Washington DC – Tribal and First Nations leaders, along with grassroots members with the support of the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), met with United States Assistant Secretary of State Dr. Kerri-Ann Jones today. They traveled to Washington DC to voice concerns on Canadian pipeline company, TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline. If approved, the 1,700-mile, 36-inch pipeline would carry 900,000 barrels per day of dirty tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Concern over the US government’s duty to consult with Tribes was a major issue brought forward in the meeting. Tribes expressed grave concern over the violation of the trust relationship between the US government and Tribes because of the lack of meaningful consultation.

Other questions and concerns brought up included the safety of the Mni Wiconi Rural Water pipeline, which provides drinking water from the Missouri River to the Oglala, Rosebud, and Lower Brule Lakota Nations, and several communities throughout western South Dakota.

Oglala Sioux Tribal President John Yellow Bird Steele attended the meeting to express the opposition of the Oglala Sioux Tribe to the tar sands oil pipeline. “The tar sands oil pipeline would cross the Mni Wiconi water pipeline that provides drinking water to the Pine Ridge, Rosebud and Lower Brule Sioux reservations. We oppose the Pipeline; the oil it would carry contains toxic substances, which have never been identified. We don’t want those toxic substances to enter our water supply. I believe there is a 99.9% chance that the oil pipeline will spill or leak. Who will be liable for the damage to our people and environment? We do not want a mitigation fund set up, it would be to late, we do not want this pipeline” said President John Yellow Bird Steele.

The Native delegation presented the “Mother Earth Accord”, along with over 60 pages of supporting endorsements from Tribal Governments in the US and Canada, Native and non-Native organizations and concerned individuals.

“TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline means an expansion of the tar sands in Northern Alberta, which we oppose. Although the tar sands are south of our homeland, we rely on a watershed that is downstream and we already feeling and seeing the effects,” stated Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus.

Marty Cobenais of the Indigenous Environmental Network stated, “The Mother Earth Accord demonstrates how people of all races, north and south of the US-Canadian border, have come together to oppose this pipeline. The US State Department has conducted itself in a flawed manner by not fulfilling its duty to consult with Tribes impacted by the proposed right of way for Keystone XL. This is a treaty rights and environmental justice issue that is not in the national interest of America“

The Native delegation was cautious as the U.S. State Department responded with a promise to conduct a risk assessment related to the concerns brought forward. US State Department failed to release any further details or subsequent time frame.

The international Native delegation will provide testimony at the final Keystone XL pipeline public hearing being held in Washington DC, Friday, October 7, 2011 at the Ronald Reagan Building from 10 am to 2 pm.

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For more information:

Marty Cobenais Pipeline Campaigner, Indigenous Environmental Network – Cell (218) 760-0284

Kandi Mossett Native Energy and Climate Organizer, Indigenous Environmental Network – cell (701) 214-1389

Tom Goldtooth, Executive Director
Indigenous Environmental Network
PO Box485
Bemidji, MN 56619 USA
Ph: + 1 218 751 4967
Fax: + 1 218 751 0561
Email: ien [at] igc [dot] org
Web: www.ienearth.org

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