The U.S. Government Offered The Sioux More Than $1 Billion For The Black Hills – They Refused To Take The Money

The United States government appealed to the Supreme Court.

The government’s position, in essence, was that the 1877 act had been a valid exercise of congressional power over Indian tribes and that no compensation was required — or alternatively, that whatever compensation was appropriate had already been provided in some form.

The Supreme Court was not persuaded.

In United States v.

Sioux Nation of Indians, 448 U.S.

371, decided on June 30, 1980, the Court affirmed the Court of Claims in an 8-1 decision written by Justice Harry Blackmun.