Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act

H.R. 3371, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act, would place approximately 40 acres of land in South Dakota into "restricted fee status" for the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. This legal designation allows the tribes to own the land collectively while ensuring it cannot be sold, taxed, or seized by outside parties.

Under this legislation, the land—which is the site of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre—must be preserved exclusively as a memorial and sacred site. The bill specifically prohibits any commercial development or gambling activities on the property, ensuring the area remains protected for historical reflection and tribal ceremonies. For the public and tribal members, this act provides permanent federal protection for the site’s historical integrity and honors the memory of those who died there.