RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA News) – Native American tribes that reside within the state have long wanted to be able to promote tourism on tribal lands as a way to tap into the tourism market to help develop tribal economies.

Asking for a show of support from the commission, David Kelly, the Director of Transportation for the Oglala Sioux Tribe, said they had acquired some property off of the interstate at Cactus Flats and are moving forward with the Crazy Horse Scenic Byway.

Kelly said they have been working through a schedule of public meetings, as required by the state. The route and the name have already been approved by the tribes’ economic and business development committee.

Kelly, who has been his position for 17 years, said he drives these routes daily.

Tonya Huber, from KLJ Engineering spoke on behalf of Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Transportation said that if approved by the state’s scenic byway committee, the South Dakota Department of Tourism would display the map and work with the tribe to promote the scenic byway.

Commissioner Deb Hadcock asked if the designation would provide stricter regulations creating some obstacles. Huber explained the committee examines a lot of different elements when approving a scenic byway.

The Pennington County Highway Superintendent Joe Miller said he doesn’t see any impacts other than bringing more traffic to County roads.