On December 4, 2016, thousands of protesters gathered on Standing Rock Sioux territory in North Dakota cheered when news broke the Army Corps of Engineers would halt construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The issue was a flashpoint in the remaining months of President Barack Obama’s presidency, and a long fought battle wherein numerous peaceful protesters reported being abused by authorities, namely being sprayed with water cannons in the harsh fall cold, teargassed, and more. In the wake of the decision, the majority of protesters left the encampment, but some stayed. They knew the situation was tenuous given the results of the presidential election, and they remained ready to fight come January. They were right.
Just four days after his swearing in, President Trump signed an executive order effectively green-lighting the remainder of the pipeline project. Most recently, NPR reported that the project is near completion and oil could begin flowing through the disputed section of the pipeline as early as next week.
The Standing Rock Sioux, environmentalists, and other Native American groups refuse to admit defeat, but the situation is looking bleak.
Back in November 2016, during Thanksgiving, actually, pro longboarder Kassia Meador went to Standing Rock to be in solidarity with protesters. “The issue is about water, something we’re all made up of, and something we should all care about,” she said. While there, she had the opportunity to meet with Chief Iron Eagle. The two spoke about the issue at hand. And while the situation at Standing Rock may feel somewhat hopeless (although protesters recently set up shop for a four-day-long protest in Washington, D.C.), the knowledge Chief Iron Eagle shares is perhaps more relevant now than ever. It’s a message we’d do well by taking to heart.
