights and environmental protection, a coalition of tribes and organizers successfully halted exploratory drilling on the sacred Pe' Sla prairie in South Dakota. The Oglala Lakota scouts discovered drilling had begun on the land, known as the "heart of everything that is." This discovery spurred a rapid mobilization.
The US Forest Service had quietly approved exploratory drilling by Pete Lien & Sons, a local company, to search for graphite, a critical mineral for the energy transition. This decision bypassed environmental reviews, igniting opposition from tribal nations and environmental groups. The situation highlighted a broader trend of critical mineral extraction on or near Native lands.
Organizers filed lawsuits, but the company began round-the-clock drilling. In response, 40 activists occupied the drill pads, employing a strategy of stacked tactics. This occupation lasted seven days, featuring intergenerational participation and ceremonies.
A federal judge eventually halted the drilling. Subsequently, Pete Lien & Sons withdrew its drilling plan. The victory underscored the effectiveness of combining legal challenges, direct action, and Indigenous sovereignty as a legal instrument.
