The Oceti Sakowin — home of the Lakota, Nakota and Dakota tribal communities and their relatives — is open to respectful travellers ready to learn more about this beautiful culture and rich heritage.

When visitors come here, they’ll find history lives with the people, not on a page.

Here are some travel ideas courtesy of Travel South Dakota …

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL

Located in the Paha Sapa (Black Hills), Crazy Horse Memorial is the world’s largest in-progress mountain carving. Along with the mountain sculpture, visitors can also experience The Native American Educational and Cultural Center, and The Indian Museum of North America, featuring collections from over 300 Native nations.

DIGNITY OF EARTH AND SKY

The Dignity statue is a stunning combination of art and history. Located on a bluff between exits 263 and 265 on I-90 near Chamberlain, SD, the stainless steel, 50-foot-tall statue was designed by sculptor Dale Lamphere to honour the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people. Day or night, Dignity is a must-stop for those traveling on I-90 or the Native American Scenic Byway.

BEAR BUTTE STATE PARK

Bear Butte State Park holds significant meaning to Indigenous people nationwide. Known in Lakota as ‘Mato Paha’ or ‘Bear Mountain,’ this geological wonder in the Black Hills is a sacred place of worship and the site of many religious ceremonies. Visitors may see prayer cloths and small pouches tied to trees. These are considered prayer offerings, and visitors are asked to be respectful and leave them untouched.

BLACK ELK PEAK

The view from the summit of the 7,242-foot Black Elk Peak, the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains, can only be described as breathtaking. It was atop this peak that Lakota medicine man Black Elk had his powerful vision of the future for the Indigenous communities. The trail to the summit is considered one of the most challenging and rewarding hikes in the Black Hills.

SICA HOLLOW STATE PARK

Sica Hollow State Park, 15 miles northwest of Sisseton, draws adventure-seeking travellers year-round. The Indigenous people named the hollow ‘bad’ because of ancient stories about its dark and damp ravines. Even today, many natural occurrences, like glowing swamp gasses and tree stumps, intrigue visitors and further fuel the legends.

GOOD EARTH STATE PARK AT BLOOD RUN

Located near Sioux Falls, Good Earth State Park at Blood Run sits on the site of a tribal ceremonial gathering and trading center. It’s believed thousands of Indigenous communities lived and worshipped here, dating back 600 years. Good Earth at Blood Run is considered one of the oldest sites of long-term human habitation in the U.S.

For more info and travel tips for South Dakota see TravelSouthDakota.com.