Everything Under The Sun: Standing Rock Peoples Standing Strong For Tribal Law

Many groups are standing strong in unity with the Standing Rock peoples.

Those with some amount of savvy may have dug around and noticed the story of the Standing Rock Sioux peoples standing firm against allowing an oil company to construct the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). Under federal law, agencies and executive departments must engage in consultation with tribal nations when policies or projects would impact their communities, as in the case of DAPL.

Rebecca Tsosie, a federal Native American law and human rights expert at the University of Arizona, explained, "The issue is: Do we actually implement these laws in a way that protects, for native people, the core interests and needs and aspirations that native people have going forward, or are those laws just in place to serve as a sort of procedural mechanism? If we find that our laws really aren't sufficient to meet the needs of native peoples, are we viewing that as a legal problem or is that a continuing political problem?"

So, who are the STANDING ROCK SIOUX people? The people who are living in the Standing Rock area are called Sioux; they are also part of the Dakota and Lakota nations. Both "Dakota" and "Lakota" mean "friends" or "allies". Like many Native American tribal peoples, those who live on Standing Rock Reservation have their own government and representatives. The tribal government has jurisdiction over all reservation lands, including waterways, streams, all rights-of-way and any other lands that may be added to reservation lands.

Generally, social activities, like powwows, rodeos, and races, occur during the summer. Special powwows can be held for individuals who have reached certain notable life stages, such as graduation or enlistment in the armed forces. and feasts are often held to celebrate accomplishments. Oral tradition is still handed down from elders to youth.

A few days ago, the Democrats Forum of the House Committee on Natural Resources announced that they would be meeting today. It was to be about Taking A Stand: Protecting Water and Native American Sacred and Cultural Resources at Standing Rock. Discussion would include Federal trust responsibility to Native American tribes, tribal sovereignty, and treaty obligations: the moral and legal obligation to protect tribal sacred sites and Native American culture; and continued access to safe drinking water for those who live on Standing Rock Reservation and maintaining environmental justice.

It's about Native Americans and their right to be consulted.

Many individuals and groups have joined in solidarity with the peoples of Standing Rock Reservation. Many want to see that these tribal peoples are treated fairly, the laws and treaties of our land are honored, and no corporate entity is allowed to prevail without the necessary consultation and agreement with tribal leaders. We don't want to see corporate rule in this country. We want to see people honored and respected. That's what has to prevail here, too.