Victory is Near at Standing Rock Following Neil Young Visit

Dakota Access Pipeline prayer walk led by Dennis Banks
Photo: Paula Bard

Last weekend, on Neil Young visited Standing Rock on his birthday.

Based on recent developments, it looks like victory may be near for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other water protectors who oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline. The good news is (after Neil's visit) that the DAPL construction is on hold pending environmental review by the Army Corps of Engineers and tribal consultation.

From Indian Country Today:

Citing historical injustices, environmental uncertainties and other factors, the U.S. Department of the Army is holding off on easements under the Missouri River for the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) and halting construction pending further review.

“The Army has determined that additional discussion and analysis are warranted in light of the history of the Great Sioux Nation’s dispossessions of lands, the importance of Lake Oahe to the Tribe, our government-to-government relationship, and the statute governing easements through government property,” the Army said in a joint statement with the U.S. Department of the Interior on Monday November 14. “While these discussions are ongoing, construction on or under Corps land bordering Lake Oahe cannot occur because the Army has not made a final decision on whether to grant an easement. The Army will work with the Tribe on a timeline that allows for robust discussion and analysis to be completed expeditiously.”

In other developments, law enforcement officials are refusing assignments to deploy to Standing Rock.

From The Americans Native:

This sounds like positive things are happening at Standing Rock. With the Higher Energies coming in, this type of event should be occurring more and more. Those who are called to be “oppressors” are refusing to join in on the “oppressing”.

I could not find a date on this one, but I presume it is from this month.

“Widespread outrage over both the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline and violent police crackdowns rages on. That outrage is spreading even to police agencies now returning from deployment to the reservation. Two departments have already refused to return, citing personal and public objections. As if that wasn’t enough, an army of sympathizers is re-purposing social media to combat police efforts in Standing Rock.

“Minnesota’s Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department is among that group. Lawmakers, according to MPR News, found police activities in Standing Rock “inappropriate.”… “I do not support Sheriff Stanek’s decision to send his deputies to North Dakota,” says LT. Governor Tina Smith, “nor did we approve his decision to begin with. I do not have any control over the Sheriff’s actions, which I think were wrong…

“Sheriffs from Wisconsin’s Dane County were more empathetic, pulling out and refusing to return. According to the Bismarck Tribune, Sheriff Dave Mahoney made the decision after a “wide cross-section of the community” decried the deployment. “All share the opinion that our deputies should not be involved in this situation,” says Mahoney. Dane County’s deputies were deployed to Standing Rock for around a week. Sources report Dane County wasn’t involved in recent arrests, a string of which scooped up an alderwoman from Madison Wisconsin.”

More on Standing Rock protest and "Indian Givers" by Neil Young.

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