(Black Hills, SD) — Pete Lien and Sons says they are canceling a drilling project near a sacred Native American site. The exploratory graphite drilling operation was disrupted last week by protesters who chained themselves to the equipment, saying the drilling area was within a buffer zone of the Pe’ Sla sacred site in the Black Hills. Pe’ Sla is worshiped by the Oceti Sakowin tribes and is said to be part of the Lakota people’s creation story. The decision to halt the project was announced by the NDN Collective and Black Hills Clean Water Alliance. The decision comes after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on drilling at the site.
