Native American Pipeline

Native Americans tend to experience a majority of the corruption. More often than those of which are not considered a minority. For example, Native Americans should have an inherent right to protection within the country in which they live. Construction of the North Dakota Access Pipeline that started in September of 2016, has given supreme notice to the corruption that still surrounds Native Americans today. Natives of Dakota followed the European laws that were forced upon them and in turn were punished. The Army corps of engineers permitted the project, violating the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act along the way. These were created to stop Europeans from destroying Native American historical artifacts, culture and the livelihood of the innocent. Native Americans do not have citizen protection that was promised to them time and time again by the United Sates.

American Indians are being treated in atrocious, illegal, and terrifying mater, while peacefully trying to protect water for all of us. On the Other side of this battle, sits Energy Transfer Partners who fund the Dakota Access Pipeline, the real outlaws. This is part of a bigger picture, Native American lands are under threat, and being stolen.. Now is the time that we must fight this if we don't our future is threatened. This is more than about water, but the bigger threat of climate change. This is a story of courage, culture, environmental protection, climate change, and the real world danger facing all of us.

The multi-billion dollar Dakota Access oil pipeline stretched across four states is standing in the way of one big thing- a clean and healthy environment for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. This is a fight that they have been battling since April, and tensions are on the rise. The pushes and violations that the government has had against Indian tribes since the dawn of this country is one of the main reasons for the violent protests against the pipeline. The U.S. government has consistently pursued and exploited indigenous peoples and their land and forced them to hand it over. The Standing Rock tribe has not given up yet, though, as they continue to protest and stand in solidarity at the site of the pipeline construction. (Martin)

With recent event the Obama’s Administration has halted the further construction of the North Dakota Access pipeline. This event have sparked the nation into an uprise in protests and public speaking against North Dakota Access. Now thrusted out onto a global stage, the struggle on both sides intensifies either is not going to stand down. The people of Standing Rock Indian Reservation are protesting against North Dakota Access to continue construction of the “North Dakota Access Pipeline”. Additionally the Army Corps of Engineers has denied the permit that allows construction underneath the Mississippi and Missouri River. These events have now escalated to national attention. It is not in the public safety or well being to have further construction or completion of the North Dakota Access Pipeline should it have negative environmental impacts and be harmful to the American people. ("Federal Government Halts Construction Of Part Of North Dakota Pipeline.")

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe currently fights to save its only water source from natural gas and oil contamination. This troubling current event has a somewhat forgotten historical analogue where very similar themes presented themselves. The Kinzua Dam Controversy, which took place in the 1950’s and early 1960’s, resulted in the displacement of over 600 Seneca Indian families and the acquisition of a large tract of traditional Seneca Land for dam building. Additionally, the acquisition of Seneca land represented a breach of “The Treaty with the Six Nations of 1794,” which explicated prevented such action by the US Government. The dam and its construction, which primarily benefitted Pittsburg, inspired a heated discourse concerning the ethics of native relocation.

Throughout this paper I will try to prove that the proposed establishment of the Keystone XL Pipeline is a direct infringement upon the human rights of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North and South Dakota. In order to make this claim I shall directly address three elements: First, the evidence of possible inequality of this situation, secondly the explanatory progress of how and why this situation has come to be as it is, and finally the justice of how things ought to be (Walker, 2012).

Unfortunately the risk of Native American land being contaminated and their loss of control of their reservation has resumed. The Trump Administration and other executives have signed actions to resume the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Native americans have resumed the protesting of the pipeline and sadly there water sources are still at risk at being contaminated. Native american leaders are planning to resist these actions passed by the trump administration, specifically the one authorizing the completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline. This project has been delayed since December and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers renounced the permit to lay the final piece of pipeline under Lake Oahe, which is the sacred water source to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The pipeline is very close to being completed and now the issue is that if the pipe is not fully finished it can break and really contaminate water sources. Kaufman and Miller state that, “The fossil fuel industry is a dead and dying economy. Green energy is the new great America. Trump and his Cabinet are trying to build an infrastructure for pipelines so our country will remain dependent on fossil fuels.” People are continuously attempting to prevent further environmental hazards from pipelines that leak into major rivers and endanger the drinking water of communities. Overall, the pipeline is going to be built and the fights against clean water, the fights against big oil and climate change, and the fight for land control in the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is still

Hundreds of years ago, the Native Americans were known to be the first people on the land of America. To be specific on who the natives are the Mandan they lived where Cannonball and Missouri rivers meet together.

With the rise in violence, the United States government must dispute equally amongst both sides. The land, in which the pipeline will be built, is not owned by the Sioux; it is owned by the federal government. The pipeline will pass through the land, but will not pass through the Sioux reservation. The pipeline is a resource that the U.S. is dependent on. Oil is a main contributor to the U.S. economy and without it, there would be a drastic change in the economy. A simple soloution could be to redirect the pipeline to where it does not cross the Sioux's holy land, but crosses through the Missouri River - containing already more than seven other pipelines - and must be secured so the water is not polluted by leakage in the pipe. This solution

For the past several months, Native Americans have been peacefully protesting an oil pipeline being placed on their tribal ground, along the banks of Missouri. This was explained by Bill McKibben in the article he wrote, “Why Dakota Is the New Keystone.”

This pipeline is designed transport oil from Alberta, Canada down to Steele City, Nebraska, and then south to Texas. The idea of building this pipeline was first brought into light in 2005, and is still a popular topic today. The designated route of this pipeline is to cross the homelands of the Sioux tribe. The essential issue with this pipeline is that it would endanger the Ogallala Aquifer. This aquifer supplies water to many thousands of both native and non-native citizens. Many people are afraid that the pipeline could contaminate the water, and potentially destroy sacred burial grounds. A statement was made by President Kindle of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe saying, “The land, water, tribal sovereignty, and governmental services were not ‘given’ to us in those treaties, they were bargained for with the blood of our ancestors. We will not dishonor our relatives and unnecessarily endanger our health, safety, and wellbeing. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe will take any and all necessary steps, up to and including litigation, to protect our people, our land and water, and our cultural and historic resources.” (William Kindle, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, NARF). This quote stated by Kindle provides great evidence about how the tribe feels about their land and sovereignty for their natural resources. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe want to assure that all of their citizens’ welfare and health are protected. All options are to be explored to ensure the safety of not only the citizens, but the resources and the land as well. There was a 210,000-gallon oil leak in the pipeline that scared the citizens. The leak was directly across from the tribal lands and resources. Many fear that any further leak will be on the burial grounds, and the land will be abolished. A

For months, tension have mounted between protestors and law enforcement officials over the faith of an oil pipeline not far from Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. It has become an environmental and cultural flashpoint, stirring passion across social media and drawing thousands of protestors in the United States and around the world.

Many individuals are afraid that the pipeline will bring the potential for contamination of their water supply. This will negatively change the physical environment, and will make the completion of occupations that involve the use of water more difficult, and potentially unsafe. The cultural context, one that values tradition and requires certain things to be unchanged, will be challenged. The instillation of the Dakota Access pipeline will have a negative impact on the physical and social wellbeing tribe who regards the land as sacred. They have the potential to face both bodily harm and negative social changes as a result of the planned

In the October of 2015, oil prices have dropped to their lowest since 2008 and Canada has lost over 35,000 jobs, and the value of the loonie has dropped to a mere 77 cents compared to the U.S. Dollar. As Canada desperately clings onto the failing economy, it turns its attention to The Keystone Pipelines. The Keystone XL (KXL) pipeline was an idea proposed in 2008 by the TransCanada energy company, to deliver 830,000 barrels of oil each day beginning in Hardisty, Alberta, and extending south to Steele City, Nebraska. TransCanada claims to bring more jobs, energy security, and benefit to the Canadian and American economy. Yet, President Obama denied the proposal in 2015. Although it was a huge disappointment to Canada, the decision to deny permission for further construction of the pipeline was the right one. The future of Canada’s economy should not rely on the Keystone XL pipeline, because the devastating environmental risks, the instability of the oil industry, and Canada’s ability to expand other industries.

Native Americans are being disrespected, harmed, and their homeland is being taken from them. Am I talking about events taken place centuries ago? No, because these unfortunate circumstances yet again are occurring right here, now, in the present. This horrid affair has a name: The Dakota Access Pipeline. This Pipeline is an oil transporting pipeline, which is funded by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, who have devised a plan for the pipeline to run through the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Illinois. However, unfortunately, this pipeline will run straight through the reservation of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe, expressing their distress for the pipeline have said, that the pipeline will be “Destroying our burial sites, prayer sites, and culturally significant artifacts,” Arguments for the pipeline however have tried to counter this claim, trying to emphasize that “The pipeline wouldn 't just be an economic boon, it would also significantly decrease U.S. reliance on foreign oil”, and that the pipeline is estimated to produce “374.3 million gallons of gasoline per day.”, which could help the sinking oil economy. (Yan, 2016) However, despite the economical growth it could achieve, the Dakota Access Pipeline could have damaging environmental effects on the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the areas surrounding.