Opinion: The Dakota Access Pipeline

 The standoff between the Standing Rock Sioux and the Dakota Access Pipeline has intensified in the last couple months. Neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump has mentioned the growing conflict in North Dakota during their campaign. Meanwhile, President Obama has stated that his administration is looking into different routes the pipeline can take without destroying sacred native lands. The Obama administration continues to disregard the obvious human rights violations, as videos of guards using tear gas, attack dogs, and rubber bullets against the protesters were released in the last several months.

Once the pipeline is finished, it will jeopardize the water supply that the native tribes rely on. Prominent political figures, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have publicly rejected the construction of the pipeline for this very issue. Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party has directly joined the protest, barely avoiding an unwarranted arrest. Like Sen. Sanders, she stresses that the Missouri River is important for not just the Great Sioux Nation, but also other Americans who live along the river in other states.

The construction of this pipeline should be halted for the following reasons: First, the aforementioned water supply issue. Second, there was no consultation between the company and the head of the Great Sioux Nation prior to the construction. Third, according to the 1851 Treaty of Traverse de Sioux and the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, the Standing Rock Sioux have sovereignty over the land they are currently fighting to protect.

As the country reverts back into an era of racism, sexism, and xenophobia under President Trump, the fight against the pipeline will be increasingly difficult. If even the liberal-minded Obama refuses to act in defense of the Native Americans, Trump will hardly glance at the issue and let the construction continue.