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About this episode

The Mato Paha-Bear Butte Spiritual Forum: Religious Freedom and Human Rights Sunday, August 5, 2007 beginning at 1:00pm in the afternoon at the in Rapid City, South Dakota. Bear Butte is so important to the Lakota that when they met with the United States’ government in 1868 to discuss treaties, the Lakota demanded the control and ownership of the Black Hills, or Paha Sapa, forever. The treaty that they signed would later be called the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868. The treaty spelled out the agreement in very clear, unmistakable language so that the Black Hills would be: set apart for the absolute and undisturbed use and occupation of the Indians herein named...and the United States now solemnly agrees that no persons...shall ever be permitted to pass over, settle upon, or reside in the territory described in this article. The Lakota call Bear Butte Mato Paha, or Bear Mountain, and believe the Butte to be the most powerful land mass in their religion. They consider Bear Butte sacred for its location near the Black Hills and due to the fact that one can find the seven sacred elements – land, air, water, rocks, animals, plants, and fire – surrounding the Butte. The Lakota believe that Bear Butte is most sacred when worshippers pray there with the Lakota Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe. it's a destination for pilgrims and vision-seekers ,Think Mecca for muslims , Vatican for the Christians . Bear Butte - Mato Paha, the black hills and the indigenous peoples religious places are under attack and being violated from all different fronts. The Mato Paha Forum is the first time in decades that Traditional Healers (Medicine Men) from across many Tribal Nations have come together in one forum to speak to the people regarding sacred places and the traditional Lakota way of life, as well as sharing the Forum with the Christian Churches from the region, and from a global organization such as the Christian Peacemaker Team. Organizers of the Forum have scheduled this event to provide awareness to the general public in light of the increasing controversy over development related to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally that is occurring near Bear Butte. Mato Paha Spiritual Forum: Religious Freedom and Human Rights spiritual significance of Bear Butte Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation) Participants stateswoman Rosalie Little Thunder of the Seventh Generation Fund and South Dakota Peace and Justice. Reverend Gail Arnold of the SD Association of Christian Churches. John Sprague of the Christian Peacemaker Team. Kenneth Cane, a Lakota Medicine Man from the Pine Ridge (Oglala) member of the Indian Black hill commissioner Former Lakota political prisoner, was facing 385 years of jail time plus two lifes and one death penalty sentence Larson Medicine horse from the Crow nation. Richard Two Dogs, Oglala Lakota medicine man Wakan Iyeska (Interpreter of the Sacred) Wilmer Mesteth Traditional Spiritual Leader (Oglala Lakota) professor of Lakota cultural studies Historian and Traditional musician Lakota cultural studies The Organizers of the Forum have scheduled this event to provide awareness to the general public in light of the increasing controversy over development related to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally that is occurring near Bear Butte. sponsored by Bring Back the Way, the Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council, Horse Owner's Society, and the Seventh Generation Fund. Moderated by: Alex and Debra White Plume www.bringbacktheway.com Film production and editing by: www.bringbacktheway.com www.firstvoicesindigenousradio.org Owe Aku: Bring Back the Way

• Release Date

  Feb 28, 2008

• Runtime

  27:35