The South Unit of the Badlands National Park would be the first Native national park in the U.S. – all on reservation land.

The National Parks Service recently released an environmental impact study on the park, moving it one step closer to completion.

Native Sun News has more on the continued work to establish the first Native national park in the U.S.:

Story and photo by Karin Eagle, Native Sun News staff writer:

ROCKYFORD – Reclaiming tribal lands and focusing on the future of the tribe was the theme of the day when the Oglala Sioux Tribe, in a historic moment of agreement with the United States Government, signed a document that propels forward the vision of the first ever Tribal national Park.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis presented the final General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for the South Unit of Badlands National Park, which recommends the establishment of the nation’s first tribal national park.

In a statement released about the announcement, Salazar said, “Our National Park System is one of America’s greatest story tellers. As we seek to tell a more inclusive story of America, a tribal national park would help celebrate and honor the history and culture of the Oglala Sioux people. Working closely with the Tribe, Congress, and the public, the Park Service will work to develop a legislative proposal to make the South Unit a tribal national park.”

Read the rest of this entry »