Native American groups to protest pipeline projects in march to White House

Native Americans from across the country will march to the White House on Friday to protest President Trump’s approval of the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines.

The president’s support for both projects has frustrated many tribal communities who say the government is disrespecting their sovereignty and treaty rights.

“The decision must be overturned. We will fight against his administration to demand full recognition of our rights,” said Tom Goldtooth, executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network, a non-profit organization that addresses Native American environmental and economic injustice issues.

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The march comes as a federal judge in Washington weighs a request by the Standing Rock Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes to stop construction of the last section of the Dakota pipeline, which would cross under Lake Oahe near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation reservoir.

Native Americans say that section of pipeline would threaten their water supply, sacred sites and religious rights. “Water is life. So, in attacking our water, Donald Trump is attacking our lives, families and right to self-determination,” said Dallas Goldtooth who works for the Indigenous Environmental Network and is the son of Tom Goldtooth.

When the judge will rule in the case is unclear. The Associated Press reported a decision is expected this week, but The Washington Post reported the ruling wouldn't come down until April.

The march is a continuation of a year-long battle between the Standing Rock Sioux and environmentalists against the government and pipeline corporations. Opponents of pipeline construction have been trying to prevent the potential water contamination and damage of sacred tribal sites.

Trump claimed the project will create 28,000 jobs, but official estimates found that number to be lower: 3,900 direct construction jobs if the pipelines were built over one year, plus 35 full-time permanent jobs and 15 full-time temporary jobs to manage the pipeline, according to a State Department report issued under the Obama administration. Pipeline supporters argue the project will create 42,000 jobs indirectly for companies that sell products and services used to build the pipeline.

As part of a four-day protest, demonstrators on Tuesday erected seven tipis on the National Mall in Washington and held cultural workshops and panel discussions. Tribal leaders also lobbied lawmakers to demand the government stop satisfying corporations’ interest at the expense of tribal rights.

The Native Nations Rise march will demand Trump and Congress respect tribal rights to clean water and air and stop treating their communities as sacrifice zones for fossil fuel projects, Dallas Goldtooth said. The protest also will demand businesses seek consent from native tribes for new projects.