Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate concerned about massive spill of oil from Keystone Pipeline

Friday, November 17, 2017  

The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate has once again been impacted by a large spill of oil from the Keystone Pipeline in South Dakota.

Chairman Dave Flute told CBC News that his people are worried about the effects on water resources on and near the Lake Traverse Reservation. Some 210,000 gallons of crude was spilled from the pipeline at a site just 28 miles west of the tribe's border.

"We are keeping a watchful eye and an open ear," Flute told CBC of the spill near Amherst, which was detected on Thursday morning. "The concern is at a high level, but there is really nothing we can do."

A 2011 spill from the pipeline also impacted the tribe. Concerns about ongoing and future incidents are driving opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline, a proposed expansion of the transmission network operated by TransCanada, a Canadian company.

President Donald Trump already granted a critical permit for the controversial project. But the route still needs to be approved in Nebraska, where the Public Utilities Commission is meeting on Monday to announce a decision on TransCanada's application in that state.

Tribes and tribal activists are paying close attention to the announcement. The route crosses portions of the Ponca Trail of Tears, the path which the Ponca Tribe was forced to take in the late 1800s when the federal government forced Chief Standing Bear and his people out of their homelands.

"One way or the other, we're ready to fight," Chairman Larry Wright, Jr. told tribal citizens last week.

In South Dakota, the route comes close to the reservation of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, whose leaders and citizens oppose the pipeline. The Wiconi Un Tipi Camp has been established there in hopes of stopping construction.

Read More on the Story:
Native American tribe bracing for Keystone pipeline leak impact (CBC News November 16, 2017)
Keystone Pipeline Leaks 210,000 Gallons of Oil in South Dakota (The New York Times November 17, 2017)
Keystone pipeline spills 210,000 gallons of oil on eve of permitting decision for TransCanada (The Washington Post November 16, 2017)
Keystone Pipeline leaks 210,000 gallons of oil in Marshall County (The Aberdeen News November 17, 2017)
Keystone Pipeline leaks 210,000 gallons of oil in South Dakota (CNN November 17, 2017)

Native Sun News Today: Tribal activists renew fight against Keystone XL Pipeline (November 16, 2017)
Keystone XL Pipeline developer plans to announce decision by end of year (August 3, 2017)
President Trump doesn't seem to know where Dakota Access Pipeline goes (July 14, 2017)
YES! Magazine: Native activists continue to pressure banks on pipelines (July 10, 2017)
Tribes unite in signing declaration against Keystone XL Pipeline (May 16, 2017)
James Trimarco: Contact the banks funding Keystone and DAPL (May 15, 2017)
YES! Magazine: Stopping the flow of dollars to the Keystone XL Pipeline (May 11, 2017)
YES! Magazine: Ponca Tribe starts 273-mile march on trail of tears (May 1, 2017)
Gyasi Ross: Native grandmother and 'hellraiser' Faith Spotted Eagle (April 7, 2017)
Native Sun News Today: Groups line up to fight Keystone XL permit (April 7, 2017)
Indigenous Environmental Network challenges Keystone XL permit (April 4, 2017)
Two tribes granted role in Keystone XL Pipeline review in Nebraska (April 3, 2017)
Native Sun News Today: Indian Country battles Keystone XL again (March 31, 2017)
Donald Trump boasts about approvals for Dakota Access and Keystone XL (March 28, 2017)
Indian Country mounts another fight after Donald Trump approves another pipeline (March 24, 2017)
Keystone XL Pipeline route crosses path of Ponca Tribe's forced removal (March 23, 2017)
Native Sun News Today: 'We're still here and we're not going away!' (March 17, 2017)
Native Sun News Today: Tribes promise fight against Keystone XL (March 15, 2017)
Native Sun News Today: Tribes resume fight against Keystone XL permit in South Dakota (March 13, 2017)
Fort Peck Tribes seek Keystone XL reroute to protect water supply (March 1, 2017)
Native Sun News Today: Tribes push back on Trump's pipeline orders (February 1, 2017)
Democracy Now: President Trump declares pipeline war on Indian Country (January 30, 2017)
Raúl Grijalva: Tribes ignored once again as President Trump pushes oil pipelines (January 30, 2017)
Tribes push back as President Donald Trump revives unwanted pipelines (January 25, 2017)
Democrats blast President Trump for ignoring Native opposition to pipelines (January 24, 2017)
President Trump thumbs nose at Indian Country with action on two pipelines (January 24, 2017)