For centuries, the Lakota, Nakota and Dakota tribes followed the migrating herds of buffalo that blanketed the plains of North America. These “first people” established a sophisticated society, and rituals and ceremonies tied to the land, the sky and the animals with which they lived in concert. The sacred land of the Hé Sapa (literally Hills Black) in present-day state of South Dakota, is now the planned home of a new tribal attraction destined to lure the attention of the world, and visitors from around the globe. Honoring the spirit and cultural heritage of the Plains Indian tribes, Rapid City’s new Hé Sapa Black Hills Center for Northern Plains Indian Arts and Performance will capture the character and spirit of a proud people, and explore their past, present and future through a diverse array of interpretive offerings, dance, oral history, art and crafts.

With the commitment of numerous tribal partners, the City of Rapid City, S.D., and visionary community leaders, the promise of the Hé Sapa Black Hills Center for Northern Plains Indian Arts and Performance is quickly moving toward reality.