Photo by Tod Seelie for Jezebel.
Yes, there was a celebration over having some breathing room at last. But if anyone knows not to trust government, it’s Indians. There’s even less reason to trust oil companies who are already bursting with billions of dollars. All that money means power, and they do not like being thwarted. They have engaged in an ongoing smear campaign, spreading lies and propaganda, openly purchasing the Morton County Sheriff’s department, with the approval of long ago purchased Governor Jack Dalrymple. The Army Corps of Engineers has asked ETP to stop digging before, and what happened? They went out on a holiday weekend and kept working, destroying sacred sites. ETP does not care what anyone says, they do not think they are obligated to listen or obey in any sense. Their sense of 1% entitlement is even bigger than their pockets. Their hatred of the Indians attempting to protect the land and water, for all peoples, has infuriated them from the start, and that start was in 2012.
It didn’t take long for them to lash out in absolute fury and defiance, in a lie and propaganda filled piece of bile, and their insistence they will indeed complete DAPL as planned. The people at the Oceti Sakowin camp aren’t going anywhere yet.
The White House’s directive today to the Corps for further delay is just the latest in a series of overt and transparent political actions by an administration which has abandoned the rule of law in favor of currying favor with a narrow and extreme political constituency.
As stated all along, ETP and SXL are fully committed to ensuring that this vital project is brought to completion and fully expect to complete construction of the pipeline without any additional rerouting in and around Lake Oahe. Nothing this Administration has done today changes that in any way.
So, keep those donations coming, people, and help in any way you can, because this is far from over. Those of us here in nDakota have already seen what ETP is willing to do, and it’s not pretty. All the veterans pouring into camp helped beyond measure, because even Kirchmeier can figure out that assaulting veterans is likely to result in much media coverage, and negative coverage at that, so they’ve stood down for now, but that won’t last. No one at the camps can afford to leave until ETP leaves, completely.
“We don’t trust anything they say,” Castaneda explained pleasantly. He first arrived at Standing Rock in October, and stayed through most of November before returning home for a spell. He returned this week. Cunningham and a friend, social worker Kyla Ferguson, had been here since mid-November. All three noticed a sudden absence of law enforcement drones hovering over the camp on Sunday. The peace and quiet, they pointed out, coincided with an influx of media and celebrity supporters, not to mention thousands of veterans who arrived to support and defend the water protectors. All three worried that ETP and law enforcement were merely behaving themselves for now.
“Once the media and the vets leave, they’ll start acting out,” Cunningham said. That’s what happened in late October, when seven different police agencies converged on the 1851 Treaty Camp, which stood in the pipeline’s path. The three friends watched as tipis and tents were destroyed. People were sprayed with rubber bullets or dragged from where they were praying in a sweat lodge and arrested. Some 140 people were taken into custody in all. It was a scene he found hard to forget.
“Native Americans have been sold a bill of goods a million times,” he added. “There’s a lot of mistrust.”
Via Jezebel. * #NoDAPL. * The Verge has covered the ETP response. * Then there’s this.
To every single person who has supported us and helped, whether spreading the word, getting the signal boosted, donations of any kind, lila wopila – very many thanks. Thank you all so much. Thank you for standing up for what is right, for standing up for a healthy planet, healthy water, for the wealth that truly matters, family, friends, and a sustainable, healthy ecosystem. The fight for these things is going to get much harder, all over the planet. Let’s keep that love going, and keep standing up.
The lighting in that photo is a perfect example of “cinematic style” -- WOW the depth and dimensionality!!!!! It’s hard to realize it’s flat pixels on a flat panel.
This really makes me want to get a bulldozer and flatten some of ETP’s executives’ mansions.
I was thinking along the same lines, so I was I am still planning to send some money when I can (on Monday next week) and I wanted to ask where it would be most prudent right now? Perhaps directly to the rezervation?
Charly, yes, you can donate direct to Standing Rock Rez. Lila wopila.
Thanks for providing your ongoing local perspective, Caine — and for being part of the action on the ground.
(All I’ve been able to do is small donations out of my last several paychecks, will continue to support as my budget allows.)
Arren:
That’s more than you’ll ever know, Arren. The legal cost from all the arrests alone is enormous. Every little bit helps. Lila wopila.
Hoo boy did you see this article? http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-tribes-insight-idUSKBN13U1B1
Given Trump’s general ignorance, arrogance, and documented past dislike of Natives, none of this surprises me. I’ve been wondering if Trump’s incoming admin would mean a return to regressive theft like a new Tribal termination movement (my tribe was one of those terminated in the 1950s, so we are too familiar with that idea) and, here it is…with of course some greedy sellouts like Mullin thinking this is just a grand idea. Yeah, you would think a Cherokee would recall the whole Dawes Act wasn’t exactly sunshine and roses for them… But hey, there is MONEY to be made! MONEY!
Pardon me while I go scream in the corner for awhile.
Patricia, yeah, I did, it’s the last link in the post. I couldn’t believe what I was fucking reading. I join you in the corner.
The oil barons will never willingly give up their filthy vision for the planet. They’re even attacking Elon Musk. Guardian article.
Instead of Gov. Dalrymple, save some keyboard strokes and call him Gov. DAPL. (credit TYT)
Golgafrinchan Captain @ 9:
In Indian country, he’s known as KKK Jack.
I’ve been following this for a while thanks to you Caine.
I agree, that this is just a pause, the rapacious don’t willingly give in.
Small donation made to Standing Rock.
It’s rare that it ever happens, but it has! The pipeline builders and I have finally agreed on something.
I’ve seen a lot of friends crying victory over this (and that’s good, their hearts are in the right place, at least), but even before I read this post, I’ve been telling them not to forget, and to keep an eye on things.
Thanks again for all the on the ground reporting and links to a lot of articles I probably would have otherwise missed.
I’m currently looking for a new employment gig that will likely require relocation across the country once again. The good news is, if the salary I’m hoping for comes through, I will be able to make some much more healthy donations to standing rock (and others like the ACLU). Keep up the fight Caine, and thanks again.
In case anyone else has heard the rumour about DAPL construction continuing anyway in spite of a $50 000/day fine (like me), here’s Snopes on the matter.
Either way, a small, temporary-feeling victory, but hopefully it is a sign of things turning towards the positive. Maybe.