RAPID CITY, South Dakota – Indigenous peoples from 36 countries are gathering in the Black Hills this week for the 12th World Wilderness Congress, hosted by the Wild Foundation.
The event, called WILD12, is being hosted by the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council at the monument in Rapid City, and this week's theme is “Where the World Comes Together to Reimagine Sovereign Wildness.”
“The goal is to educate visitors from around the world about the sacred sites of the Black Hills,” said Philimon Two Eagle, executive director of the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council, “and show the world why the Black Hills are important to us.”
One particular focus this week is the broken relationship between humans and nature, as we discuss with Swedish Big Five photographer Staffan Widstrand how the word “wild” once had a negative connotation in English, but has changed over time to mean free and natural.
However, in other languages, it still has negative connotations, which is why it's important to place nature in the context of local culture.
“My experience as a nature photographer for over 40 years has shown me that nature thrives when there is an Indigenous connection to land stewardship,” Widstrand said.
Registration is open to the public this week through Aug. 31 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the cost to participate for the week is $600. For a list of events and how to participate, visit wild.org/wild12.
