Alaskans paddle to protest North Dakota pipeline

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Alaskans arrive on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation to join the protest (Photo courtesy One People Canoe Society).

Members of the One People Canoe Society from Juneau paddled in unison today down the Missouri River in North Dakota. The trip is a show of solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux who are protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline Project.

If built, the pipeline would carry oil from North Dakota to Illinois. Developer Energy Transfer Partners claims the pipeline is the safest way to carry the oil. But the Standing Rock Sioux are worried the pipeline could contaminate their water.

Catherine Edwards, who is from Juneau but now lives in Washington, is a member of the Tlingit and Haida Central Council. She was standing on a windy hill waiting for her daughter, Miciana Hutcherson, who was helping paddle the canoe. Alaskan and One People Canoe Society member Jim Zeller owns the canoe.

Before they started down the river, Edwards said the group held a ceremony with water from the Pacific Northwest.

“They brought the water down with them… poured it into the river, and said, ‘we now stand with you in your body of water, to keep it protected, to keep it safe,'” said Edwards.

Edwards said there’s a feeling of unity among the protesters.

“You can feel it, you can feel it’s a movement, you can feel it’s a shift, you can feel people coming together and [saying] ‘hi, where are you from, these are our issues, our issues are similar to yours,'” Edwards said. “We all want to stand up here and say, ‘we’re done, we’re done with this. You can’t just walk over us anymore.'”

Several national news outlets have reported some violent clashes between demonstrators and private security guards; the North Dakota governor called in the National Guard on Thursday. But Edwards said organizers are emphasizing non-violent protests.

On Friday, a federal court is expected to rule on whether pipeline construction goes forward.

 

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