Watch CBS News

Site Sacred To Sioux Takes Step Toward Federal Trust

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — The Pennington County Commission will support placing a South Dakota site sacred to the Great Sioux Nation into a federal trust.

In 2012, Sioux tribes raised $9 million with the help of celebrities including P. Diddy and Bette Midler to buy a 3-quare-mile tract in the Black Hills known as Pe' Sla from private landowners. The tribes want to put the land in trust with the federal government to be held on behalf of tribal members.

Commissioners on Tuesday voted 3-2 to release the land from the county's tax roll and to send a letter of support to the U.S. Interior Department.

An attorney for the tribes says they have worked out service agreements for the land since it would stop generating tax revenue if place into trust.

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.