Harold Frazier: Pipelines continue to threaten our treaty territory

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Chairman Harold Frazier of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe addresses the National Congress of American Indians in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on October 23, 2019. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

Chairman Frazier statement regarding TC Energy’s KXL Pipeline

Friday, June 11, 2021

By Harold Frazier

Chairman, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

cheyenneriversiouxtribe.org

The following is the text of a June 9, 2021, statement from Chairman Harold Frazier of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

Eagle Butte, South Dakota — I have heard news today that has given me a sense of relief that I have not felt in a long time. It has been reported that TC Energy has cancelled the proposed Keystone XL pipeline which would run right through the middle of Great Sioux Nation treaty territory.

I would like to thank all the people who sacrificed, stood up, took action, worked and prayed for to protect our nation and Unci Maka. Jim Picotte and Leon Red Dog shall always be in my thoughts and prayers for their commitment to protecting our land.

To the countless water protectors who have fought the constant battles in a thousand places to defeat this existential threat to us all, every action you took was an answer to a prayer.

I would like to thank United States President Joseph Biden for understanding the damage to this planet projects like this would cause and cancelling the permit needed to cross the medicine line with Canada. An acknowledgement of the importance our actions have to this planet was provided when you took the bold step of action making you a champion for all of us.

This has been a long fight and there is much more to do for our people. Pipelines continue to threaten our treaty territory, water and relatives and we must not forget those that are still standing on sacred ground in front of giant enemies.

Let today be an example of what is possible when we take action to change the course history for the better, wopila tanka hecetu elo.