Tribal members showed their opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline during President Barack Obama's visit to Watertown, South Dakota, in May 2015. Photo from Indigenous Environmental Network
Monique Vondall-Rieke, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, credits tribes with raising the issues that ultimately led to the death of the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline:
The November 6, 2015 announcement of the rejection of the Presidential Permit that would allow TransCanada to continue the XL Pipeline project to the Gulf of Mexico was rejected after being placed on hold by President Obama in 2011 amid conflicts of the route of the pipeline through sacred sites in Nebraska. Prior to 2011, however, there was a smaller group effort to combat the pipeline’s approval during the Bush Administration, which widely supported TransCanada’s permitting with very little scrutiny from state and national representatives. Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate v. Unites States Department of State, 659 F.Supp.2d 1071 (2009) brought to the forefront the issues at odds with tribes and the Keystone XL Pipeline project as proposed. The issue of raised in the lawsuit, which was brought forward by not only the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, but also joined in the case that challenged the Presidential Permitting process of the project was the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska and the Yankton Sioux Tribe. The four Sioux tribes joined together to take on the Department of State, namely Condolezza Rice, and then inherited by Hillary Clinton under the Obama Administration as Secretary of State. Decided September 29, 2009, the case was ultimately dismissed in federal court however the matter was not immediately over with as to the issues raised by the tribes.Get the Story:
Monique Vondall-Rieke: How Grassroots Choked the XL Pipeline (Indian Country Today 12/22)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Lakota Country Times: Cowboy
Indian Alliance creates unity quilt (12/04) Vi Waln: Many Lakota people are thankful every day of their lives (12/03)
Native Sun News: Keystone fighters celebrate defeat of permit (11/27)
Native Sun News: Great Plains people key in defeating Keystone (11/23)
Vi Waln: Thank tribal activists for defeating Keystone XL permit (11/19)
Mike Myers: Don't relax because the Keystone fight isn't over (11/12)
Native Sun News: Opponents celebrate halt to Keystone XL (11/12)
Lydia Millett: End extraction of fossil fuels from federal lands (11/11)
Tribes and activists celebrate rejection of Keystone XL Pipeline (11/09)Obama kills permit for controversial Keystone XL Pipeline (11/6)
Obama won't delay decision on Keystone XL Pipeline permit (11/4)
Obama prepared to reject controversial Keystone XL Pipeline (11/3)
Hillary Clinton breaks silence and opposes Keystone XL Pipeline (09/23)
Gyasi Ross: Obama's checkered record on Native environmental issues (09/03)
Native Sun News: Tribes cite treaties in bid to halt Keystone XL (08/13)
Keystone XL Pipeline review process continues without decision (08/12)
Native Sun News: South Dakota tribes slam Keystone XL permit (8/11)
Native Sun News: Keystone XL Pipeline protest draws big crowd (07/30)
Hillary Clinton refuses to answer questions about Keystone XL (07/29)
Mark Trahant: Press the Republican candidates on Indian issues (07/27)
Native Sun News: Tribes denied voice in Keystone hearings (07/20)
Lakota Country Times: Activists gear up for Keystone XL hearings (07/08)
Blanket given to President Obama carries a hidden message (05/15)
Native Sun News: Keystone protesters greet President Obama (05/14)
FBI broke rules in probe into Keystone XL Pipeline opponents (05/13)
Protest urges President Obama to deny Keystone XL Pipeline (05/08)
South Dakota tribes form alliance to battle Keystone XL plan (05/06)
Native Sun News: Tribes keep up fight against Keystone XL plan (05/05)
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe cites treaty in bid to oust Keystone XL firm (05/01)
Native Sun News: Tensions rise over Keystone XL proceedings (04/21)
DOI submits Keystone XL opposition letters from tribes to State (04/14)
Presidential hopeful Rand Paul draws 'NDN' supporter on Twitter (04/13)
State Department inspector general investigates Keystone XL (11/08)
