“What happened is some protesters who’ve been camped out near this building area broke through a fence to access this construction site and were met with some private security guards and guard dogs hired by the pipeline company”, as reporter Amy Sisk of the public radio collaboration Inside Energy said in an NPR Live discussion on Facebook. “It’s a win for all Indians”.
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The Hill obtained a statement from Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Dave Archambault II, who was realistic about the ongoing battle to protect the land that the $3.7 billion pipeline would effect. In a joint press release, the Department of Justice, Department of the Army, and the Department of the Interior said that they will not allow the pipeline to be built on U.S. Army Corps land bordering or under Lake Oahe. Robedeaux said, despite the decision made by the judge, the fight must continue.
“In the interim”, the agencies continued, “we request that the pipeline company voluntarily pause all construction activity within 20 miles east or west of Lake Oahe”.
The ruling said Dakota Access hired professional archaeologists to survey the entire route through the Dakotas and much of Iowa and IL for cultural resources. He called the federal announcement “a lovely start” and told reporters that the dispute is a long way from over.
Earlier today, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg found in favor of the defendants and ruled that no injunction to halt the construction of the $3.8 billion project would be issued and the tribe found their case denied.
For tribal leaders, the government’s announcement immediately following the court’s ruling against it was a huge victory. “The Tribe has not shown it will suffer injury that would be prevented by any injunction the Court could issue”, he said.
“Aware of the indignities visited upon the tribe over the last centuries, the court scrutinizes the permitting process here with particular care”, Boasberg wrote. They went on to say that the tribe’s fight here has been indicative of the oppression and injustice that so many Native Americans have been fighting against in the country for generations.
“The Standing Rock Sioux are the original inhabitants of what is now North Dakota, and we applaud this administration for recognizing their inalienable right to self-determination of their tribal homelands”.
The project is due to pass near lands that are sacred to members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in the rural state of North Dakota.
“So we won! We won!” “Our message is heard”.
In advance of that decision, Governor Jack Dalrymple ordered National Guard troops to the area from bases in Bismarck and two other cities.
“Protesters physically assaulted private security officers hired by Dakota Access Pipeline”. The 1,170-mile pipeline crosses 50 counties and three major rivers.
The tribe had challenged the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to grant permits at more than 200 water crossings for the pipeline, which it contends will harm water supplies and has disturbed sacred sites.
The planned pipeline route would cross the Missouri River – the tribe’s water source – just a half-mile north of its reservation.
Beyond the tribes and police, the pipeline dispute includes the project developer, Dakota Access, as well as the Army Corps of Engineers, which was ultimately responsible for consulting with the tribes over the pipeline’s proposed path. “But I know that our work is not done”. “It nearly sounds like they’re changing the rules in the middle of the process”.
“In recent days, we have seen thousands of demonstrators come together peacefully, with support from scores of sovereign tribal governments, to exercise their First Amendment rights and to voice heartfelt concerns about the environment and historic, sacred sites”, the statement said.
He said protests would continue until the pipeline project is “officially killed”.
“It’s personal. It’s deeply deeply personal”, LaPier said.
We must stop the Dakota Access pipeline, once and for all.
“This protest that has come up, I think it is unfortunate”.
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“Yes, things do need to be changed”, he said. We’re going to stand here till they stop.
