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Sitting Bull Monument Vandalized Again
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Sitting Bull's monument and grave sits on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River near Mobridge SD. Fifty years ago, in 1953, Sitting Bull's nephew, Clarence Grey Eagle, enlisted the help of Mobridge mortician Al Miles. Grey Eagle was acting as attorney-in-fact and legal representative for Sitting Bull's three granddaughters. Grey Eagle selected the site and a Dakota Memorial Association of mostly local people formed to carry out the plans, deeded the land to the Indians and under the cover of darkness, a group of South Dakotans snuck into ND, exhumed his bones and reburied them.

Alone and vunerable, the Sitting Bull memorial and gravesite west of Mobridge has become a target for vandals. With high-powered rifles and heavy pipes or hammers, vandals destroyed the feather, the nose and the peace pipe from the bust carved by renown sculpture Korczak Ziolkowski. The Sitting Bull sculpture may be one of the only Korczak Ziolkowski sculptures in existence and it has been defaced on many ccations.The memorial area is scattered with trash, paper, beer cans and bottles. Because of the isolated location and the reluctance of anyone to accept responsibility, this South Dakota treasure is being destroyed. Many of the local residents have started an effort to save the historical monument but much debate exists and it seems there are no simple solutions.

The graphic and,reliable account of the death of Sitting Bull and of the circumstances attending it will be read with interest by many readers. It was written by Major James McLaughlin, who for many years occupied the post of Indian Agent at Standing Rock.

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" Let us put our minds together to see what we can build for our children." Sitting Bull, 1877
Help Native Americans in Wakpala, South Dakota build a new school for their children.
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