Breaking News: Dakota Access Pipeline Rerouted
The Dakota Access Pipeline was a pipeline that was meant to be built under the Missouri River, near Lake Oahe, damaging the water supply that the Standing Rock Sioux Native American tribe uses. In addition, it would run over their sacred land, just as the faces of four presidents were blasted into a mountain sacred to the Sioux almost a century earlier. What was most shocking about the pipeline, however, was that it was originally supposed to run just north of Bismarck, North Dakota; however, when the mainly Caucasian residents of the city remarked that it would endanger their water supply, the pipeline was immediately moved without a fight from them.
As a result of the pipeline being built on Sioux sacred land and endangering their water supply, the Sioux Native Americans, as well as many other Native tribes all over the United States as well as the rest of the world rose up to peacefully protest against the pipeline, and recently, several veterans went to support the Standing Rock protesters, making the pipeline even more prominent in the media. Although they were standing in the frigid cold and being sprayed with ice water cannons and tear gas simultaneously, they wanted to stand their ground and be known as “water protectors.” As a matter of fact, the motto for the protesters was “Mni Wiconi,” Lakota for “Water is Life.” To add to their ammunition, several significant leaders, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders and Dr. Jill Stein, spoke out against the pipeline route, and called for an end to the pipeline, siting environmental concerns as well as concerns about the land being sacred to the Standing Rock Sioux.
After many struggles that included the governor of North Dakota ordering protesters off their land and confrontations with police in riot gear, the Obama administration shocked the world by announcing that they would deny easement to allow the pipeline to cross under Lake Oahe. The day of the announcement, the camp was filled with people celebrating, and tears of joy were shed. It was a great victory for the protesters, even if it was a temporary one.
However, many protesters were uncertain about the future of the pipeline. While it was a step forward when the US Army announced they would not be crossing Lake Oahe, President Obama does not have much time left in office, and President-Elect Donald Trump who, in addition to having an investment in the pipeline, has said that he would like to continue the pipeline. As a result, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as well as the rest of the pipeline protesters are wary of what the future holds, and know that the battle is far from over.
Sources:
Blau, Max, Sara Sidner, Caroline Kenny, and Gregory Krieg. "Dakota Access Pipeline: What Happens Next?" CNN. Cable News Network, 6 Dec. 2016. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.
Healy, Jack, and Nicholas Fandos. "Federal Officials to Explore Different Route for Dakota Pipeline." The New York Times. The New York Times, 04 Dec. 2016. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.
Medina, Daniel A., and Chiara Sottile. "What's next in the Dakota Access Pipeline Fight?" NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, 05 Dec. 2016. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.
