Sign Written by Tribes Installed at Wind Cave National Park

Date: May 29, 2014
Contact: Tom Farrell, 605-745-1130

WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, S.D. – A recently installed sign at the Natural Entrance to Wind Cave was developed by representatives of American Indian tribes. The sign was a result of 5 consultation meetings dating back to 2006 held between the park and tribes with cultural or historical ties to Wind Cave.

"We are very pleased with the results of this process," said park Superintendent Vidal Dávila. "The former sign was historically inaccurate and culturally insensitive. The park removed it in 2006. This new sign tells the story of the significance of this opening in the words of the indigenous people."

Along with choosing the graphics for the sign, the text was written by tribal members. The National Park Service helped with the layout, but otherwise the sign was entirely developed by the tribal representatives. Four of the consultation meetings were held at Wind Cave National Park and one was held on the reservation for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.

Dávila said, "These meetings improved our understanding of their cultures and developed relationships that we intend to use on future projects."

The sign, posted over Wind Cave's Natural Entrance, will be seen by an estimated 65,000 people annually.