Black Hills

Rapid City Journal:

"My ancestors told me they were sacred, and that's good enough for me," [Mario] Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez was among the 100 people from the U.S. Forest Service and tribes from seven states who participated in the conclusion of the two-day Great Plains Tribal Leaders Consultation and Listening Session on Thursday at Crazy Horse Memorial near Custer.

Susan Johnson, a team leader from the Forest Service, asked tribal leaders and members to talk about ways the Forest Service could better manage lands and resources sacred to American Indians.

Of the 7.3 million acres comprising the Black Hills, 1.2 million are managed by the Forest Service.