Desert Messenger

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Outdoor & Emergency Supplies EQUIPMENT RENTAL Specializing in Unusual & Hard to Find Items www.RocksInMyHead.com 605-376-8754 CRIT tribal members travel to ND in support of Standing Rock By Shanana Rain BearCat On Saturday, September 3, a con- tingent of Mohave Elders and other members of the Colorado River In- dian Tribes traveled to Cannonball, North Dakota to show support in the spiritual gatherings organized in opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline. The CRIT Tribal council has sub- mitted a letter of support for the efforts of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAP.) DAP is planned to cross the Missouri River just several hundred feet north of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The pipeline will carry over 500,000 gallons of crude oil every day. According to the Bismarck Tri- bune, the tribe, located in North Dakota, fears the project "will dis- turb sacred sites and impact drink- ing water for thousands of tribal members on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and millions further downstream." "Our cause is just," the newspaper quoted the tribe's chairman, Dave Archambault II, as saying, adding that the tribe was staging the fight on behalf of future generations. In a press release, CRIT Tribal Vice-Chairman Keith Moses said, "The Missouri River, like our Colo- rado River, is the lifeblood for many Indian Nations in that region. A spill along the pipeline could result in devastating impacts on the river- a source of drinking water, agricul- ture, and recreation for millions of people- and sacred sites and cul- tural resources." According to the Seattle Times, "More than 1,500 people from 150 tribes and their supporters from around the country have gathered at the confluence of the Cannonball and Missouri rivers, staging a non- violent protest at what they call a spirit camp." However, recent re- ports state upwards of 5,000 peo- ple are at the Sacred Stone Camp. The same day CRIT members ar- rived, private security employed by Dakota Access deployed vicious attack dogs, pepper spray against Native Americans during a confron- tation at the construction site. Ac- cording to the most recent update, 6 water protectors were bitten by dogs, dozens were pepper sprayed. One child was biten on the face and taken to the hospital. In a statement issued Sunday, Morton County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Donnell Preskey said four private security guards and two guard dogs were injured after sev- eral hundred protesters confronted construction crews Saturday af- ternoon at the site just outside the Standing Rock Sioux reservation. One of the security officers was tak- en to a Bismarck hospital for undis- closed injuries. The two guard dogs were taken to a Bismarck veterinary clinic, Preskey said. Sacred places containing ancient burial sites, places of prayer and other significant cultural artifacts of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe were destroyed on Saturday September 3 by Energy Transfer Partners, Tribal Chairman David Archambault II told Indian Country Today. On Friday, the Tribe filed court documents identifying the area as home to significant Native artifacts and sacred sites. "This demolition is devastating," Ar- chambault said. "These grounds are the resting places of our ancestors. The ancient cairns and stone prayer rings there cannot be replaced. In one day, our sacred land has been turned into hollow ground." Saturday, construction crews re- moved topsoil across an area about 150 feet wide stretching for two miles, northwest of the confluence of the Cannon Ball and Missouri Rivers. Tim Mentz, the Standing Rock Sioux's former tribal historic pres- ervation officer told Indian Coun- try Today. "Portions, and possibly complete sites, have been taken out entirely." The experience of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe mirrors that of the CRIT with the Bureau of Land Management approval of solar projects. CRIT has been a strong proponent of meaning- ful government to government consultation and has brought several legal actions against BLM and other government enti- ties. Therefore, CRIT is uniquely situated to understand and pro- vide support to the efforts of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other Tribes in that region op- posing this project. Moses said, "Tribes must stand united as our ancestral lands, sa- cred sites, and waters are under daily attack. We must continue our vigilance in preserving our footprint, water, and the econom- ic opportunities for our members and future generations. Indian nations have already suffered immeasurable losses to govern- ment and corporate interests. All of Indian Country must remain united in opposition to govern- ment processes which continue to bow to corporate interests at the expense of Tribes. " The Standing Rock Tribe is chal- lenging the Army Corps of Engi- neers' decision to grant permits for Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners' Dakota Access pipe- line, which crosses the Dakotas and Iowa to Illinois, including near the reservation in southern North Dakota. A federal judge will rule before Sept. 9 whether construction can be halted on the Dakota Access pipeline. The CRIT excursion was fund- ed with a portion of the revenue generated from the monitoring program under the Tribal His- toric Preservation Office, a pro- gram that is itself the result of the strong efforts of the Tribes to pre- serve its footprint in their ances- tral homelands surrounding the present day reservation. Support for the cause is growing. Donations by over 8,000 people has brought in over $400,000 to support the Sacred Stone Camp. If you'd like to donate visit www.gofundme.com/ sacredstonecamp. We'll be open until May 13 SEE YOU IN THE FALL Thank you for all your support Betty Crenshaw, Owner C & B LOCK & KEY 41 YEARS EXPERIENCE 928-927-6589 Mobile Service Only

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