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S2088FEDERALFederal Billfiled
High Impact

Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act

Record date · August 1, 2024

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Would Do

This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to place approximately 40 acres of land at the Wounded Knee site in South Dakota into '' for the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. This status ensures the land remains under tribal ownership and jurisdiction while exempting it from state or local taxation.

Why it matters

The bill changes the legal status of 40 acres of land, granting the Oglala Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes permanent control over the site while prohibiting its use for gaming activities and ensuring existing utility agreements remain in place.

Background
  • The Wounded Knee Massacre occurred on December 29, 1890, and remains a site of profound historical and cultural significance for the Lakota people. context

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Oglala Sioux Tribe

The tribe gains restricted fee status over the land and assumes jurisdiction over the site.

Directly affected

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

The tribe gains joint ownership and restricted fee status over the land.

Directly affected

South Dakota state and local governments

These entities lose the ability to tax the 40-acre parcel once it is placed in restricted fee status.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'restricted fee status' mean?
It means the land is owned by the tribes, is part of the Pine Ridge Reservation, is exempt from state/local taxes, and cannot be sold or transferred without Congressional and tribal consent.
Can the tribes use this land for a casino?
No, the bill explicitly prohibits gaming activity on this land under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
What happens to existing utility lines on the property?
The bill requires that all existing private or municipal utility agreements and easements remain in effect.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Codification of Private Covenant

The bill explicitly incorporates a private 2022 covenant between two tribes into federal law, bypassing standard Interior Department review processes for land use.

Oglala Sioux TribeCheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Connected Entities

Congress, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Oglala Lakota County and 6 more
OrganizationCongress“Requires consent for land transfer.”Map →
OrganizationOglala Sioux Tribe“Primary beneficiary of the land's restricted fee status.”Map →
locationOglala Lakota County“The county where the land is located.”Map →
locationPine Ridge Indian Reservation“The location of the affected land.”Map →
locationRural County Road 4“The road near the Wounded Knee site.”Map →
dateDecember 29, 1890“Date of the Wounded Knee Massacre.”Map →
bill numberFort Laramie Treaty of 1868“Relevant treaty impacting tribal land rights.”Map →
OrganizationSecretary of the Interior“Responsible for executing the bill's directives.”Map →
OrganizationCheyenne River Sioux Tribe“Co-beneficiary of the land's restricted fee status.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.congress.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

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