Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

November 10, 2016

Sámi people and Standing Rock Camp Attorneys work together to get Norway's DNB to divest from DAPL.

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Sami at Standing Rock Photo copyright Jeff Chad.
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Sami with Standing Rock Chairman Dave Archambault at Standing Rock Camp. Photo copyright Jeff Chad.
Militarized police attack water protectors in the river, struggling to reach burial grounds for protection, on Nov. 2, 2016. Photo copyright by Adam Alexander Johansson
DIVEST NOW! Sámi people and Standing Rock Camp Attorneys work together to get Norway's DNB to divest from DAPL

By Beaska Niillas, Jođiheaddji, Norwegian Saami Association
Michelle Cook, J.D., Red Owl Legal Collective Member
Photo copyright by Adam Alexander Johansson
Photos by Adam Alexander Johansson
Censored News

The Norwegian Sámi Association is standing with Standing Rock, and works together with Standing Rock Camp Attorneys, Red Owl Legal Collective, to make DNB and Norway divest from Dakota Access pipeline.
The Camp Attorneys have provided information of all the violations of indigenous peoples and human rights. This information will be provided to DNB and the Norwegian Council on Ethics for the Government Pension Fund Global, the ethical committee of the Norwegian national investment fund, on November 9.
DNB and Norway, through the Government Pension Fund Global (NGPFG), have invested in and provided financial backing through loans to the companies behind DAPL. The NGPFG has invested approximately 10.322 billion NOK and DNB approximately 2.8 billion NOK, making Norway a sizable contributor to the Dakota Access Pipeline Project.
The Norwegian Sámi Association, The Sámi Parliament of Norway, and Norwegian
environmental organizations have joined together to show their support for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in protecting clean water and fighting against the Dakota Access Pipeline project; they have strongly urged DNB and Norway to divest from DAPL.
We demand that DNB and Norway, through its investment fund, withdraw from anything
connected to the violation of indigenous peoples´ rights and human rights, as well as anything that violates their and own ethical guidelines. We specifically demand that they withdraw support from the companies behind DAPL.
The information provided by Red Owl Legal Collective contains evidence and reports of a wide range of violations by both DAPL and the governmental institutions. Some examples of this are: The pipeline was constructed without adequate due process in the form of genuine consultation and the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of the Oceti Sakowin, the Great Sioux Nation, including the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe; the disrespect and breaking of Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851 and 1868; the desecration of burial and sacred sites; use of chemical agents, rubber bullets; use of Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD); numerous reports of the reckless deployment of firearms; multiple officers discharging weapons into a crowd and at horses, resulting in multiple injuries of people and horses; the use of dehumanizing tactics including marking arrestees’ arms with numbers, cavity and strip searches, cutting piercings off with bolt cutters, and failing to provide food and water to inmates for long periods of time, containment in dog kennels in makeshift conditions en-mass; and the inadequate medical care provided that resulted in severe discomfort; and/or life-threatening health problems. These are only some of the violations committed.
DNB and NGPFG will have no other option after being provided this information than to divest from DAPL. DNB have earlier stated, "DNB looks with worry at how the situation around the pipeline in North Dakota has developed. The bank will therefore take initiative and use its position to bring about a more constructive process to find a solution to the conflict. If these initiatives do not give appeasing answers and results, DNB will consider its further involvement in the financing of the project." During the meeting with Norwegian Sami Association and the environmental organizations Naturvernforbundet and Fremtiden i våre hender they re-stated that policy. DNB has also before stated that they will demand that the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is complied with in every project on Indigenous land. DNB has layed the list high, and we will be on their shoulders to make them follow thru.
Beaska Niillas, chairman Norwegian Sami Association
Beaska Niillas, the chairman of Norwegian Sámi Association, states that there is no time to lose. “Now is the time for DNB and Norway to be accountable and take action and make an active withdrawal from this disastrous project. DAPL has no intention of following The Supreme Legal courts decision, indigenous rights, human rights, natural rights or the Obama-administration's call to voluntary halt the construction, and they are able to do as they wish because they have the economical support to do it. DAPL companies are able to do as they please because they have the economic backing to do it. There is no time to loose. If both DNB and Norway wish to avoid profound ethics violations and to be complicit in participating in violations of indigenous peoples’ and human rights, then do the right thing.

Divest now.

Also see: 
Red Owl Legal Collective/National Lawyer's Guild letter to DNB of Norway, includes documentation of abuses by militarized police and Morton County Sheriff Department, and violations of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, other international laws, and Treaties:
http://martinezlaw.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/20161108-DNB-Bank-Divestment-Letter-ROLC.pdf
Censored News article: Standing Rock Camp Attorneys, Red Owl Legal Collective, urge Norway's bank to divest, sent list of egregious human rights violations:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2016/11/standing-rock-camp-attorneys-urge-dnb.html

Photo copyright John Heminger. In 2016 the Indigenous Horse Culture of Turtle Island has to wear gas mask to pray and protect their clean drinking water and for 17,000.000 people downstream.

For further information please contact:
Beaska Niillas
Jođiheaddji | Chairman
Norgga Sámiid Riikkasearvi | Norwegian Saami Association
www.nsr.no | beaska@nsr.no | + 47 91856318

and/or
Michelle Cook, J.D.
SJD Candidate, University of Arizona, Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program
Cookmichelle7@gmail.com
Red Owl Legal Collective Member
https://www.facebook.com/RedOwl Legal/


7 comments:

Unknown said...

this is great news I pray for it's success.

Jim Terral said...

This information will be provided ... on October 9th?

Anonymous said...

It is a positive step in recognising that funding is the Achilles heel of the oil and other environmentally damaging industries.
Banks who fund projects are aware customers will withdraw their accounts if they act unethically. I call it Financial Activism; it is up to us to wise up on these financial institutions.
We have the power to direct policy by being knowledgeable and taking action. It is as effective to withdraw funds as it is to occupy the buildings I would say.Banks are terrified of losing custom and credibility .

Unknown said...

This is how the world should work. people working together to make the earth healthy again.

Anonymous said...

Its very good that indigenous are supporting each other around the world, we cannot afford to be complacent in the face of the global climate emergency.

indiab said...

Jim Terral yes the meeting(s) in Norway happened on the 9th; the original censored news article regarding the corresponding Red Owl legal brief, sent to DNB directly just prior in advance, is here http://bsnorrell.blogspot.fr/2016/11/standing-rock-camp-attorneys-urge-dnb.html, including link to the brief. The brief was then hand-delivered by the Sami representatives in Norway at the meeting(s). It is a good collaboration of efforts internationally between folks on the ground and supporting.

Celia Xavier & Mary Aboud said...

please sign this petition demanding DNB to stop the finance of Energy Transfer Partners and finance clean energy instead

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/484/410/465/