1. The Sioux were given The Black Hills in the treaty of Fort Laramie.
2. The Sioux lost the exclusive use of the Black Hills when Gold Was discovered.
3. The U.S. did not uphold the treaty of Fort Laramie because they took back part of the Black Hills.
4. The black hills are sacred to the Sioux because that is where their ancestors died.
5. Mount Rushmore was constructed to honor the presidents.
6. Washington-Father of our Country-Resolved the Native American problem by creating a Genocide policy.
Jefferson-Wrote Declaration-Manifest Destiny: the taking of whatever you can without regard to the rights and cultures of others.
Lincoln-Led the Union through Civil War-Approved the largest mass execution in U.S. history.
Roosevelt-Preserved the environment-Converted Native American land to federal holdings and wouldn't let them in.
7. Mount Rushmore symbolizes to most white Americans the great American Presidents.
8. Native Americans view Mount Rushmore an insult because it is built on their land against the treaty and the presidents on the mountain have all done bad things to the Native American people.
9. Mount Rushmore is located in Black Hills, South Dakota…it is located on Indian land.

As a child I became quite familiar with the plight of the Native American. My grandmother was a full blooded Cherokee. Before my grandmother died at the age of 101, she told me many stories about the mistreatment received by her people. Besides slavery, no group of people suffered more than the Native American. My grandmother has had a lot to do with the empathy that I feel when a group of people are being mistreated because of their ethnicity or the color of their skin. Do I understand the plight of the Native American? You’re dam right I do!

Lil Speedy I agree with everything you stated and more. My grandparents on both sides were Native Americans too. But because of the stigma they separated themselves from their history. Its a shame that I don't know my full family history, but I go by Native American proudly.