The Pettigrew Gulch Group was founded in 1966 by a group of professors and graduate student from University of South Dakota-Spearfish. The original group included Rick Telfer, Professor of Theology, Maryann Klebold Professor of Anthropolgy and Archaeology as well as Samuel Ferraro, Professor of Ancient Languages and Jacquelin Allen, Professor of Native Studies and member of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe.