Cheyenne River Youth Project (CRYP)

What happened

The Cheyenne River Youth Project (CRYP) is a nonprofit based in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, on the Cheyenne River Reservation. ProPublica lists Cheyenne River Youth Project Inc under EIN 46-0423106, with tax exemption issued in October 2012. The Associated Press described it as a "Native American-led nonprofit" and named Julie Garreau as executive director.

CRYP is best known for youth programs. Its role in land return began with a purchase. In an April 11, 2024 statement, reported by the Associated Press, CRYP said it had bought nearly 40 acres in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The statement did not say how much the organization paid.

CRYP's statement said access to a sacred place was cut off in the late 19th century, "when the U.S. government seized the Black Hills and broke up the Great Sioux Reservation into several smaller reservations." Garreau said in the statement that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1980 that the Black Hills were illegally taken, and that the Lakota people refused the $105 million award because the Black Hills were never for sale.

Garreau also said the group bought the land because chances to re-establish access are being lost as land values rise. She said her people drive five hours round trip to reach the area.

Good to know. Before donating, check the payee: a separate group, Friends of the Cheyenne River Youth Project in Lincoln, Nebraska, has a similar name.

Summarized with AI assistance from 4 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error