People still protest and support the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in its efforts to avoid the Dakota Access Pipeline that could contaminate the tribe’s water sources. The camp in North Dakota has grown, and its logistical efforts have adapted to the number of people in the plain.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is protesting the project to establish pipelines carrying Canadian crude oil into the United States. The Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners plans to install pipes through four states, including the tribe’s land and the the Lake Oahe, a primary source of water for the indigenous.
The pipelines would be breaking the tribe’s ceded 1800s treaty, and Standing Rock Sioux fights are making people come together to defend their right to protect their resources and protests against corporations that still think they are in 1492.
The 1,172 mile Dakota Access oil pipeline would run within a half mile of the Standing Rock Sioux reservation and cross beneath the Missouri River. The protest camp already has 700 activists who are living in tents, teepees, and their vehicles. During the weekend, more people come to North Dakota to support the Sioux tribe.
When the protest first started, only six flags were belonging to American tribes to show their support to their fellow indigenous of the Standing Rock Sioux. Now, there are over 200 flags representing more tribes and different organizations and movements that support the right cause of the Sioux tribe.
The camp is well organized and has been receiving donations from various agencies. Many other causes support their stay in the plain until they make Energy Transfer Partners to stop the construction of the pipeline that will end with drinkable water for the American tribe.
There is a medical and a “lawyer” tent to council the cause and those who have done more than camping near the company’s property. An attorney from Portland staying in the camp estimates that more than 60 arrests had been made related to opposing the pipeline and more people have been detained in October, including actress Shailene Woodley from the trilogy Divergent.
The most common charges are made for trespassing and rioting, and there are other arrests accusing activists of tampering with valves on five pipelines carrying Canadian oil.
Unpa Nunpa, a member of the Sioux tribe, is residing in the camp despite his incurable liver disease. He stopped taking his medication a month ago due to the protests, but Nunpa said he is committed to the cause. “I’m here to defend Lakota treaty rights and to protect our water. This is my home now,” Unpa Nunpa said according to NBC News.
Another conflict, a similar situation: The Israeli-Palestinian movement
Palestinian-American students from California have come to the camp to support the indigenous people that are facing a similar situation as them in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Californian students set up camp near a Palestinian flag that was already raised by other Palestinians. They young supporters were surprised by how much the indigenous population knew about their international conflict compared to most Americans.
Awwad Yasin, a Palestinian-American law student, said the Standing Rock Sioux protest is a global movement for all indigenous people.
Source: NBC News