Extra Credit Blog Post - North Dakota Access Pipeline

Answers to the Questions of the North Dakota Access Pipeline 

Why is the North Dakota pipeline project controversial?

High potential for water contamination is a huge reason why the North Dakota Access Pipeline project is so controversial. If installed it would bring oil from the "Baakan Fields" eventually linking up to North Texas. Although this may seem cost efficient to some. Others especially Native Americans can agree that its harmful to the land and water supply.

What is historically significant about the way Native Americans are joining forces to protest this? 

For the first time every state and every states tribes are banning together to stop this environmental atrocity. Also to add, whereas previous protests from Natives have been brushed aside. This one in particular has been covered in main stream media across not only the US. but even internationally which include the First Nations from Canada.

 Are the Native American protestors trespassing, as claimed by some? 

Back in 1901 our 26th president Theodore Roosevelt encouraged by executive order established the conservation and preservation of our natural resources. While developing our nations National Parks. Theodore believed in conservation of the land just as the Native Americans still believe in protecting there own territory. Especially in the Cannonball Grasslands region. As claimed by some, the Native American protesters are the ones trespassing. When in actuality this is isn't true. Although, the pipeline hasn't established a final set route through this area. Natives and Environmentalists alike are still worried that it could possibly go through burial sites, water and other sacred sites. The land is owned by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. This tribe has owned the Cannonball Grassland region for decades since after 1876. It doesn't matter what tribe your from. You are always welcomed on a corresponding reservation. So all Indigenous people most specifically the Standing Rock Tribe, who own the land outright, are allowed legally because it belongs to them by treaty.

 Are the Native American protestors trespassing, as claimed by some?  Are they protesting within there rights?

Yes, the indigenous people are practicing within there civil rights. They have peaceful disobedience as well as there rightful perspective regarding there own land. Another point is that, as mentioned above, they are gaining the worlds attention. They haven't brought out any lethal weapons, hurt anyone, broke the law etc. They have tried to stay true to there culture. They stuck with the Martin Luther King theory of peacful protest as opposed to the Malcom X approach of hurting others for power.

Should Americans in other parts of the country support them?

They should support the Native Americans because of the need for clean drinking water, how it would effect the youth of the future, food, nature, the elders etc. We need to stop focusing on Fossil Fuel and find alternative energy sources.