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
their home. the black hills specifically was home to more than 50 indigenous communities. and in 1868, the united states signed the fort larime treaty designating the land for the use and occupation of the great sioux nation which is dozens of tribes. this land, first of all, is your land. indigenous land. even after that, mount rushmore is treaty land. it is in those treaties that people don t get to come on those lands without consulting us and having conversation and consent from us. reporter: but before they could try, the united states violated the treaty making the black hills a symbol for resistance and a call to return stolen land. literally every single treaty that has ever been signed with native people has been violated in some way, shape, or form. all of them. all of them. they call mount rushmore the