Thousands of people from more than 200 Native Tribes have joined the Standing Rock Sioux’s efforts to protect their lands, waters and sacred sites from harm during construction of the 1,200-mile pipeline.
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As All Things Considered reported, hundreds of Native Americans from tribes across the country have set up a camp near the construction site in North Dakota.
Protestors say they worry that the massive pipeline, which is slated to run through four states, could upset the reservation’s sacred sites and taint the land’s drinking water.
Native American protesters were reportedly attacked by security guards at the construction site of a multi-million dollar oil pipeline in North Dakota.
Steve Sitting Bear, a spokesman for the tribe, said that one of the six people who had been bitten by the guard dogs was a young child. She says the crowd disbursed when officers arrived and no one was arrested.
According to a post on the Sacred Stone Camp’s Facebook page, “Last night 3,000 natives and our allies were at camp as the announcement was made about DAPL security macing people and that an unarmed pregnant woman was bitten by dogs sicced on the crowd”. “These grounds are the resting place of our ancestors”.
Tribe leaders have challenged the permits in a federal court, and a judge is expected to decide whether or not the construction can be halted on 9 September.
Energy Transfer Partners did not return phone calls and emails from The Associated Press on Saturday seeking comment.
LaDonna Bravebull Allard, historic preservation office for Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s Section 106, noted in a piece published at YES! As a result of the violence that broke out on Saturday, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman Harold Frazier “is urging members to avoid Bismarck and Mandan in North Dakota”. The ancient cairns and stone prayer rings can not be replaced. They also said the pipeline construction violates long-standing treaties.
The tribe is challenging the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to grant permits for Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners’ Dakota Access pipeline, which crosses the Dakotas and Iowa to IL, including near the reservation in southern North Dakota.
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According to Tribal Chairman David Archambault II, Saturday, Dakota Access Pipeline and Energy Transfer Partners used bulldozers to disturb “burial sites, prayer sites and culturally significant artifacts”. He was of the opinion that proved the protest was not a peaceful one. They added that cellphone reception and data network suddenly and mysteriously plunged and became non-existent, most likely to prevent protesters from live-streaming the attack.
