A coalition of nine federally recognized Native American tribes has filed a lawsuit against the United States government to prevent exploratory graphite drilling near the Pe’Sla ceremonial site.

由九個獲聯邦認可的美洲原住民部落組成的聯盟已對美國政府提起訴訟，以防止在 Pe’Sla 儀式場地附近進行石墨勘探鑽探。

The legal action targets the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, alleging a failure to adhere to the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act. The plaintiffs contend that the authorization of the project, managed by Pete Lien & Sons, occurred without the requisite consultation with tribal authorities and omitted a necessary environmental review. While the Forest Service asserted that the project qualified for a categorical exclusion due to its limited duration and perceived lack of cultural impact, the tribes maintain that such exploratory activities frequently serve as precursors to permanent mining installations.

此次法律行動針對美國森林局與美國農業部，指控其未能遵守《國家環境政策法》與《國家歷史保護法》。原告主張，由 Pete Lien & Sons 管理的該項目的授權過程缺乏與部落當局的必要諮詢，並省略了必要的環境審查。儘管森林局堅稱該項目因工期短且被認為缺乏文化影響而符合「類別排除」資格，但各部落堅持認為此類勘探活動通常是建立永久礦場的前兆。

Historically, the Black Hills region—referred to by the Sioux as He Sapa—has been a site of protracted contention between indigenous populations and extractive industries, beginning with the gold rushes of the 1870s. The current dispute centers on Pe’Sla, a meadow utilized for religious and cultural purposes, portions of which were acquired by the tribes between 2012 and 2018. A prior agreement had established a two-mile buffer zone on public lands to protect the site; however, the NDN Collective reports that several drilling pads have been positioned within this restricted perimeter.

從歷史上看，黑山地區（蘇族人稱之為 He Sapa）一直是原住民與採掘工業之間長期爭議的場所，始於 1870 年代的淘金熱。目前的爭議集中在 Pe’Sla，這是一片用於宗教與文化目的的草地，其中部分土地在 2012 年至 2018 年間由部落取得。先前的一項協議已在公共土地上建立了兩英里的緩衝區以保護該地點；然而，NDN Collective 報告指出，數個鑽探平台已被安置在該限制區域內。

In addition to the primary lawsuit, the NDN Collective and associated environmental organizations have sought a preliminary injunction and a temporary restraining order. These legal maneuvers coincide with physical demonstrations at the drilling sites and corporate headquarters. The project involves the extraction of samples from up to 18 boreholes reaching depths of 1,000 feet. The Oglala Sioux Tribe has characterized this collective legal effort as a significant manifestation of inter-tribal unity.

除了主訴訟外，NDN Collective 及相關環境組織還尋求初步禁制令與臨時限制令。這些法律手段與在鑽探現場及公司總部舉行的實體示威同步進行。該項目涉及從最多 18 個深達 1,000 英尺的鑽孔中提取樣本。奧格拉拉蘇族部落將這次集體法律行動描述為跨部落團結的重要體現。

The U.S. Forest Service has declined to comment on the specifics of the ongoing litigation, while drilling operations have experienced temporary suspensions following protest activity.

美國森林局拒絕就目前進行中的訴訟細節發表評論，而鑽探作業在抗議活動後已暫時停工。