Enthusiasm in South Dakota for a proposed statue garden honoring former President Trump, despite local resistance

Enthusiasm in South Dakota for a proposed statue garden honoring former President Trump, despite local resistance

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Politics, History, and Controversy collide in South Dakota

In the heart of South Dakota, a contentious issue is brewing. The proposed National Garden of American Heroes, President Donald Trump's pet project, is set to potentially call the Black Hills home — a controversial move latest in a long line of disputes between South Dakota and its Indigenous groups.

The mining company, Pete Lien & Sons, has offered 40 acres less than a mile from Mount Rushmore, for this grand endeavor. Governor Larry Rhoden, in a letter to Trump, championed the Black Hills as the ideal location for the garden. However, the Black Hills hold a deep and complicated history for Indigenous Americans, marking the site of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, which recognized the Black Hills as Sioux territory. The U.S. government's seizure of the land for gold mining less than a decade later, and subsequent Supreme Court findings of treaty violations, have left lasting scars on the Native American community.

Pete Lien & Sons has faced conflicts with Indigenous groups in the past, most recently over an exploratory drilling project near the sacred Lakota site of Pe' Sla. The mining company is also working with theme park designer Storyland Studios on a Black Hills attraction opposed by some Indigenous groups.

Taylor Gunhammer, an organizer with the Indigenous advocacy group NDN Collective, strongly criticized the proposed garden, stating, "It's absurd for Storyland Studios and Gov. Rhoden to claim they care about preserving history while they watch Lien & Sons attempt to destroy Pe' Sla, and do nothing."

In contrast, Rhoden's press secretary, Josie Harms, declared the garden would have no disruption to state or tribal land, as the land in question is owned by Chuck Lien, the owner of Lien & Sons, and his family.

Congress has allocated $40 million for the project, but its future development is still uncertain, as the U.S. Senate has yet to approve the funding. Trump signed an executive order for the garden earlier this year, with plans to feature 250 life-size statues by July 4, 2026, to honorAmerican heroes. However, initial delays have pushed back the timeline for completion.

The Black Lives Matter movement in July 2020 provided a backdrop for Trump's announcement of the garden, as he vowed to protect American values and culture in the face of protests tearing down statues of historical figures. In a 2021 executive order, Trump called for statues of various prominent figures, from Amelia Earhart and Muhammad Ali to more controversial ones like Christopher Columbus and President Andrew Jackson, but a site was never selected, and the garden was never funded by Congress.

Discussions with Indigenous groups are important, according to Darren Thompson, director of media relations for the Indigenous nonprofit Sacred Defense Fund, due to the land's sensitive and significant nature for Native Americans. As the project moves forward, it will be crucial for all parties to find common ground to ensure a lasting and meaningful celebration of American history and heroes.

1. TheNational Garden of American Heroes, a pet project of President Donald Trump, is embroiled in controversy over its potential location in South Dakota.
2. The mining company, Pete Lien & Sons, has offered land near Mount Rushmore for the garden, a location steeped in historical significance for Indigenous Americans.
3. Governor Larry Rhoden, in a letter to Trump, endorsed the Black Hills as the ideal location for the garden, despite the region's complex history with Native Americans.
4. The Black Hills hold resonance as the site of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, which recognized the Black Hills as Sioux territory.
5. The U.S. government's seizure of the land for gold mining just a decade later, and subsequent Supreme Court findings of treaty violations, have left deep scars.
6. Pete Lien & Sons has previously clashed with Indigenous groups, most notably over an exploratory drilling project near the sacred Lakota site of Pe' Sla.
7. The mining company is also collaborating with theme park designer Storyland Studios on a Black Hills attraction, opposed by some Indigenous groups.
8. Taylor Gunhammer, an organizer with the Indigenous advocacy group NDN Collective, criticized the proposed garden, stating it was absurd while the company attempted to destroy Pe' Sla.
9. Rhoden's press secretary, Josie Harms, claimed the garden would not disrupt state or tribal land, as the land in question is owned by Chuck Lien, the owner of Lien & Sons, and his family.
10. Congress has allocated $40 million for the project, but its future development remains uncertain, as the U.S. Senate has yet to approve the funding.
11. Trump signed an executive order for the garden earlier this year, with plans to unveil 250 life-size statues by July 4, 2026, to honor American heroes.
12. Initial delays have pushed back the timeline for completion.
13. Trump's announcement of the garden came against the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter movement in July 2020.
14. Trump vowed to protect American values and culture in the face of protests tearing down statues of historical figures.
15. In a 2021 executive order, Trump called for statues of various prominent figures, including Amelia Earhart, Muhammad Ali, Christopher Columbus, and President Andrew Jackson.
16. However, a site was never selected, and the garden was never funded by Congress.
17. Darren Thompson, director of media relations for the Indigenous nonprofit Sacred Defense Fund, stressed the importance of discussions with Indigenous groups due to the land's sensitive and significant nature for Native Americans.
18. As the project moves forward, finding common ground will be crucial to ensure a lasting and meaningful celebration of American history and heroes.
19. The dispute over the National Garden of American Heroes is a microcosm of the ongoing challenges in reconciling American history, industry, and political agendas with the rights and cultural sensitivities of Indigenous groups.
20. This conflict serves as a reminder of the need for diversity and inclusion in various industries, including manufacturing, finance, and public-transit.
21. Leadership in these sectors must prioritize understanding and addressing historical injustices to prevent similar conflicts in the future.
22. The proposed garden also raises questions about the role of entrepreneurship and the responsibility of businesses in promoting sustainable living and upholding ethical standards.
23. The garden can serve as a platform for interior design that respects and highlights Native American culture and the natural environment.
24. The transportation industry must take a proactive role in implementing policies that support indigenous communities in directing development and protecting sacred sites.
25. In contrast, the retail industry can leverage this situation to promote products and services that support indigenous artists, businesses, and causes.
26. The housing market and home-improvement sector can prioritize energy-efficient and eco-friendly designs, fostering a culture of sustainable living.
27. Venture capital and wealth management can support small businesses owned by Indigenous entrepreneurs by providing funding opportunities and financial education resources.
28. Ultimately, resolving conflicts like the National Garden of American Heroes requires a collective effort and commitment from all sectors, including career-focused fields like business, technology, and politics, to create a more inclusive and equitable society.

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