14 DAY TRIAL // Native American tribes would love it if United States President Barack Obama were not to give the green light to the Keystone XL pipeline, and they are not shy about letting others know how they feel about this project. On the contrary, they are ready and willing to protest this initiative as best as they can.
Thus, media reports say that, last Saturday, an anti-Keystone XL prayer camp was set up close to the city of Mission in South Dakota. The camp was set up by members of South Dakota's Rosebud Sioux tribe, and it is to remain in place until President Obama delivers its verdict on said pipeline.
Think Progress informs that the prayer camp presently comprises nine tipis, i.e. conical tents. Of these nine tipis, one is to remain occupied 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until the United States president finally announces whether or not the Keystone XL project has been approved.
In case anyone was wondering, members of the South Dakota's Rosebud Sioux tribe have chosen to set up this prayer camp and use it to protest the highly controversial pipeline not only because they are worried that this project will contribute to climate change and global warming by promoting tar sands.
On the contrary, tribe leaders say that, according to information shared with the public, the Keystone XL pipeline is to run through land that an 1868 treaty set aside for tribal use. Hence, this project is bound to disturb the ways of the Rosebud Sioux tribe.
During a speech at the official opening of this prayer camp on Saturday, Oglala Sioux President Bryan Brewer, said that, although there has been plenty of talk about the Keystone XL pipeline as of recently, the time has come for Native American tribes to actually take action against this project.
“We’ve been talking about the XL Pipeline. Reading about it, discussing it, having meetings, and I think reality hit today. This is the first day that we’re actually going to try to stop it,” Oglala Sioux President Bryan Brewer's exact words on the matter at hand were.
Interestingly enough, it would appear that South Dakota's Rosebud Sioux tribe plans to set up three more anti-Keystone Xl prayer camps in the days to come. To make sure that President Obama gets the message that this project must not be approved, these camps are to be established close to the route of the proposed pipeline.
Talking to the press, tribe members said that, should the pipeline not be given the thumbs up, they will pack their things and return home. However, should President Obama approve the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, they plan to turn the prayer camp near Mission into a so-called blockade camp, and continue protesting this project.