Black Hills Sioux Nation case

The Black Hills Sioux Nation case involves the U.S. government’s 1980 Supreme Court decision, which awarded the Sioux Nation $102 million in compensation for land taken from the Black Hills, traditionally sacred to them, without their consent. The land was seized after gold was discovered, and the Sioux consider it sacred and untouchable. The Court acknowledged the wrongful taking but has not required the government to return the land, offering instead monetary compensation. The Sioux refuse the payment, insisting they want their land back, as it remains central to their cultural and spiritual identity.