Dakota Access Pipeline Threat

The construction of the pipeline would result in destruction of sacred territory, that belongs to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and which was taken away from them in a series of treaties that have been forced upon it over the past 150 years. Also, it would go under the Missouri River a mile north of the reservation. That river is the source of water for the reservation’s 8,000 residents. The tribal leaders argue that a leak would cause immediate and irreparable harm. They also said that the pipeline was originally going to cross the Missouri north of Bismarck, the state capital, but was rerouted because of powerful opposition that did not want a threat to the water supply there. 

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe began protesting the pipeline in April. By now various tribes have joined them in the protest to stop the building of the pipeline.

The reservation has sued the Corps of Engineers in July, stating that the agency had not entered into any consultation with the tribe as required by law and that it had ignored federal regulations governing environmental standards and historic preservation.

“This pipeline is going through huge swaths of ancestral land. It would be like constructing a pipeline through Arlington Cemetery or under St. Patrick’s Cathedral.” - Dean DePountis, the tribe’s attorney.

On Saturday there was a protest when Dakota Access workers plowed under two locations adjacent to the pipeline path that the tribe had identified in a court filing as sacred and historic sites. When they tried to prevent the action they were stopped by private security workers for Dakota Access who used guard dogs and pepper spray to drive them back. In the protest six protesters were bitten. The Morton County Sheriff’s Department reported that four security guards and two dogs were injured.

After this incident the tribe’s attorneys requested a temporary restraining order on further construction on the pipeline in that location. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg granted the order on Tuesday. Boasberg said he will issue a ruling Friday (9th September) on the tribe’s request to halt all work on the project until permitting issues and the tribe’s disputes with the Corps of Engineers have been properly addressed.

Support the tribes fight to stop the building of the pipeline and visit this site: http://action.foe.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=20281. There is a petition addressing President Obama and urging him to decide on the halt of the pipeline construction. 

You can also spread the word about this or give your support by tweeting with the hashtag: #NoDAPL

Has there been enough Native American abuse and Environmental Destruction?