On December 2nd 2016, Stockton Environmental and Sustainable Community hosted an event in solidarity of the situation in Standing Rock, North Dakota. The Dakota Access Pipeline, a part of the Bakken pipeline project, is an underground oil pipeline project in the United States. The pipeline is being planned by Dakota Access, a subsidiary of the Dallas, Texas, corporation Energy Transfer Partners. It begins in the Bakken oil fields in northwest North Dakota and is set to travel in a straight line through South Dakota and Iowa, and end at the an oil tank farm near Patoka, Illinois.  The pipeline was originally routed across the Missouri River near Bismarck; however, this was rejected because of the route’s proximity to waterways and roads in this area. The predominantly white area, fearful of contamination and an oil spill, were successful in moving the pipeline to another location, which would end up being the Sioux Reservation.

As the pipeline began construction, the Sioux Indians were concerned with an oil spill that would contaminate their water, and the location of the pipeline that would be so near to their sacred burial grounds. The Sioux began to peacefully protest the pipeline, facing intense retaliation from law enforcements who used military weapons and gases to disrupt the peaceful protestors. Many protesters were imprisoned for trespassing, including the Sioux who were in their land that had been privatized for capital gain. The event commemorated the struggles of the Sioux and their ongoing challenge for the right to clean water. We began by creating posters with powerful messages for the protest across campus towards the end of the event. Several professors  gave empowering speeches about the injustices committed against Native Americans since America was colonized and how, perhaps, it is too late to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline, but if it is the Sioux today, it will be us tomorrow. The event was very empowering and beautifully organized. It was clear that the people who attended were passionate about the issue. Everyone is ready to combat the situation in their own way whether it be donating, protesting, or going to Standing Rock. This event left me feeling ready to take on issues such as this that are a clear violation of people’s rights, and wanting to join Stockton Environmental and Sustainability group.