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Ceremony Marks Black Elk Peak Renaming

SDPB

More than 80 people gathered in the Black Hills over the weekend for a ceremony acknowledging the renaming of Harney Peak.

As the late-morning sun slowly starts to warm the chilled mountain air Natives and non-Natives form a circle at the base of Black Elk Peak.

“My reason for being here today is that I’m a seventh generation descendant of William Selby Harney…who this mountain used to be named after…but is no longer.” 

Paul Stover Soderman’s comments are greeted by cheers, applause and “lilis”.

Credit Photo by Jim Kent
Wi Wambli Win and her furry friend Cante Wolakota Win observe the ceremony at Black Elk Peak. Paul Stover Soderman hopes one day Lakota children won’t know the history of the mountain’s previous name.

“We are here to say a thank you prayer,” he continues.  

Soderman is a descendant of William S. Harney – the U.S. Army General who once had the highest mountain east of the Rockies named in his honor.

But through the efforts of Lakota elder Basil Brave Heart that mountain was re-designated Black Elk Peak by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Standing near Black Elk Peak Brave Heart shares his thoughts.

“I feel the presence of a sacred vibration,” Brave Heart explains. “I think that this may be a…an awakening. I think it’s the cosmological paradigm shift. And to me it’s a divine intervention of our Creator.”

Credit Photo by Jim Kent
Karen Little Thunder – whose ancestors were killed by troops commanded by General William S. Harney – hugs Paul Stover Soderman – 7th generation descendant of the U.S. Army officer.

One of the primary reasons Brave Heart and his supporters requested the mountain be renamed was the massacre of Lakota people in 1855 at Nebraska’s Blue Water Creek by U.S. troops under Harney’s command.

Paul Stover Soderman is pleased he was able to support Basil Brave Heart’s 2-year effort to remove his ancestor’s name from the mountain.

“My heart feels good about this, you know,” Soderman offers. “Mainly because…for the youth. There’s going to be some young Lakota children who never knew that this mountain was named after a general who massacred Lakota people in 1855.”

The renaming was also able to bring together Soderman and descendants of the Little Thunder family…whose ancestors were killed by Harney at Blue Water Creek.

Related link:

Black Elk Peak

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Elk_Peak