Dakota Access Pipeline protests

Dakota Access Pipeline protests were a series of protests and demonstrations held in North Dakota, United States, against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline by Energy Transfer Partners, a project led by Kelcy Warren and supported by Donald Trump. The protests were led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, along with other Native American tribes, including the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the Oglala Sioux Tribe, who were concerned about the potential impact of the pipeline on their water supply and cultural heritage, as well as the desecration of Sacred Stone Camp and other Native American burial grounds. The protests drew support from various organizations, including Greenpeace, Sierra Club, and Amnesty International, as well as from notable figures such as Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Leonardo DiCaprio. The protests also sparked a national conversation about indigenous rights, environmental justice, and the role of fossil fuels in the United States energy policy, with many drawing parallels to the Keystone Pipeline controversy and the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Background

The Dakota Access Pipeline is a crude oil pipeline that spans over 1,172 miles from North Dakota to Illinois, passing through South Dakota and Iowa. The pipeline is designed to transport Bakken shale oil from the Bakken formation in North Dakota to a terminal in Patoka, Illinois, where it can be shipped to refineries in the Gulf Coast region, including those owned by ExxonMobil and Chevron Corporation. The project was approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in July 2016, despite concerns raised by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other Native American tribes, who argued that the pipeline would contaminate their water supply and desecrate their cultural heritage, including the Missouri River and the Lake Oahe reservoir. The tribe also argued that the pipeline would violate the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 and the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, which established the Standing Rock Indian Reservation and recognized the tribe's sovereignty over their ancestral lands, including the Black Hills and the Badlands.

Timeline_of_events

The protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline began in April 2016, when a group of Native American activists, including LaDonna Brave Bull Allard and Kandi Mossett, established the Sacred Stone Camp near the Cannonball River in North Dakota. The camp became a hub for protests and demonstrations, with thousands of people from across the United States and around the world joining the movement, including Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, and Winona LaDuke. In August 2016, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Energy Transfer Partners, seeking to halt the construction of the pipeline, with the support of the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Congress of American Indians. The protests escalated in September 2016, when construction workers began digging near the Missouri River, leading to clashes between protesters and police, including the Morton County Sheriff's Department and the North Dakota Highway Patrol. The protests continued throughout the winter of 2016-2017, with many protesters facing harsh weather conditions and police brutality, including the use of tear gas and water cannons by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Environmental_and_health_concerns

The Dakota Access Pipeline poses significant environmental and health risks, including the potential for oil spills and water contamination, which could affect the Missouri River and the Lake Oahe reservoir, as well as the aquifers and wetlands of the Great Plains. The pipeline also threatens the cultural heritage of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other Native American tribes, including their burial grounds and sacred sites, such as the Black Hills and the Badlands. The protests have highlighted the need for greater environmental protection and respect for indigenous rights, with many calling for a transition to renewable energy sources, such as solar power and wind power, and an end to the fossil fuel industry, including the coal industry and the fracking industry. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior have also raised concerns about the pipeline's impact on the environment and public health, including the potential for climate change and air pollution, with the support of the National Wildlife Federation and the World Wildlife Fund.

Reactions_and_responses

The protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline have drawn widespread support from across the United States and around the world, with many notable figures, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Pope Francis, speaking out against the pipeline and in support of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The protests have also sparked a national conversation about indigenous rights, environmental justice, and the role of fossil fuels in the United States energy policy, with many drawing parallels to the Keystone Pipeline controversy and the Battle of Little Bighorn. The United Nations has also weighed in on the issue, with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples calling for the pipeline to be halted and for the United States to respect the rights of Native American tribes, including the Navajo Nation and the Cherokee Nation. The European Union and the Canadian government have also expressed concerns about the pipeline's impact on the environment and indigenous communities, including the Inuit and the First Nations.

Legal_challenges

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other Native American tribes have filed several lawsuits against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Energy Transfer Partners, seeking to halt the construction of the pipeline and protect their water supply and cultural heritage. The lawsuits have been supported by various organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Congress of American Indians, as well as by notable figures such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ruled in favor of the tribe, ordering the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a more thorough environmental review of the pipeline, with the support of the Environmental Defense Fund and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The Supreme Court of the United States has also been asked to weigh in on the issue, with the Trump administration seeking to overturn the lower court's ruling and allow the pipeline to proceed, despite opposition from the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

Impact_and_legacy

The protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline have had a significant impact on the national conversation about indigenous rights, environmental justice, and the role of fossil fuels in the United States energy policy. The protests have also inspired a new generation of activists and organizers, including Greta Thunberg and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who are working to address the climate crisis and promote a transition to renewable energy sources. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other Native American tribes have also been recognized for their leadership and bravery in the face of adversity, with many receiving awards and honors, including the Right Livelihood Award and the Goldman Environmental Prize. The protests have also led to increased awareness and recognition of the historical trauma and ongoing struggles faced by Native American communities, including the Boarding School Era and the Indian Removal Act, with many calling for greater accountability and reconciliation, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the National Museum of the American Indian. Category:Environmental protests in the United States