Via the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, the Associated Press's Rob Gillies reports in Keystone XL pipeline halted as Biden moves to cancel permit:
Construction on the long disputed Keystone XL oil pipeline halted Wednesday in anticipation of incoming U.S. President Joe Biden revoking its permit.
Biden’s Day One plans includes moving to revoke a presidential permit for the pipeline.
The 1,700-mile (2,735-kilometer) pipeline was planned to carry roughly 800,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta to the Texas Gulf Coast, passing through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. . . .
First proposed in 2008, the pipeline has become emblematic of the tensions between economic development and curbing the fossil fuel emissions that are causing climate change. The Obama administration rejected it, but President Donald Trump revived it and has been a strong supporter. Construction already started. . . .
Environmental groups applauded Biden’s move.
“Killing the Keystone XL pipeline once and for all is a clear indication that climate action is a priority for the White House,” said Dale Marshall, national climate program manager for Canada’s Environmental Defence.
The article reports on opposition to Biden's decision on the part of Canadian national and provincial officials, U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Energy Institute, and TCEnergy's Keystone XL President Richard Prior.
No mention, however, of indigenous Americans' leadership in the opposition to the project.
To fill in that blank, we turn to an abundance of sources.
We received this statement from the South Dakota ACLU:
Today, President Joe Biden signed an executive order rescinding a key permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, effectively killing the project.
The following is a statement from Candi Brings Plenty, the ACLU of South Dakota’s Indigenous justice organizer:
“We recognize that Indigenous people have been at the forefront of the fight for environmental justice and protection. Tribal nations and communities are battling every day for the protection of their homelands and survival of ecosystems and ways of life. Construction of the Keystone XL pipeline or a spill from the project would cause irreparable and devastating impact to local communities and ecosystems.
“That’s why the ACLU of South Dakota supported water protectors our Indigenous partners and their right to protest the pipeline. It’s why we challenged the “riot boosting act” in court in 2019 and opposed similar legislation in 2020 – both unnecessary efforts to legislative peaceful protest in South Dakota that were sparked by a desire to suppress protests around the Keystone XL pipeline. The right to join with fellow citizens in protest or peaceful assembly is critical to a functioning democracy and at the core of the First Amendment. Hearing that President Biden canceled the Keystone XL permit is welcome news.”
Some tweets from indigenous writers, leaders and activists. This sampling is by no means exhaustive, but a taste of what is a BFD in Indian country.
Update January 21
Huge victory yesterday for Rosebud Sioux Tribe, the Aaniiih Nation and the Assiniboine Tribe. Thank you @POTUS @JoeBiden for stopping KXL. Now let’s keep it going, next on the list: Dakota Access Pipeline. #NoDAPL
— Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (@StandingRockST) January 21, 2021
Id like to give a shout out to @Wizipan of @sicangucorp for his contributions to defeat KXL!
— Dallas Goldtooth (@dallasgoldtooth) January 21, 2021
In 2014 he risked arrest along w/ ally farmer Art Tanderup raising awareness about KXL's water impacts. Follow @sicangucorp for amazing work. pic.twitter.com/35S7eKH2zh
[end update]
— Remi Bald Eagle (@RemiBald) January 20, 2021
BREAKING: In a big win for tribal sovereignty and Native peoples, Biden administration revokes illegal KeystoneXL (KXL) permit. #HonorTheTreaties #NoKXL Learn more at https://t.co/mPnhgeCF6c pic.twitter.com/4ON4T2MYw4
— NARF (@NDNrights) January 20, 2021
I cut my organizer teeth on the #NoKXL fight. And I reflect on the many warriors who led this fight who are no longer with us.
— Dallas Goldtooth (@dallasgoldtooth) January 21, 2021
We honor them.
Deb White Plume
Pat Spears
Bob Gough
Tom Poor Bear
RIP
President Biden is signing an Executive Order today that will put an end to the Keystone XL pipeline.
— Ruth H. Hopkins, B.S., M.S., J.D. (@Ruth_HHopkins) January 20, 2021
I’m sharing a few of the pieces I wrote re #NoKXL that shows how long my people have been fighting it. Water the Life giver was published by Indian Country Today in 2011. pic.twitter.com/xKTrOGlGl3
THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE PERMIT IS OFFICIALLY CANCELLED. Today, President Biden rescinded the Keystone XL pipeline permit by executive order, fulfilling one of his campaign promises. We honor the role Native leaders and organizers played in securing this victory. pic.twitter.com/mO8mqB1uiS
— IllumiNative (@_IllumiNatives) January 20, 2021
For over 10 yrs the people came together and resisted #KeystoneXL in order protect land, water, climate and our rights. Today, President Biden signed the Executive Order but we wouldn't have had TWO victories in ending this destructive pipeline w/o Indigenous leadership. pic.twitter.com/H3OUeAjQzj
— NDN Collective (@ndncollective) January 21, 2021
KXL IS DEAD! We celebrate this as a win for the countless native ppls & allies who held the line for over 10 years!
— Indigenous Environmental Network (@IENearth) January 20, 2021
But it is not a complete victory while oil still flows in #DAPL & ppl are getting arrested against #Line3. IEN's full statement: https://t.co/S6oM7mzLUK
Help amplify Indigenous voices demanding further action from @JoeBiden to #StopLine3 and #NoDAPL.
— Indigenous Environmental Network (@IENearth) January 20, 2021
HERE ARE SOME TOOLKITS made by:@IENearth: https://t.co/x9ltlEBgrz@StandingRockST: https://t.co/WK3aIr2N8E@GiniwCollective: https://t.co/giyh8jirgq
Almost four years ago Native people marched down Pennsylvania Ave, all the way to the White House, to demand to be heard by someone who didn’t listen. Today the street is mostly empty as Indian Country awaits President Joe Biden’s first actions. #NativeNationsRise #NoDAPL #NoKXL pic.twitter.com/aWiLcQaswG
— indianz.com (@indianz) January 20, 2021
The new president ordered a temporary moratorium on new oil and gas leasing in the Arctic wilderness and began revoking Trump's approval for the Keystone XL pipeline. https://t.co/4FWkuTjg24
— Indian Country Today (@IndianCountry) January 21, 2021
My KXL reaction/thoughts #NoKXL #BuildBackFossilFree https://t.co/pHpNe1ZFHF
— Dallas Goldtooth (@dallasgoldtooth) January 21, 2021
The project was also the impetus for Governor Kristi Noem's anti-First Amendment "Riot Boosting" law, which was laughed out of federal court.
Related posts:
- Judge stops bid to end Rosebud Sioux & Fort Belknap Indian tribes' Keystone pipeline lawsuit
- Keystone pipeline leaks again--this time in ND
- More land affected by Keystone leak than first thought; congressmen seek pipeline review
- TransCanada's risk assessment estimated tiny spills "no more than once every 41 years” in SD
- SD Gov Noem blames Soros' money for pipeline protests; cuts tribes out of anti-protest bills talk
Map: From Biden's planned Keystone XL cancellation welcomed by NDP, Green leaders | CBC News. We grew especially concerned with the project when the existing pipeline (blue) which runs near the historical boundary of the Lake Traverse Reservation, home of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Dakota, leaked in fall of 2017 near Amherst, South Dakota.
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