Response to South Dakota Supreme Court dismissing CRST case against PUC decision
By Harold FrazierChairman, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
@CRSTChairman Last week the South Dakota Supreme Court decided to take our arguments about the questionable decision by the State’s Public Utility Commission to award a permit to TransCanada to construct the Keystone XL pipeline, combine them with them with other governments and associations then promptly dismiss them. The bottom line is the state’s court refused to hear what we have to say. Instead the court decided to dismiss the case out of convenience to the state of South Dakota and their bottom line. I’m not surprised that the state institution would choose the dollar bill over listening to the concerns of their citizens and tribal governments. I condemn the Supreme Court of South Dakota for not listening to the arguments by other governments. The Supreme Court of South Dakota will cover its ears and eyes but not its mouth and blame a lack of legislative direction on its lack of moral direction. So once again, a way has been justified to keep us from voicing our concern in this state. The state of South Dakota is taking a stance of being right because they will not listen to those who try to tell them when they are wrong. Just because you have made something legal does not make it right. I am constantly amazed about the ability of the powers that be to keep doing what is morally wrong while justifying it as legally right. Harold Frazier is serving his second term as chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, based in South Dakota. He also serves as president of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association. He previously served as vice chair of his tribe and as an area vice president for the National Congress of American Indians. South Dakota Supreme Court Decision:
IN THE MATTER OF KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE, In Re: CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE/YANKTON SIOUX TRIBE/DAKOTA RURAL ACTION, 2018 S.D. 44 (June 13, 2018)
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