{"id":63590,"date":"2026-05-08T21:22:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T21:22:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ndncollective.org\/?p=63590"},"modified":"2026-05-09T04:14:06","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T04:14:06","slug":"breaking-pesla-protectors-win-drilling-operation-plan-withdrawn-community-organizing-ceremony-lawsuit-occupation-of-site-leads-to-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ndncollective.org\/breaking-pesla-protectors-win-drilling-operation-plan-withdrawn-community-organizing-ceremony-lawsuit-occupation-of-site-leads-to-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Pe\u2019Sla Protectors Win; Drilling Operation Plan Withdrawn. Community Organizing, Ceremony, Lawsuit, Occupation of Site Leads to Victory","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, May 8, 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rapid City, SD<\/strong> \u2013 Today, NDN Collective was notified that Pete Lien & Sons sent a letter to the United States Forest Service, officially withdrawing their plan of operations for the Rochford Mineral Exploratory Drilling Project (RMEDP) at Pe\u2019 Sla. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This victory follows a week of concentrated action by community and tribal leaders in South Dakota to protect the land. From the land defenders who occupied two active drill pads<\/a> for a week, to fighting in the courts through multiple lawsuits<\/a> and a temporary restraining order<\/a>, today\u2019s win is multi-faceted and offers a blueprint for future land defense fights.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pe\u2019 Sla is sacred to the Lakota, who have visited the site for thousands of years. It is actively utilized for prayer, ceremony, and cultural activities \u2013 and with today\u2019s victory, will be the site for many more ceremonies to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday\u2019s successful protection of Pe\u2019 Sla, which is the result of courageous land defense by the community, strategic legal action, and collective prayer, marks a great victory for the people and Mother Earth,\u201d said Wizipan Garriott, president of NDN Collective. <\/strong>\u201cWe must build on this win to continue the people\u2019s work to secure a bright future for generations to come \u2013 in the Black Hills and beyond.\u201d   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis victory reaffirms a critical human truth \u2013 that we all have a right to clean drinking water,\u201d said Lilias Jarding, Executive Director of the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance.<\/strong> \u201cCommunity engagement and action forced an extractive company off our shared land. Today is a reminder that not only do we all have a duty to protect the Black Hills from harmful drilling and mining projects \u2013 but that we have the ability to win.\u201d \u201cFrom the very beginning of this battle, our ancestors were with us \u2013 we felt prayers coming to Pe\u2019 Sla from all over Turtle Island,\u201d said Valeriah Big Eagle, Director of He Sapa Initiatives at NDN Collective. <\/strong>\u201cWhen we ground together in truth and what is right, led by our spiritual leaders and the next generation of warriors, we are unstoppable. This is just the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Letter sent from Pete Lien & Sons to the USFS withdrawing their plan of operation for the Rochford Mineral Exploration Project.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NDN Collective<\/em><\/a> is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to building Indigenous power. Through organizing, activism, philanthropy, grantmaking, capacity-building, and narrative change, we are creating sustainable solutions on Indigenous terms.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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TO REQUEST AN INTERVIEW CONTACT<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

cabot@ndncollective.org
828-899-9239<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n