On Wednesday, January 18, 2017, a Federal judge “allowed a potentially lengthy environmental review of the Dakota Access Pipeline to move forward over objections from the pipeline’s developer.” This has been the most recent goal of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other water protectors, and should have been done before construction began on the pipeline.
It is interesting that the tribe states “moving forward, our ultimate objective is best served by our elected officials, navigating strategically through the administrative and legal processes.” But the Indigenous Environmental Network cautions, “with the Trump administration in office now, the bigger picture requires all Water Protectors and Native Nations to be in solidarity to insure treaty rights, environmental laws and the preservation of historical and cultural resources and sacred sites are fully recognized and protected.”
The Tribe is now asking that no camps remain in the Cannonball District. They want to make sure the area is cleaned up prior to the spring flooding.
Press release from Standing Rock Sioux Tribe:
“The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is grateful to all who have stood with us during our efforts to secure a thorough review of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Because we worked together, the Federal Government will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. Moving forward, our ultimate objective is best served by our elected officials, navigating strategically through the administrative and legal processes.
Yesterday the Tribe passed a resolution brought forward by the Cannonball District which asked that no camps remain in the Cannonball District. Councilmen from across the reservation, including Cannonball, described the hardships and strain on the citizens and resources of our Nation. The Council passed the motion unanimously. For this reason, we ask the protectors to vacate the camps and head home with our most heartfelt thanks. Much work will be required to clean up before the spring thaw, which will flood the area. It is imperative we clean the camps and restore them to their original state before this flooding occurs. Once again, thank you, and we wish you well.”
Statement from the Indigenous Environmental Network:
“Our network respects the decision of the Cannon Ball district and the tribal council of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. We fully understand the strain the camps have had on the local Cannon Ball community and the tribe. This action is timely because of the imminent peril of the camp being in a floodplain with record snow in the region that will melt causing the river to flood the camp. Vacating the camp does not mean abandoning the resistance. We will continue to support the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to strategically halt the Dakota Access Pipeline from risking the contamination of the Missouri River. There are multiple pressure points to accomplish this. We are part of a national coalition effectively defunding DAPL by getting banks to divest their funding of the pipeline and getting bank account holders to withdraw their money. With the Trump administration in office now, the bigger picture requires all Water Protectors and Native Nations to be in solidarity to insure treaty rights, environmental laws and the preservation of historical and cultural resources and sacred sites are fully recognized and protected.”
Peter Clay photo
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