Water Protectors Betrayed By Standing Rock Tribal Council

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Water protectors opposing the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline through sacred Native American land in North Dakota had their campsite raided on Thursday.

Law enforcement officials together with members of the Standing Rock tribal council and officers of the Bureau of Indian Affairs raided the opposition Camp of the Sacred Stones in North Dakota.

It came just a day after authorities arrested 76 water protectors.

Under the new Trump administration the Army Corps of Engineers plans to finalize the 1,172-mile long crude oil project.water protectors

American Indians (who appeared ‘unclean, and therefore as savages’ to the first American settlers) have yet again been betrayed by their Chiefs, dealing with the white man (who appeared ‘clean, but definitely savage’ to the Native Indian).

Color Lines reports:

Reports came in today (February 2) at noon from Lakota historian LaDonna Brave Bull Allard via Facebook that authorities—including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Council—had entered Sacred Stone Camp, which she founded on her property. “We have been betrayed by Standing Rock Tribal Council,” she wrote on Facebook.

Colorlines screenshot of LaDonna Brave Bull Allard Facebook post, taken on February 2, 2017.water protectors

Water protectors at the camp said, on a Facebook video posted by the Women’s Indigenous Media, that Bureau of Indian Affairs officers opened the camp gates themselves for an “assessment,” but did not present a warrant to come onto the property. In this video, officers tell the pipeline opponents that some of the land is Army Corps land. They do not give a reason for their “assessment.”

Today’s actions follow a mass arrest of 76 water protectors, including former congressional candidate Chase Iron Eyes, yesterday (February 1). Those apprehended had erected a new camp, The Last Child Camp, which was set on private property, according to a release from the Morton County Sheriff’s Department. However, water protectors claim the hill on which the new camp sat was treaty land. Militarized police came onto the scene with military vehicles and non-lethal weapons.

The Oceti Sakowin Camp, which sat directly across from this new camp, was left alone, according to Facebook reports from several Indigenous organizers. This camp is still in the cleanup process to prepare for spring flooding.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe hasn’t responded publicly to Allard’s comments. Around 11 a.m. EST, they released a statement via Facebook to pay homage to the recent visits of North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who supports Dakota Access.water protectors

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