The Dakota Access pipeline is a crude oil (unrefined petroleum used to produce products such as gasoline and diesel) pipeline that will run from northwestern North Dakota to southern Illinois. By using this pipeline instead of rail cars that are lacking in numbers right now it would allow the oil to move in a more cost effective manner. This 3.7 billion dollar project would also provide around 8,000 to 12,000 jobs. The pipeline plans to generate more property taxes that would be used towards public schools, roads, and emergency services.
While all of this sounds like a great idea to grow the American economy, there are some major drawbacks. This pipeline would run through the tribal land of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. There has always been controversy between the U.S. Government and Native American tribes, resulting in a battle for their own land. When Native Americans first settled on this land, they claimed much of it to be theirs and have had their it slowly taken from them by the government. What little land the Standing Rock Sioux have left may soon become unusable. The Standing Rock Sioux rely on Lake Oahe and the Missouri River as their main source of water. The Standing Rock Sioux rely on natural sources of water as their supply, because of their culture and customs. The pipeline would run directly under both of these sources of water and if the pipeline were to have any kind of spill or leak, it would contaminate the water in which the tribe wouldn’t have a safe and steady water source. As we all know, water is a vital necessity to living and thriving, and we cannot take that away from these indigenous people.
The tribe filed a complaint in federal court to try and stop construction. Along with filing this complaint the Standing Rock Sioux and thousands of Americans came together and protested peacefully against the pipeline. The tribes united and practiced their rituals of singing, dancing, and praying. On September 3rd, bulldozers came and plowed through sacred land which had been the home of many burial sites; some people who protested the pipeline tried to stop the bulldozers were attacked by the police force who used pepper spray and aggressive dogs. The protesters have been protesting peacefully for their right to clean water and their sacred land. Police have taken violent action by harming protesters and barricading them away from construction areas. One night, people of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe had tried to get past the barricade and were sprayed with freezing water in sub-zero temperatures, leading to many being hospitalized for hypothermia.
The Army Corps has stepped in and released a statement saying that if the protesters are found north of the Cannonball River after December 5th, “[they] will be considered trespassing and may be subject to prosecution under federal, state, and local laws.” according to Army Corps representative Henderson. For now, construction is stalled as Army Corps leaders are trying to negotiate with Native American leaders. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe along with thousands of other anti-pipeline fighters are calling on President Obama to do something about this issue. Further action by President Obama has not yet been taken.
This situation right now is currently a very hardening and controversial topic. Many Americans think that this pipeline would help our economy and provide jobs, while that is all true, there are also lots of harmful effects of this pipeline. Such as destroying sacred land and burial sites to the Native Americans. Not only would it destroy their sacred land but also their water supply. If there was ever something that went wrong with the pipeline such as a spill or leaks it would destroy the water supply for Native Americans living in the area. The DAPL will have a harmful effect if we continue to let it be built. We must stop the DAPL and give back the Native Americans what they deserve.
Sources:
“A Special Report on Standing Rock: The Environmental and Social Justice Consequences of the Dakota Access Pipeline.” A Special Report on Standing Rock: The Environmental and Social. Green Media Info Research Group, 28 Oct. 2016. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
“Dakota Access Pipeline.” Dakota Access Pipeline. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
“Dakota Pipeline: Army Corps Orders Protesters out.” CNN. Cable News Network, 26 Nov. 2016. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
