folks. the indigenous people of this land who want their land back. whose land? our land. whose land? our land! reporter: if many americans, mount mushmore is one of america s most awe inspiring symbols. like a giant apple pie wrapped in a kid rock tee shirt. but for others, it s a reminder this country was intended to be whites only. as we talk about the removal of controversial monuments and statues, mount rushmore is a part of that. located in the black hills of western south dakota, it has become an epicenter in the battle of who are the rightful inhabitants and caretakers of the land known as the united states of america. i m letting you go first. reporter: these two have a lot to say about it. this is nick tilson and crystal two bulls. she is also a military veteran. we met at the entrance of mount rushmore park. an indigenous run non-profit fighting to get indigenous lands back into indigenous hands. our people call this a sacred site that they blew up
when we were forcefully removed. a huge part of the land back movement has a strong premise around dismantling white supremacy. because all the systems that have been put in place that made it possible for the stealing of our land is the very systems that are in place to make it possible to keep our lands. we were fully thriving economies and societies and communities precolonization. so who we are. our spirituality, our culture, our language. our lifeways, our ceremonies. our kinship systems. education, health care, housing, food care systems are all based on this here. so land back is that. literally reclaiming those lands so we can reestablish those relationships ands we can foster and create a world that is actually inhabitable for all peoples. not just us. reporter: now some people don t seem to get what this land really means to the