Native Americans protest pipeline
Members of the Oceti Sakowin Youth rest overnight at First Presbyterian Church in Washington before continuing their journey to the nation’s capital. Thirty-nine representatives are trying to make their voices heard in protest against a pipeline they said threatens their homeland’s water supply.
Members of the Oceti Sakowin Youth run along College Street in Washington on their way to the nation’s capital. They were hosted overnight in their journey at the First Presbyterian Church.
Joseph White Eyes (right) leads representatives of the Oceti Sakowin Youth as they stop for the night on their journey to the nation’s capital. Thiry-nine representatives are trying to make their voices heard in protest against a pipeline that threatens their homeland’s water supply. They were hosted on their journey at the First Presbyterian Church.
A group of Native American youths who embarked more than two weeks ago on a 2,200-mile journey to fight for clean water and land stopped at First Presbyterian Church in Washington Tuesday night.
The 37 children and young adults, accompanied by two adults, are driving and running from North Dakota to Washington, D.C., to protest construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which would transport 570,000 barrels of crude oil per day across the Missouri River.
The $3.8 billion pipeline being built by Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners would stretch from North Dakota to Illinois, passing less than one mile from the Standing Rock Reservation.
The youths said the pipeline poses a serious threat to tribal land and water, and contend a pipeline break would contaminate the Missouri River, damaging the tribe’s water supply and destroying land.
Jasilyn Charger, 20, with the Cheyenne River Sioux, asserted Tuesday the pipeline also breaks long-standing treaties.
“It really hurts me because they’re putting something so poisonous around people who are already being oppressed. When this started, there were not a lot of people paying attention to us. But the Dakota Access Pipeline is going to be breaking treaty rights that we made with the government and that hits home for us,” said Charger. “Because if they can come to our land and make this pipeline and undermine our treaty, what else can they undermine? It goes beyond the pipeline, it goes beyond Native American rights to our rights as citizens of the United States.”
Members of First Presbyterian Church provided a home-cooked dinner for the group, and will prepare a breakfast before the youths get on the road Wednesday morning.
Washington & Jefferson College also provided hospitality, opening the old gymnasium so the travelers could shower.
Before they ate, the group prepared a spirit plate, a Native American tradition in which food is left for the spirits in a show of gratitude.
First Presbyterian Church pastor, Rev. Dr. L. Stephen Smith Jr., lauded the group for their dedication to their cause, said he was pleased the church had the opportunity to help them in their travels.
“For us as a people of faith, biblically and theologically, we are invited to provide hospitality to strangers who can then be transported into new friends. I’m happy we were able to do this,” said Smith.
Along the way, the group is collecting signatures for a petition urging the Army Corps of Engineers to stop construction. Construction is already underway in North Dakota, South Dakota and Illinois.
The youths expect to arrive in Washington, D.C. on Monday. They have been running for a portion of the journey to raise awareness for their cause.
Shailene Woodley, who stars in the “Divergent” series, plans to meet the group in Washington, D.C., to join their fight.
Danny Grassrope, 24, of Lower Brule, S.D., said the group has stayed at campgrounds and in people’s back yards, and said he was thankful the church provided them with food and shelter.
“It’s important that we stop it,” said Grassrope. “We need to stop it, for life in general.”