Assistant Secretary of the Interior Roger Ernst today announced the restoration of nearly 9,000 acres on two Indian reservations in South Dakota to tribal jurisdiction.
Thirteen tracts totaling over 3,000 acres of the restored land are on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. An additional 5,880 acres are on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation.
All the lands being restored were set aside as school or administrative sites by Secretarial orders approximately 50 years ago. Since they are no longer needed for these purposes, they are being made available for use by the tribal organizations and their members.
The restorations were requested by the Indian tribal councils on both reservations.
