A group of about 20 Lakota people marched during the Sturgis Rally in concern over encroachment on Bear Butte. The group walked from the Rosebud Lodge near Bear Butte to the new Full Throttle Saloon location in an attempt to reach out to bar owner Mike Ballard.
They say they’re worried about future development near Bear Butte, a site they consider sacred.
I’m along Highway 79, just outside of the entrance to the Full Throttle Saloon, when several Lakota people arrive to meet biker bar owner Mike Ballard.
Last year, Ballard’s bar burned down, and the new location is about a mile and a half north of Bear Butte.
That land purchase concerned several Lakota organizers who say they’ve had a hard time reaching out to Mike Ballard.
Cody Hall is one of the organizers of the march. Hall met with Ballard as he rolled into the Full Throttle Saloon Wednesday afternoon.
He says Ballard was very receptive to meeting with Lakotas to talk further about Bear Butte…
“I said, “Do you know what Bear Butte means to us as a people?’" Hall says. "And he said, ‘I do a little bit
but I don’t know a lot.’ And I was like, ‘We are willing to discuss that with you, because,’ I said, ‘That’s the conversation piece we need to have.’ And I said, ‘What you do for your business, is business, I get that but also what we need to talk about is how valuable this is. This is worth more than money to us.’”
Hall says he’s hopeful an understanding can be worked out between the bar and the Lakotas, who view Bear Butte as a sacred site…
“But I said, ‘So, I’ll email you and let’s have a conversation piece, and let’s develop something.’ And I said, ‘Mike, I really genuinely ask you, let’s develop something so that it’s a positive impact for not only your people but our people as well,’” Hall adds.
Multiple attempts to reach Mike Ballard at the Full Throttle Saloon were not successful. In the past, Ballard said the Saloon will work to be a good neighbor to the Native people.
