I first read of the violence at the pipeline protest on my regular newsfeed. A one sided version was given; “Security guards and dogs attacked and injured by protesters”. Hmm… as I said, the story was very slanted and I found it odd that there were no pictures or video in the article.
Since I am probably the last person on the planet without a cellphone, I found the lack visuals surprising. I went to one of my favorite news feeds and there it was, the video I knew had to be there, and sure enough, it told quite a different story from the main stream media.
I saw no security guards or dogs attacked by protesters, I saw the opposite. I saw a protester get body slammed to the ground by security and then dogs being used against the protestors. I watched the video through the eyes of someone who has been a dog trainer for over 25 years, and I knew these were not trained guard dogs and the handlers for the dogs were not trained either.
Something about the whole event was over on the corner of my brain, just out of reach, being illusive. I came to Daily Kos where there were 3 or 4 diaries on the violence against the protesters at Standing Rock.
I read more details, looked at some maps, watched the video’s a few more times. I still had something at the corner of my brain that I couldn’t put my finger on.
I called Chase Iron Eyes yesterday. He’s running for the at-large Congressional seat in North Dakota and lives on Standing Rock Reservation.
Chase Iron Eyes was raised on the Standing Rock Reservation. Chase graduated from the University of North Dakota earning a bachelor’s degree in 2000 with a double major in Political Science and Native American Studies. Chase finished his legal training at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2007. He served as in-house counsel to various Tribal Nations in the Northern Plains since gaining admission to the South Dakota Bar and went into private practice in 2011.
Chase Iron Eyes is married to Dr. Sara Jumping Eagle and they have three children. Dr. Sara Jumping Eagle oversees the delivery of medical care at the Indian Health Service hospital on the Standing Rock reservation. Dr. Jumping Eagle graduated from Stanford School of Medicine and is board certified in North Dakota.
We talked about a lot of things and one thing he said, a very small thing, caught that part of my brain that was eluding me. He said he wondered what measures a company could take to protect an easement.
Easements! That was what was nagging at me. I had some experience years ago with a utility company and the easement we sort of “shared”. They could go on the property and so could I. We couldn’t tell each other to stay off, to keep out, even though I think we both wanted to.
I talked to Marvin Nelson today.
Marvin Nelson is running for Governor of North Dakota. He attended NDSU-BBIF (now Dakota College at Bottineau) and transferred to NDSU, where he earned a BS in Entomology. During college, Marvin worked summers as an apiary inspector for the Department of Agriculture. He attended graduate school at NDSU before becoming a crop consultant in the Rolla area.
Marvin currently represents District 9 in the North Dakota House of Representatives and is the chairman of the Tribal and State Relations Committee.
I asked Representative Nelson about the easement thing that was on my mind. He told me that he had thought of that as well; he didn’t know if anyone on an easement can kick anyone off the land.
In North Dakota, unless there is a “No Trespass” sign posted, it’s not illegal to trespass. Marvin was at the protest at Standing Rock the day before the “day of the dogs”, and said he didn’t see any "No Trespass" signs at all. There could have been some at the gate, (which is the only place you legally have to place one) but he didn't see it.
Representative Nelson said he knew of no court case, or law that gave a company the right to kick anyone off easement land. He said he didn't even think that an owner of property could sign away property rights to an easement that would give a company total control.
Now, I know this sounds like a small thing. And a logical thing at that, something a bit unusual for me to focus on, but there it is, I follow my mind. Sometimes the devil is in the details and this seems to be an important detail. Protesters were arrested for trespassing which is why this detail is important to me.
Both Chase Iron Eyes and Marvin Nelson told me the same thing; that there is no doubt of the commitment of the protesters at Standing Rock. They are peaceful, organized, and full of resolve. They are not going anywhere anytime soon.
With that in mind, I think it’s time to make sure we have their backs. The best way I know how to do that is to get candidates elected who we know have their backs. Two of these are Chase Iron Eyes and Marvin Nelson. They need our help to get into office to pass legislation that protects land, water, and people. That’s what we can help with, and it is no small thing.
Chase Iron Eyes — DONATE — VOLUNTEER
Marvin Nelson — DONATE — VOLUNTEER
Both are supporters of 90for90.