Indigenous People's Day Marked by Unfortunate Events

 

Armed, military style officers stand face to face with protestors on Monday, October 10, Indigenous Peoples Day.

There are over 38 cites and universities who have changed the name from Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day. At least five states do not celebrate Columbus Day any longer: Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, South Dakota and Vermont.

In a day marked to celebrate and sometimes just to acknowledge Native American presence two important events took place.

In Reno, Nevada, a group of about 50 Native Americans and supporters gathered to mark Indigenous People's Day and to protest Columbus Day. People gathered were also speaking out against the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota. Around 6:45 p.m. under the Reno Arch on Virginia Street the group gathered themselves together for a photo. At this point a driver in a white Nissan pickup revs his engine three times. Some participants moved from the crosswalk, but others confronted the driver who then proceeded to plow through the group of people. Two injured people were transported to a hospital and later released. One injured woman suffered serious injuries from this incident. Reno Police Chief Jason Soto issued a statement late Monday evening stating the driver contacted the police minutes after incident.

No arrests have been made. According to Soto, this investigation is ongoing.

On the same day, October 10, 2016, Indigenous Peoples Day, in a two-page ruling, U. S. District Court judges, Cornelia T.L. Pillard, Janice Rogers Brown and Thomas B. Griffiths denied the Standing Rock Sioux request for an injunction that would have stopped the pipeline's progress, allowing construction to resume on the pipeline within 20 miles of Lake Oahe.

They also noted key permits allowing the pipeline to cross under the Missouri River are still pending. Most notability, the Justice Department, Interior Department and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have yet to authorize construction of the $3.8 billion, four-state Dakota Access oil pipeline on federal land in southern North Dakota. The joint statement issued from them said they were not ready to allow pipeline work to continue on its land bordering and under Lake Oahe, a reservoir that the agency manages on the Missouri River and the water supply for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

Standing Rock Sioux Chairman David Archambault II vowed to continue fighting the Dakota Access oil pipeline (DAPL) despite the ruling denying the tribe's request for an injunction that would have stopped the pipeline's progress through treaty-protected, sacred burial grounds.

The ruling sparked a large protest Monday, October 10, 2016 in North Dakota that led to the arrest of 27 people mainly on misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass and engaging in a riot. Included in the arrest was "Divergent" actress Shailene Woodley, who has shown in-person support. Another three people were arrested on Tuesday and nearly 125 people have been arrested since mid-August.

Morton County Sherriff stated on their Facebook page the crowd was too large for them to handle and the protest turned into a riot.

Phillip Gray at the Standing Rock protest site. All photos courtesy of Phillip and Mary Gray.

Julie Fedorchak, ND Public Service Commissioner, one of the agencies allowing the Dakota Access Pipeline stated, "These protests have run their course, they made their point. A lot of the issues that they're concerned about have been addressed and dealt with. And that, that these protesters should pull up their camp and move on and let law enforcement and the school children in that area and the businesses in that area and everyone in that area go back to life as normal".

The National Sheriffs Association has pledged its support to the North Dakota Sheriffs department, promising to deputize and send additional officers in support of their efforts. The National Sheriffs Association and the Morton County Sherriff Department have open Facebook pages should you chose to leave a comment.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024

Rendered 03/07/2024 07:10