Rolling Stone Magazine Advised of Reporter's Ethics Violations at Standing Rock

Standing Rock photo by photographer Rob Wilson

Indigenous People advise Rolling Stone magazine of Ethics Violations in Medical Survey of Water Protectors

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News

Indigenous People told Rolling Stone magazine today that their reporter is violating ethics and ignoring tribal law as he seeks sensitive medical information of Lakota and others who were present at Standing Rock during the resistance to Dakota Access Pipeline.

Native people, in a letter to Rolling Stone, said their reporter, Sandy Tolan, should cease and desist from continuing with his medical survey.

Tolan was warned not to proceed with distributing the survey for medical information during a gathering on Standing Rock in October, and ignored the warning.

The medical survey questions put Water Protectors safety and freedom at risk by asking them specifically which protests they were at, which includes the dog attack on Water Protectors, Blackwater Bridge action, and Treaty Camp stand.

There are currently cases before the courts in North Dakota and the Netherlands. There are also individual cases of critical injuries inflicted by law enforcement before the courts in the United States.

The survey asks sensitive questions about sexual ability and reproduction. Even though this part is optional, it is alarming.

Tolan has placed the survey online.

Tolan is researching a connection between ill health of Water Protectors and possible  toxic spraying or chemical poisoning of  Water Protectors ten years ago, in 2016 and 2017 at Standing Rock.

In the letter to Rolling Stone, Native people point out that free, prior and informed consent, as stated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, is required before proceeding with research.

Native people told Rolling Stone that online communications are never totally secure. It is not possible to guarantee the information will remain confidential.

Further, in regards to ethics in journalism, it is highly irregular for a news reporter to circulate a written survey for medical information to a vulnerable population, especially on tribal land and without the tribe's permission.

Native people question who wrote the survey, where the information will be stored and if their medical information will be used for profit in books and  university research.

This article will be updated.

Copyright Censored News.