Mary Annette Pember: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe denied access to sacred sites


A one-page memo, a map and three photographs were the outcome of a visit by seven archaeologists to a Dakota Access Pipeline construction site in North Dakota. Photo by State Historical Society of North Dakota

America's favorite #NoDAPL sheriff has closed an investigation into the destruction of sacred sites in North Dakota. But the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe was not included in a site visit at the specific request of the Dakota Access Pipeline, independent journalist Mary Annette Pember reports:
Archaeologists from the North Dakota Historical Society have concluded that construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) did not destroy sites sacred to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and that no sacred sites exist within the disputed 1.36-mile corridor located on Cannonball Ranch, recently purchased by Dakota Access LLC. The Morton County Sheriff’s department and the State Historical Society now consider the matter closed.

For the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, however, the matter is far from over.

According to Jon Eagle, Standing Rock Sioux tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO), Historical Society representatives have not dealt honestly with the tribe.

“I was invited to a meeting on September 23 with the Morton County Sheriff, State Historical Society and other members of the task force investigating this issue where I thought we would discuss plans to visit the site,” Eagle said. “At that meeting, I was told [by Morton County Sheriff’s officials] that archaeologists were already at the location and that I would not be allowed access.”

DAPL officials had specified that they would allow an archaeological inspection of the pipeline easement only under the condition that no Standing Rock tribal officials were included.

Read More on the Story:
Mary Annette Pember: State-Commissioned Archaeological Study Denies Standing Rock Experts a Voice (Indian Country Today 10/6)

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