EPW advances White Horse Hill legislation

U.S. Senator and Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee member Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced Friday the EPW Committee advanced S.2099, the “White Horse Hill National Game Preserve Designation Act,” a bill the North Dakota Congressional delegation introduced to change the name of “Sullys Hill”- a National Game Preserve within the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation- to “White Horse Hill,” its traditional Dakota name.

“With the issues the federal government faces, this may seem like a small thing, but I assure you it is no small thing to the people of Spirit Lake,” Senator Cramer said during the hearing. “It has taken us 85 years to correct this mistake. I am sorry that it has taken so long, but I am grateful that we are correcting it now.”

Sullys Hill is named after General Sully, a Civil War and the Indian Wars military officer who gained notoriety for committing several massacres against Native Americans, including one of the greatest massacres in North Dakota’s history.

The North Dakota congressional delegation introduced this legislation in July after the tribe requested the hill return to its historic Dakota name. The bill is also supported by the North Dakota Governor and Tourism Director. Click here for more information.