Τһе Ѕіх Grапdfаtһеrѕ, bеfοrе іt ᴡаѕ ϲаrᴠеd υр tο ϲrеаtе Μουпt Ꭱυѕһⅿοrе. Ιп tһе Τrеаtу οf 1868, tһе U.Ѕ. ɡοᴠеrпⅿепt рrοⅿіѕеd tһе Ꮮаkοtа Ѕіουх trіbе аll οf Ѕουtһ Ꭰаkοtа, ᴡеѕt οf tһе Μіѕѕουrі Ꭱіᴠеr. Τһіѕ іпϲlυdеd tһе Βlаϲk Ηіllѕ, ᴡһіϲһ аrе ϲοпѕіdеrеd ѕаϲrеd lапdѕ.

The history of the majestic granite formation known as the Six Grandfathers is deeply intertwined with the plight of the Lakota Sioux tribe and the tumultuous events that unfolded in the wake of European colonization.

Originally, in the Treaty of 1868, the U.S. government pledged to honor the territorial sovereignty of the Lakota Sioux, granting them ownership of all lands in South Dakota west of the Missouri River, including the sacred Black Hills. However, the discovery of gold in the Black Hills during the 1870s sparked a frenzied influx of white settlers into the region, igniting tensions and prompting the U.S. government to renege on its promise, forcibly reclaiming the Black Hills from the Lakota Sioux.

This betrayal of the treaty marked a dark chapter in the history of Indigenous relations with the United States, resulting in profound cultural and spiritual repercussions for the Lakota Sioux, who regard the Black Hills as sacred ground.

In a further twist of fate, the once pristine and spiritually significant Six Grandfathers became the canvas for an ambitious project conceived in the 1920s by a local historian and sculptor. The idea was to carve the likenesses of four revered U.S. presidents—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln—into the towering granite cliffs, transforming the landscape into the iconic Mount Rushmore.

Billed as a monument to national pride and a celebration of American heritage, Mount Rushmore draws throngs of visitors each year, eager to witness the colossal visages etched into the mountainside. According to the National Park Service, Mount Rushmore purportedly encapsulates the narrative of America’s inception, growth, and preservation, symbolizing the diverse tapestry of the nation’s history from its earliest inhabitants to the present day.

Yet, for many Indigenous peoples, the creation of Mount Rushmore serves as a poignant reminder of the dispossession, displacement, and systemic injustices endured throughout centuries of colonization. The monument stands as a testament not only to the ingenuity and ambition of its creators but also to the enduring legacy of Indigenous resilience and the ongoing struggle for recognition, reconciliation, and justice.