Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
September 14, 2016
Page 5
Canoe Family joins Standing Rock opposition to pipeline
T he N’Chi Wanapum Canoe Fam-
ily of Warm Springs last week
joined the Standing Rock Sioux in
opposition to a controversial oil
pipeline. Tribal Councilwoman Ca-
rina Miller also made the journey
in support of the Sioux tribe.
The Canoe Family held fund-
raisers to make the trip to North
Dakota, joining the tribal paddle
down the Missouri River.
The protest against the Dakota
Access pipeline drew thousands of
supporters from many tribes across
Indian Country. The Warm Springs
group had a great experience, show-
ing solidarity with the Standing
Rock.
The Dakota Access pipeline
would disturb a lake that is sacred
to the Standing Rock Sioux. A law-
suit by the tribe sought to halt the
construction, but the court ruled in
favor of the Texas-based company
that plans to build the $3.8 billion,
four-state pipeline.
After the court issued its ruling,
the federal government stepped
into the controversy, ordering con-
struction to stop until the Army
Corps of Engineers can revisit its
previous decision on the matter.
The move by the federal govern-
ment was rare, and came as a sur-
prise even to the Standing Rock
Sioux legal team. Whether this lat-
est development will lead to a per-
manent resolution of the conflict
will become clear in the near fu-
ture, as the legal process continues.
This case has high-
‘ lighted
the need for a
serious discussion on
whether there should
be nationwide reform
with respect to consid-
ering tribes’ views on
these types of infra-
structure projects.
’
Courtesy photos.
Joinin g Standing Rock Sioux protest: You can see the N’Chi Wanapum Canoe Family with the flag of
the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs to the right.
Statement by the Justice
Department, the Department
of the Army and the
Department of the Interior:
The N’Chi Wanapum Canoe Family joined the paddle down the
Missouri River.
Federal support
Here is the statement by the De-
partment of Justice, the Depart-
ment of the Army and the Depart-
ment of the Interior:
We a p p r e c i a t e t h e D i s t r i c t
Court’s opinion on the U.S. Army
Cor ps of Engineers’ compliance with
the National Historic Preser vation
Act. However, important issues
raised by the Standing Rock Sioux
Tribe and other tribal nations and
their members regarding the Dakota
Access pipeline specifically, and pipe-
line-related decision-making gener-
ally, remain. Therefore, the Depart-
ment of the Army, the Department
of Justice, and the Department of
the Interior will take the following
steps.
The Army will not authorize con-
structing the Dakota Access pipe-
line on Cor ps land bordering or un-
der Lake Oahe until it can deter-
mine whether it will need to recon-
sider any of its previous decisions
regarding the Lake Oahe site under
the National Environmental Policy
Act or other federal laws.
Therefore, construction of the
Tribal Councilwoman Carina Miller at the North Dakota
pipeline on Army Cor ps land bor-
dering or under Lake Oahe will not
go forward at this time.
The Army will move expeditiously
to make this determination, as ev-
eryone involved—including the pipe-
Red Warrior Camp, the largest camp at the protest site.
line company and its workers—de-
serves a clear and timely resolution.
In the interim, we request that the
pipeline company voluntarily pause
all construction activity within 20
miles east or west of Lake Oahe.
Furthermore, this case has high-
lighted the need for a serious dis-
cussion on whether there should be
nationwide reform with respect to
considering tribes’ views on these
types of infrastructure projects.
Therefore, this fall, we will in-
vite tribes to formal, gover nment-
to-government consultations on two
questions: (1) within the existing
statutor y framework, what should
the federal government do to better
ensure meaningful tribal input into
infrastructure-related reviews and
decisions and the protection of tribal
lands, resources, and treaty rights;
and (2) should new legislation be
House action on tribal youth, tourism bills
Legislation to improve the lives
of Native youth and boost tribal
tourism efforts were set for pas-
sage this week in the U.S. House
of Representatives.
The Alyce Spotted Bear and
Walter Soboleff Commission on
Native Children Act (S.246), and
the Native American Tourism and
Improving Visitor Experience Act
(NATIVE Act - S.1579, ) were be-
ing considered under a suspension
of the House rules, meaning the
bills are considered non-controver-
sial and are expected to pass by
near-unanimous consent among law-
makers.
S.246 creates a commission that
will study ways to improve health,
education and other outcomes for
American Indian youth. The bill
passed the Senate in June of last
year, so action in the House puts it
one step closer to becoming law.
S.1579 requires the Department
of Commerce and the Department
of the Interior to update their man-
agement plans and tourism strate-
gies to include tribes. It passed the
Senate on July 13, so it’s also close
to becoming law.
The two bills are supported by
tribes, lawmakers from both parties
and the Obama administration.
Despite broad support, both have
been altered in key ways during the
legislative process. For instance,
when it was introduced, S.246 au-
thorized $2 million for the Alyce
Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff
Commission on Native Children
Act, a provision that was removed.
proposed to Congress to alter that
statutor y framework and promote
those goals.
“Finally, we fully support the
rights of all Americans to assemble
and speak freely. We urge ever yone
involved in protest or pipeline ac-
tivities to adhere to the principles
of nonviolence. Of course, anyone
who commits violent or destructive
acts may face criminal sanctions
from federal, tribal, state, or local
authorities.
The Departments of Justice and
the Interior will continue to deploy
resources to North Dakota to help
state, local, and tribal authorities,
and the communities they serve, bet-
ter communicate, defuse tensions,
support peaceful protest, and main-
tain public safety.
In recent days, we have seen thou-
sands of demonstrators come to-
gether peacefully, with support from
scores of sovereign tribal govern-
ments, to exercise their First
Amendment rights and to voice
heartfelt concer ns about the envi-
ronment and historic, sacred sites.
It is now incumbent on all of us
to develop a path forward that
serves the broadest public interest.
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