Now Stop Dakota Access Pipeline

It is great news that President Biden canceled the permit for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. For the same reasons, he should stop the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). Oil is flowing through DAPL now.

Biden has revoked the permit for KXL, taking a huge step to eliminate threats to climate, tribal sovereignty, and the safety of Indigenous women and girls. DAPL must come next!
Tell president-elect Joe Biden to stop DAPL once and for all. Protect the planet and the Lakota people. No destruction of the earth. No endangering our water. Mni wiconi — water is life.
Stop Keystone XL (lakotalaw.org)

I got my future back.

2016 was a victory and we had to celebrate that because they’re hard to come by out there. I would say that we just won the right to struggle and we will continue to put pressure on Biden to push on and to create the kind of world that we want to leave for our children
Chase Iron Eyes

Yesterday I wrote about the years long efforts to stop the Keystone XL pipeline. When the Dakota Access pipeline construction began in 2016, we worked to stop that pipeline as well. The amazing gathering of indigenous peoples and environmental activists at the construction site at Standing Rock brought national attention in ways that had not occurred related to the Keystone XL pipeline.

Following are stories and videos of the work done to try to stop DAPL.

Amy Goodman, Democracy Now, was present during the security dog attacks on the peaceful men, women and children at Standing Rock in September, 2016.

Nahko and Medicine for the People created this powerful and disturbing video about the struggles at Standing Rock, titled “Love Letters to God”.

Below is an amazing video of Nahko Bear performing solo at the Water Protectors Youth Concert Sept 8, 2016. This was just 5 days after security forces used attack dogs against the water protectors. He was speaking to these young people while they were in the middle of their nonviolent resistance.

He says the resounding message he hears during his travels is:

“Remember that nonviolent direct action is the way to a successful revolution. And that is a hard one, because they are so bad (chuckles). When they come at us you just want to hit ’em, you know? Just sit with that. I know it’s tough. They’re going to try to do everything they can to instigate you. But remember what we’re here for. We’re here to create peace for our Mother. We’re not here to create more violence.”

This isn’t over. These messages are also meant for you and me. The struggles continue, While indigenous peoples will continue to lead, the support of everyone is needed now more than even. Please take this to heart. Your spirit will soar.

When you’re feeling bad, when you’re feeling frustrated, put all your prayer into your palms, put them to the ground, put them back to the sky, honor the Father, the Mother, just know it will be alright.

Are you guys feeling proud, are you proud of yourselves? Because the whole world is watching. The whole world is watching. So whatcha gonna do? Gonna show love? Are you gonna be smart? You gonna think before you act? Take care of each other? Your gonna show ‘em what family does. They don’t know what that’s like.

You gotta put down the weight, gotta get out of your way.

Get out of your way and just look around the corner at your real self and look at all the potential that this beautiful Earth and love has to offer you.

It’s crazy being out in front of you guys. I had a moment there. I was like, I like started spacing out and I’m like oh god they’re looking at me aren’t they? I was thinking about how much happened before any of us were here. You know? There is a lot of history here. We gotta hold that when we’re standing out there. You gotta hold that when you’re on that line out there, too. You’re here for a lot more than just this pipeline.

It’s about rejoicing, it’s about laughter right now. We’ve got a big day ahead of us tomorrow folks. So, I just want to say I’m so grateful and I’m really proud of you guys. I’m really proud of you. (and then he turned away with obvious emotion).

Ra Wyse, Wyse Radio, interviewed me about local (Indianapolis) #NoDAPL actions.

Here is a link to my photos related to DAPL. NODAPL – OneDrive (live.com)

Rescinding KXL’s permit is a promising early signal that the new administration is listening to our concerns and will take issues of climate and Indigenous justice seriously. We have to insist that it not stop there. It’s also high time to shut down the Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL) once and for all.

Nearly 13,000 of you have already signed onto our petition telling the Biden-Harris administration to end KXL and DAPL. Once the KXL decision is official, we’ll adjust the petition to thank our new leadership in D.C. for its action while remaining insistent that DAPL come next. We stand in solidarity with our relatives at Standing Rock and allied organizations like Earthjustice, which represents Standing Rock in its legal battle to stop DAPL. The two co-produced this powerful new video and asked us to share it. Please take a moment to watch.

In this hour, victory is undeniably sweet. I think it’s safe to say we needed some good news! But, as the actions of many over the past days and years have demonstrated, we must not let down our guard. Our mission to end the devastation wrought by pipelines on our Grandmother Earth — and on our Lakota families — won’t be finished until we dig DAPL out of our sacred lands. We will stay ever vigilant, and I thank you for supporting us every step of the way.

Wopila tanka — our enduring gratitude for helping us fight and win!

Madonna Thunder Hawk
Cheyenne River Organizer
The Lakota People’s Law Project