Senate bill locks Wounded Knee land into permanent tribal memorial status

What does this do?

S 105 directs the Secretary of the Interior to place approximately 40 acres in Wounded Knee, South Dakota into restricted fee status, jointly held by the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. The land, already owned by the tribes, would become a permanent memorial and sacred site. The government would have one year after enactment to complete all required steps, and the land could never be used for gambling or gaming.

Who does it affect?

Members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe are most directly affected, along with visitors and anyone holding utility or road access rights connected to the land. South Dakota state and local governments would lose authority to tax the property.

Why does it matter?

The restricted fee status would prevent the tribes from selling or transferring the land without approval from both Congress and the tribes themselves. State and local governments would permanently lose taxing authority over the property, and federal oversight of tribal land use would be reduced as long as the tribes follow a 2022 intertribal agreement.

Where does it stand?