A view of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Spiritual Camp in South Dakota, a camp to protest the Keystone XL Pipeline. Photo from Shielding the People / Facebook
South Dakota tribes are working with non-Indians in an effort to stop the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline from crossing their state. TransCanada, the company behind the project, received a conditional permit from the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission in February 2010. But since construction did not begin within four years, the 313-mile route must be re-certified. That's when tribes and their allies stepped in. They are fighting the re-certification out of concern for their water, the environment and treaty lands. “We’re so frustrated to the point of breaking,” Wayne Frederick, a council member for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, told The New York Times. The commission was going to hold a public hearing this week on the re-certification. But it's been delayed until the week of July 27, a decision welcomed by tribes and their supporters. “I think it’s going to be a spiritual victory and we’re not going to back down," Faith Spotted Eagle, the chairwoman of the treaty council of the Yankton Sioux Tribe, told the paper of the effort to defeat the re-certification. In addition to tribes and individual tribal members who are challenging the re-certification, the Indigenous Environmental Network, the Intertribal Council on Utility Policy and Dakota Rural Action are also involved in the proceedings, known as In the Matter of the Petition of TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, LP for Order Accepting Certification of Permit Issued in Docket HP09-001 to Construct the Keystone XL Pipeline. Get the Story:
Grass-Roots Push in the Plains to Block the Keystone Pipeline’s Path (The New York Times 5/6)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Native Sun News: Tribes keep up fight against
Keystone XL bid (5/5) Lower Brule Sioux Tribe cites treaty in bid to oust Keystone XL firm (05/01)
Native Sun News: Tensions rise over Keystone XL proceedings (04/21)
DOI submits Keystone XL opposition letters from tribes to State (04/14)
Native Sun News: Treaty defenders to see Keystone fight to end (03/05)
Native youth send video message to Obama on Keystone XL (03/03)
Dean Suagee: Tribal issues being ignored in Keystone XL battle (02/24)
Obama expected to veto bill to authorize Keystone XL Pipeline (2/24)
Native Sun News: 'Moccasins on the Ground' against Keystone (02/13)
Dean Suagee: Keystone XL Pipeline and climate change debate (02/13)
Tara Houska: Congress continues tradition of taking from tribes (02/13)
Gyasi Ross: Faith Spotted Eagle discusses Keystone XL battle (02/13)
Congress approves measure to authorize Keystone XL Pipeline (02/12)
EPA urges another look at emissions from Keystone XL Pipeline (02/04)
Mark Anthony Rolo: Declaration of war against Keystone Pipeline (01/30)
Senate passes bill to approve controversial Keystone XL Pipeline (01/30)
Native Sun News: Tribes ask Obama to deny Keystone XL permit (1/28)
Native Sun News: Native youth take stand against Keystone bid (1/28)
Tara Houska: Respect treaties and reject Keystone XL Pipeline (1/28)
Senate Democrats delay vote on Keystone XL Pipeline measure (1/27)
Jacqueline Keeler: Keystone fight is about more than a pipeline (1/21)
Senate continues debate on bill to approve Keystone XL Pipeline (1/21)
Native Sun News: Tribes continue fight against Keystone Pipeline (01/16)
Judge dismisses case against Lakota activist for honor song (01/13)
Senate headed toward final vote on Keystone XL Pipeline bill (01/13)
Nebraska court upholds law setting Keystone XL Pipeline route (1/9)
Senate committee goes ahead with meeting on Keystone XL bill (1/8)
Senate Democrats force cancellation of hearing on Keystone bill (1/6)
Senate committee to take up Keystone XL Pipeline bill this week (1/5)
Native Sun News: Bales taken at Rosebud Sioux Tribe spirit camp (12/12)
Tribes challenge permit for Keystone XL Pipeline in South Dakota (12/10)
Native Sun News: Crow Creek Sioux man upsets Senate with song (12/4)
Migizi Pensoneau: Sen. Tester betrays our people on Keystone (11/28)
Crystal Willcuts: Keystone XL Pipeline just makes the rich richer (11/24)
Winona LaDuke: No one believes in the 'black snake' pipeline (11/21)
Greg Grey Cloud explains Lakota honor song after Senate vote (11/20)
Crow Creek Sioux man arrested as Senate rejects Keystone bill (11/19)
Rosebud Sioux Tribe slams House vote on Keystone XL Pipeline (11/17)
Tim Giago: The final Indian war in America is about to begin (11/17)
Obama dismisses claimed benefits from Keystone XL Pipeline (11/14)
House heads for vote on bill to approve Keystone XL Pipeline (11/13)
Republican lawmakers vow to approve Keystone XL Pipeline (11/11)
Native Sun News: Sioux tribes intervene in Keystone review (11/11)
