STATEMENT OF JERRY ROGERS, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR CULTURAL RESOURCES, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, ON H.R.4660, A BILL TO AUTHORIZE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MEMORIAL AT CUSTER BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL MONUMENT TO HONOR THE INDIANS WHO FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN.

September 4, 1990

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Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to provide the Subcommittee with the views of the

National Park Service on H. R. 4660, a bill to authorize the establishment of a memorial at Custer

Battlefield National Monument to honor those Indians who fought in the Battle of the Little

Bighorn.

The National Park Service strongly supports enactment of H. R. 4660. H. R, 4660 complements

our efforts to portray the clash between Indian and White cultures and the century-long conflict.

Custer Battlefield National Monument memorializes one of the last armed efforts of the Northern

Plains Indians to preserve their ancestral way of life, and this memorial would recognize that

effort.

H. R. 4660, if enacted, would serve as a permanent visual commemoration of those Indians who

fought in the Battle of the Little Bighorn. In 1881, a monument was placed on the mass grave site

of Last Stand Hill to memorialize soldiers, scouts, and civilians attached to the U. S. 7th Cavalry

who fell in the Battle of the Little Bighorn. This proposal would memorialize and further

recognize Indian perspectives of that battle. As the 7th Cavalry monument records

commemorative sentiment of earlier generations, so a memorial to the Indian participants is

needed to record a later generation's recognition.

The National Park Service prepared an Environmental Assessment on the Construction of an

Indian Memorial at Custer Battlefield National Monument. That assessment analyzed four

alterative locations for the placement of such a memorial, as well as a no-action alternative. The

preferred alternative was to place the Indian memorial adjacent to the existing U. S, Cavalry

memorial. The environmental assessment was made available to the public in September 1989.

Thirteen responses were received, including resolutions of support, from the Fort Peck Tribe, the

Cheyenne River Tribe, and the Hualapai Tribe.

With a site location selected and public involvement process now complete, the next step is the

design of the memorial. Because of widespread interest in this proposal and need to be sensitive

to Indian perspectives, a design jury is needed to assist the National Park Service in conducting a

national design competition. The jury would provide advice when evaluating the submitted

designs. We estimate that such a design competition would require an appropriation of about

$110,000. Preliminary estimates for the total package suggest that, including construction, it will

require approximately $2,100,000.

Federal funding for this project would have to compete against other priorities of the National

Park System through normal budget process.

We recommend one minor amendment to H. R. 4660. Section 3 states, "Such area shall comprise

approximately 2 acres and shall be located on the ridge in that part of the Little Bighorn

Battlefield which is in the vicinity of the 7th U. S. Cavalry Monument. . ." We suggest that

reference to the size of the area by eliminated. The area necessary for the memorial and its

support facilities such as parking could vary depending on the design selected. Elimination of the

acreage figure would provide more flexibility in the design process.

This concludes my prepared remarks concerning H. R. 4660, Mr Chairman. I would be pleased to

respond to your questions at this time.