What an important time it is for us in Lakota Country. A few weeks ago, we had the honor of hosting Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg at the Pine Ridge and Standing Rock reservations. Greta came at the invitation of my daughter, Tokata, who is a fellow 16-year-old environmental warrior.
I’m so proud of Tokata for fostering this connection and inspiring Greta’s visit, and I must say the two of them make an effective team! At events at schools on the two reservations, they showed the power and inspiration of the youth movement to protect Unci Maka, our Grandmother Earth.
Chief among their message was the pressing need to stop the Keystone XL (KXL) pipeline. I ask you today to hear their message clearly, and TAKE ACTION now by writing to the UN Environment Programme and your congressional representatives.
Tokata and Greta led a rally in Rapid City, South Dakota, activating hundreds of people in the defense of Lakota Country against the Keystone XL pipeline.
Their tireless efforts over three full days also included a climate rally in Rapid City, South Dakota, where Greta pointed out that KXL is “not morally defensible.” Hundreds of people showed up on a moment’s notice to show their solidarity.
Of course, the problem with KXL is that it’s the Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL) all over again. For the second time, we have the fossil fuel industry building a dangerous pipeline directly through the unceded treaty lands of tribal nations and endangering our primary water supply. With DAPL, it was Lake Oahe and the Missouri River. Now, it’s the Ogallala Aquifer, which supplies the Oglala Nation as well as over 2 million other people in eight states.
It’s also important to note that with pipelines come man camps. These dens of machismo are a contributing factor to our Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (#MMIW) crisis. The movie Wind River presents a chilling fictional account of what that can look like — and make no mistake, this is a very real problem. One such camp is slated to be built very close to the Cheyenne River Nation’s border in South Dakota.
The fight against KXL, which will very likely begin construction through Lakota Country in early 2020, promises to be long and arduous — but we have new hope. Even as states continue to pass laws meant to chill protest by imposing draconian penalties on people for exercising their First Amendment rights, a key recent ruling went in our favor.
A U.S. District Court judge struck down unconstitutional elements of the so-called “riot-boosting” laws in South Dakota. This timely victory stymies Gov. Kristie Noem’s effort to curtail our freedoms of speech and assembly. We can now show up in full force on the front lines — and we will!
In addition to the KXL battle, The Lakota People’s Law Project is hard at work mobilizing expert witnesses and an effective intertribal alliance to speak at November’s hearing at Standing Rock on doubling oil flow through DAPL. We take these responsibilities extremely seriously.
I humbly ask for your support to help us maximize our impact. Let’s match Greta and Tokata’s energy, use our voices, and do everything we can to give young people a better future. We have an uphill battle, and we can only win with the support of caring folks like you. I can’t thank you enough for all you do.
Wopila tanka — Thank you, sincerely, for staying aware and for being part of the solution!
Chase Iron Eyes
Lead Counsel
The Lakota People’s Law Project