[ot-caption title=”North Dakota Access Pipeline protests are continuing as the number of protesters is rising rapidly.” (via Fibonacci Blue, Flickr)”]

Many students may have seen the hashtag “#NoDAPL” and saw people checking into the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe land on social media, but they may not know what is actually going on there. The Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protests have been going on since the spring, with thousands of people involved in both North Dakota and Washington DC.  Members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, environmental activists, and other concerned people have been involved in the protests to stop the construction of the DAPL in North Dakota.  [spacer height=”20px”]

The DAPL is an oil pipeline proposed by the Energy Transfer Partners corporation that would connect the oil-rich areas of Bakken, North Dakota to centers in Illinois where the oil could be easily transported to refineries.  The DAPL was approved by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the spring after a limited review, but the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Interior, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation requested that the Corps do a longer investigation to ensure its safety.  After additional review, the project was given permits in July.  Proponents of the DAPL say that this pipeline will boost the economy by bringing jobs back to North Dakota and contributing property taxes to the state.  Additionally, they argue that the pipeline will be better for the environment than the current trucks and trains used to transport the oil, while allowing for more access to railways for crops. [spacer height=”20px”]

Opponents of the pipeline are concerned about the environmental impacts in addition to the impacts the pipeline will have by going through sacred tribal land.  The pipeline will be running under the Missouri River and Lake Oahe, the water source for the tribal lands, so there is concern that the water source for downstream communities will be contaminated, in addition to contamination from any possible oil spills.  Aside from the health and environmental concerns, tribal officials say that the pipeline is planned to run through sacred grounds and that the investigation to give permits to the DAPL did not consult them enough to make a decision involving their land. [spacer height=”20px”]

The tribe has been protesting since the spring. Sacred Stone Camp was created by the tribe’s Historic Preservation Officer Brave Bull Allard as a place for protestors to stay and filled up so quickly that a overflow camp had to be established. As the event gained more prominence, celebrities, political figures, Veterans, and other groups have joined the fight. During the summer, the number of protesters was in the thousands with many well-known supporters including actress Shailene Woodley and Senator Bernie Sanders. When asked about the DAPL, Senator Sanders responded saying, “Our species will not survive if we continue to destroy nature, so today we stand united in saying stop the pipeline, respect Native American rights, and let us move forward to transform our energy system away from fossil fuels.” [spacer height=”20px”]

While protests have been mostly peaceful, there have been accusations of police brutality.  In the most recent incident, police fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and sprayed water at high speeds at protestors trying to cross a bridge.  The police actions were in response to fires set near the bridge which were thought to potentially be an attack towards the police.  The police claim that they are doing this to protect the protesters from dangerous conditions.  During the conflicts, over 300 people have been injured with dozens hospitalized. Police have said to additionally have used sponge rounds, bean bag rounds, springer rounds, teargas grenades, pepper spray, Mace, tasers, and a sound weapon in other instances.  [spacer height=”20px”]

Activists have been speaking out against not only the pipeline, but also to the police brutality occurring at the Standing Rock Sioux tribal lands.  On Monday, the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that all protesters must be evacuated by December 5th.  Follow-up reports suggest that this deadline will not be strictly enforced, but over 2,000 military veterans have formed an alliance called Veterans Stand for Standing Rock that has promised to go to North Dakota  to form a human shield around the protestors.  Standing Rock tribe member Chase Iron Eyes stated “We are here for the long haul,” and many other tribal leaders and activists backed them up.  With the deadline for building and any possible denial of the project approaching quickly, protestors are trying to make every last effort to stall the project.[spacer height=”20px”]

After months of protests, DAPL protesters are finally cheering now that President Obama and the US Army Corps of Engineers has denied the current route through Lake Oahu and is forcing the pipeline to be rerouted.  It is unclear if this pronouncement will be upheld by the incoming Trump administration, but the protesters are relishing in their victory regardless.

Sources: CNN, The Guardian, Reuters, Energy Transfer, USA Today, Indian Country, Valley News 

Photo Source: Fibonacci Blue