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| Debra White Plume |
Oglala Sioux Tribe Passes Resolution to Oppose TransCanada’s KXL Pipeline
by Owe Aku International Justice Project
On
March 26, 2013 the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council passed Resolution 13-60
“reaffirming the Yellow Bird Steele-Poor Bear administration opposition
to the Keystone XL Pipeline from crossing the Mni Wiconi Water Line, any
part of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and any and all 1851 and 1868
treaty lands.” The KXL Pipeline’s planned route crosses much of the
Lakota treaty territory, meaning the resolution bans the Pipeline from
most of the northern great plains. The resolution also cites the
traditional and contemporary responsibility of all Lakota people:
“through ancient indigenous cultural and spiritual concepts we have
always respected and maintained good relations with the animals, air,
land and water of our traditional homelands since time immemorial.” The
Resolution also bans any governmental consultation with any entity of
the Oglala Sioux Tribe to negotiate passage on behalf of the OST.
During
the discussion, Debra White Plume of Owe Aku, a Lakota grandmother,
spoke in favor of the Resolution. The facts presented by Mrs. White
Plume not only spoke to the reasons to oppose the pipeline, but also
demonstrated the success of education and training about protection of
sacred water. “Pila miya, to James Cross of Tribal Council, for bringing
this, and all the council members here,” she stated. Owe Aku has
developed an educational and training program that has been presented at
many different gatherings over the past three years, including
Moccasins on the Ground, which was held in Manderson, SD March 8-10,
2013. Trainings are planned for Yankton and Cheyenne River in the coming
weeks.
“We
just completed a Moccasins of the Ground Training here on the Pine
Ridge Homeland in collective action with Great Plains Tarsands
Resistance and Tarsands Blockade. More than 300 people participated in
the three-day training experience. We had a Water Ceremony conducted by
our elders and an Icicuse Ceremony (Making of the Vow) with our Whip
Bearer of the Tokala Warrior Society. It was very powerful. We are ready
to move on in our Tour, every door to opposing the KXL is closing one
by one. Soon the only door left open will be direct action. We intend to
focus our limited resources on making NVDA (nonviolent direct
action) training available to the grassroots people on the land in the
KXL proposed route,” stated White Plume.
The
Council resolution did not hesitate in using international law, citing
the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigneous Peoples.
Article 32, sections 1-3, state in part “Indigenous peoples have the
right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for the
development or use of their lands or territories and other resources”,
“particularly in connection with the development, utilizations or
exploitation of mineral, water or other resources.” The Resolution also
spoke directly to the federal process and sent a message to President
Obama that “the result of allowing these pipelines to cross Indian
Country will be an ecological and environmental disaster.” The public
comment period on the proposed KXL pipeline ends in the middle of April
and the Resolution will be forwarded to the President of the United
States.
The
President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Bryan Brewer, stood with the
Lakota Oyate in opposition to the KXL pipeline and stated, “I interject
here that I am standing with the people in protecting our Mni Wiconi
water pipeline and I expect the council members to be with me.” The Mni
Wiconi or Rural Water Pipeline is a Congressional Act that brings fresh
water to the Pine Ridge Reservation because of unsafe contaminants
found in the ground water. President Brewer participated in and spoke at
the recent Moccasins on the Ground training.
With
the passage of this Resolution by the Tribal Council, Oglala Lakota
leadership remains united in opposing the XL Pipeline. The Black Hills
Sioux Nation Treaty Council's resolution protecting Sacred Water was
passed in August of 2011. The Treaty Council stands on the Ft Laramie
Treaties of 1851 and 1868, relying on international law, including the
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations
Study on Treaties and preserves the sovereignty of the Lakota people.
The Declaration's articles on environment, culture, self-determination,
and free, prior and informed consent were all quoted, as well as Article
37 on treaty observance.
In
a letter of October 23, 2011 to the Secretary of the Interior, Ken
Salazar, Chief Oliver Red Cloud stated, “I am writing as the Itancan of
the Oglala Band of the Lakota Oyate. I am writing to you now in that
capacity in opposition to the proposed TransCanada KXL Pipeline.” Chief
Red Cloud stated that the treaties between the United States and the
Lakota Nation are “recognized as legally binding international
agreements that have never been abrogated or diminished,” any activity
on the Lakota homeland without the free, prior and informed consent of
the Lakota Oyate is illegal. Our
people, through many different organizations and United Nations’
non-governmental organizations … have stood together in undisputed
opposition to issuing a permit for the KXL Pipeline. There has also
been substantial public and private opposition from non-Indigenous
sectors of society. On the basis of our ancient laws that demand that we
assume responsibility for our territory and its protection for future
generations and under the international laws and standards identified
above, we oppose any attempt to construct the KXL Pipeline across our
territory. As a representative of your people, it is your
responsibility to oppose the permit application submitted by TransCanada
and to urge President Obama to deny the permit.”
The
resolution of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, the Black Hills Sioux Nation
Treaty Council Declarations, governmental acts of many Red Nations, the
work of Owe Aku and other public organizations, demonstrates the ongoing
unity to protect sacred water.
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for more information contact Kent Lebsock via email at:
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