Impromptu protests against Keystone XL are becoming more and more common. COURTESY/Joette Lee
Cheyenne River members stand up to Keystone XL
By Brandon Ecoffey
Native Sun News Managing Editor RAPID CITY — On the Northern Plains there is a peculiar division amongst those who are in favor of oil and are developing it, and those who adamantly oppose it. When representatives from TransCanada showed up in the community of Faith touting the benefits of man camps and the Keystone XL pipeline they encountered the latter. After word spread that TransCanada had planned on hosting a meeting in the community of Takini, the oil giant was forced to cancel by the tribe due to a tribal resolution banning the company from setting foot anywhere on the Cheyenne River Reservation. Faith Spotted Eagle, an anti-Keystone XL advocate, told Native Sun News that the event would have taken place on the reservation had community members not heard of it in advance. After the cancellation TransCanada would reschedule the meeting for November 13, in the border town community of Faith, just two miles from the Cheyenne River Reservation border. However at the meeting they were met by dozens of concerned Cheyenne River citizens who brought signs opposing the pipeline and the company’s presence. “When the meeting first started out they started to talk about the jobs associated with the pipeline and about the good that man camps would have for the area but they didn’t really get very far before they were questioned on it,” said Summer Afraid of Hawk a young activist from Cheyenne River. Research has shown that wherever man camps associated with oil development spring up the likelihood of violent crime and drug trafficking increase exponentially. For Summer this is of major concern to her and part of the reason why she has been willing to step up and speak out at events like the one that took place in Faith. “For me it is scary what these man camps bring with them… When it comes down to it you cannot drink oil and you cannot drink the money that the oil companies are waving around,” she said. The presenters were peppered with questions from Cheyenne River Councilwomen Robin Lebeau and then chided by Debra White Plume, a long time Lakota activist from White Horse Creek, S.D. According to Joette Lee another Cheyenne River community member who attended the meeting the presenters did not have a chance in the room full of Lakota opposing the pipeline. She considers the outcome of the event to be a success. “The Faith event turned out great, there were a lot of people there mostly those who opposed the pipeline there were 3 representatives from TransCanada as well as the lady from Lower Brule who was hosting them. I think one rancher showed up from Faith otherwise it was mostly those of us who let them know we did not want them here on treaty land destroying Unci Maka (Mother Earth). At the end they were asked to leave and they did,” said Lee. (Contact Brandon Ecoffey at staffwriter2@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission by Native Sun News
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