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| Photo by Thane Maxwell |
The Dakota Access Pipeline
(DAPL) is a planned 1,172-mile oil pipeline, with an expected capacity of
500,000 barrels of oil per day. The pipeline would originate in the Bakken oil
fields in North Dakota and terminate in Pakota, Illinois. For frequently asked questions on case litigation, please refer HERE.
The U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers approved the construction of the pipeline under the Missouri River
just one mile north of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, home to the
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The proximity of this pipeline to the Missouri River
could threaten the Sioux people’s access to clean water, and in April 2016, the
Standing Rock Sioux initiated a protest effort to protect this international
human right.
Tribal leaders also argue that the pipeline infringes upon their
sacred burial grounds, and in July, the Reservation sued the Army Corps of
Engineers over their failure to conduct meaningful consultation and to adhere
to environmental and historical protection regulations. While the judge ruled
against the Sioux’s request on September 9th, 2016, on this same day, the Army
Corps of Engineers, with the support of the Departments of Justice and Interior,
halted the pipeline’s construction near key tribal lands until they could fully
review the permits granted for construction. On February 8, the Army Corps granted the final easement to complete construction on the Dakota Access Pipeline and construction is moving forward.
Since April, 2016 a growing
popular movement lead by indigenous people has formed at the site of pipeline
construction. As of mid-September, thousands of native and non native
protestors have demonstrated support at the protest camps, and an unprecedented
180 tribal nations have sent letters of solidarity. These camps are being
monitored by the National Guard, and private security companies have attacked
some protestors with dogs, among whom number women and children. There are between 200 and 300 people currently residing in the camps and North Dakota Governor Burgam has issued an evacuation order to be enacted on February 22nd.
Our Stake As Presbyterians:
General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its predecessors have affirmed the sovereignty and treaty rights of Native American tribes on numerous occasions. For example, the 193rd General Assembly (1981) of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America called the President of the United States to develop “a national Indian policy that is consistent with the concerns of Indian people for self-determination, tribal sovereignty, economic self-sufficiency, and preservation of treaty rights.”
Building on a long history of General Assembly policy related to the environment, the 222nd General Assembly (2016) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved an action empowering the Presbyterian Mission Agency to witness against environmental degradation and to affirm public policy that supports good stewardship of natural resources.” Among the environmental concerns identified were threats from “all modes of fossil fuel extraction, processing, transport, and storage.”
What can you do?
a. defund banks that support the DAPL. Close your
accounts and encourage all organizations, governments and colleges you are
associated with to do the same. A list of these can be found HERE along with a guide and support to closing your account.
b. Donate
money to: Synod of Lakes and Prairies, 2115 Cliff
Drive, Eagan, MN 5512. Payable to: Synod of Lakes and Prairies; note:
Dakota Access Pipeline Acct #2087, to help defend those who have
been arrested and to fight in court the easement granted by the Army Corps of
Engineers.
c. March IN Solidarity in DC and other cities to support our Indigenous brothers and sisters against theDAPL on March 10.
d. PRAY for those at Standing Rock and pray that God’s justice will prevail with
the DAPL. Many thanks to Carolyn Winfrey Gillette who wrote new hymns to be sung in solidarity with water protectors. They can be found HERE.
e. SPEAK OUT REPEATEDLY to government officials, especially your U.S.
Senators and Representatives. Call Senator
Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Committee on Indian Affairs and other members of
the committee. Congress.gov has contact information for
legislators as well as pending bills and other legislative information and activities.
f. Stay informed. Know the facts. Keep your
contacts informed through social media. Helpful accounts to follow are
Thanks to Irvin Porter, Elona Street-Stewart, Mark Koenig, and Gary Payton and Presbyterians for Earth Care for their contributions to this guide.
