The Commission’s work was slow.

The United States government contested the claim vigorously.

The bureaucratic and legal complexities of a century-old claim, involving multiple tribal nations, complex treaty language, and disputed historical facts, took years to work through.

The Commission did not rule on the Black Hills claim until 1974.

When it did rule, it found in favor of the Sioux: the 1877 act had been a taking without just compensation, and the Sioux were entitled to the fair market value of the Black Hills as of 1877.

The finding was appealed by the government to the Court of Claims, which affirmed it in 1979.