On the vast plain between Crow Butte and the White River, a Grand Council was held on September 20th, 1875. By the Treaty of 1868, the Government acknowledged that the Black Hills and other lands in Dakota Territory belonged to the Lakota Indians. General George Custer’s expedition in 1874 excited the public and started gold fever. The Allison Commission represented the United States Government and met with Lakota leaders in an attempt to negotiate the purchase of the Black Hills. After days of unsuccessful discussion, the commission presented a written offer to purchase the Black Hills, which the chiefs refused to accept. The conference ended on September 29th. In 1876, another commission headed by George Manypenny met with the tribes separately to obtain signatures. The Black Hills Treaty was approved by Congress on February 28, 1887.