#NoDAPL Day of Solidarity

Standing Rock Sioux Indians march on their native land.
Courtesy of The Nation

The proposed construction of a 1,200-mile underground oil pipeline project has caused much uproar in the environmental community. However, there is one group in particular that has taken expansive measures to shed light on the violations against the United States environmental regulations and the violations to treaty-guaranteed Great Sioux Nations territory.

The No Dakota Pipeline movement, formed in April 2016, consists of water protectors that have been gathering at the Dakota Pipeline construction on the Missouri River in protest.


Fracking and environmental racism are issues that have violated indigenous rights. Drilling into the ground and pumping millions of gallons of fresh water, chemicals, and sand under enormous pressure into shale in order to release fuel trapped in the bedrock causes harm for the contamination of natural resources. The disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on people of color has put a damper on the relationship between natives and governmental rule.

In the past month there have been three major pipeline spills in the United States. With aging pipeline infrastructure, #NoDAPl proposes an increase in pipeline infrastructure and pipeline incidents throughout the country.

The North Dakota pipeline in particular violates the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 and 1851 signed by the U.S. as well as recent United States environmental regulations.

Action was taken in the national #NoDAPL Stand in Solidarity with Standing Rock Day mostly by calls to the Army Corps of Engineers’ for the Dakota Access Pipeline to be rescinded as well as protests organized on multiple college campuses and community areas.

Informational pamphlets were circulated by protesters and supporters in hopes of increased support with standing in solidarity for the safety and security of native lives. Joy Addison has more on the story.