Faith leaders have joined Native Americans who are protesting the planned construction of an oil pipeline across sacred burial grounds and the Missouri river – the main water source for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Here are some reports from the religious press:
From The Christian Century: Hundreds of clergy gather in North Dakota to support indigenous people blocking pipeline
When John Floberg, an Episcopal priest on the Standing Rock reservation, called for clergy to join him in Cannon Ball, North Dakota, to show support for the Standing Rock Sioux Nation, he thought 100 might come. Instead, more than 500 clergy from around the world came to support the Sioux Nation’s efforts to protect land and resources they say are at risk from construction of the Dakota Access pipeline. They gathered November 2 and 3 at the Oceti Sakowin camp on the shores of the Cannonball River, one of several camps the Standing Rock Sioux and supporters have set up. “The invitation of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe—the people who have been here for weeks and months—that’s how it came to be that God called us together,” Floberg said at the introductory gathering. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
From The Christian Science Monitor:
CANNON BALL, N.D.—With night falling over the sprawling town of tents and teepees here, BJ Kidder describes Sitting Bull massing his forces in this very same spot, at the confluence of the Missouri and Cannonball rivers, before the Battle of Little Big Horn.
Read Full story: http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Inhabit/2016/1101/Behind-Dakota-pipeline-protest-Native-American-religious-revival
From World Religion News:
Native American religion is intrinsically based on nature. Religious places are not man-made structures like churches or mosques, but open landscapes where their nature-gods live.
Read Full story:
http://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/dakota-access-pipeline-protest-is-a-fight-for-religious-freedom
From Acton Institute:
Environmental protests that spring up around development projects on tribal lands point to an underlying systematic injustice. Native Americans often lack property rights to their traditional lands and waters. The protests now going on over the Dakota Access Pipeline are in part symptomatic of this gap.
Read Full story: http://www.acton.org/pub/commentary/2016/11/16/dakota-access-pipelines-real-moral-problem-proper
From Religion & Race:
A United Methodist clergyman is asking Christian and other supporters of Native American protesters at Standing Rock, to keep the pressure on to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline even once the conflict stops making news headlines.
Read Full story: http://www.gcorr.org/standing-rock-be-steadfast-in-prayer-and-in-action/
From Anglican Journal:
On November 3, her first day at Standing Rock Sioux Nation in North Dakota, in the midst of a massive push to stop the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline, a stranger came up to the Rev. Leigh Kern and gave her a doughnut.
Read Full story: http://www.anglicanjournal.com/articles/peace-and-violence-at-standing-rock
From Sojourners:
On Nov. 20, law enforcement officials used tear gas and water hoses on Dakota Access pipeline protesters, reports the Guardian. A video tweeted by the Indigenous Environmental Network shows water being sprayed on protesters in below-freezing temperatures.
Read Full story: https://sojo.net/articles/tear-gas-and-water-hoses-used-dakota-access-pipeline-protesters
From Religion News Service:
In recent weeks, protests against the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline across North Dakota have escalated. Native American elders, families and children have set up tipis and tents on a campsite near the pipeline’s path in the hope of stopping the pipeline’s construction.
Read Full story: http://religionnews.com/2016/11/03/why-understanding-native-american-religion-is-important-for-resolving-the-dakota-access-pipeline-crisis/
From Living Lutheran:
When we come together for worship, we often begin with confession and forgiveness using these words: “We confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves.” Lutherans acknowledge that this is a broken world and, as part of it, even our best wisdom and efforts fall short. Very often we face issues of extraordinary complexity in which all sides make reasoned arguments for their reality. The current situation at Standing Rock in North Dakota is just such a case.
Read Full story: http://www.livinglutheran.org/2016/11/eaton-issues-statement-standing-rock/
From Intermountain Catholic:
WASHINGTON (CNS) — When Sisters Aine O’Connor and Kathleen Erickson heard a call for a peaceful and prayerful presence on the front line of a campaign to protect sacred Sioux lands in North Dakota from a multibillion-dollar oil pipeline project, they knew they had to respond.
Read Full story: http://www.icatholic.org/article/500-religious-leaders-join-opposition-to-oil-pipeline-3119404
From Global Catholic Climate Movement:
Yesterday, I joined with a great crowd in downtown Denver to stand in solidarity with the Native American “protectors” encamped near the Standing Rock reservation, in North Dakota. Perhaps 2,000 of us marched from the four directions, and converged at the State Capitol for prayers, songs, and voices of witness.
Read Full story: https://catholicclimatemovement.global/standing-with-standing-rock/
From Presbyterian Mission:
LOUISVILLE – As many as 200 people are reported injured at Standing Rock, North Dakota following an incident with law enforcement at the site of the Dakota Access Pipeline construction overnight. Reports from the site indicate that water protectors staying at the nearby Oceti Sakowin Camp, were attempting to remove military vehicles that were burned in a blockade fire last month.
Read Full story: http://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/tear-gas-water-cannons-used-hundreds-activists-standing-rock/
From National Council of Churches:
In early November, hundreds of clergy came to Cannon Ball, North Dakota, at the invitation of the Standing Rock Sioux Nation, to join in the protest against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline through reservation land. I attended that protest, and while there I met Mariama White-Hammond, today’s guest.
Read Full story: http://nationalcouncilofchurches.us/standing-with-standing-rock-water-protectors-and-the-new-selma-podcast/
From Episcopal News Service:
[Episcopal News Service] On Nov. 15, protesters took to the streets to call on President Obama to stop construction on the controversial North Dakota Access pipeline. On the same day, Energy Transfer Partners filed a lawsuit asking for federal court intervention to finish the pipeline project.
Read Full story: http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2016/11/15/construction-on-the-dakota-access-pipeline-remains-on-hold/
From TruNews:
Violent protests spurred a heated night of confrontation with local police at a junction of the soon to be completed North Dakota oil pipeline project.
Read Full story: http://www.trunews.com/article/violent-protests-disrupt-north-dakota-oil-pipeline
From Baptist News:
More than 350 clergy from across the nation have said they will stand with the “water protectors” blocking construction of an oil pipeline adjacent to the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota during a “unified action” Nov. 3.
Read Full story: https://baptistnews.com/article/clergy-from-across-u-s-to-stand-in-solidarity-with-indigenous-water-protectors-at-standing-rock/
From United Church of Christ’s God is Still Speaking:
As a part of our nation’s civil religion, Thanksgiving comes with its own set of feel-good mythologies and symbols. Heartwarming, romantic images of Native Americans and Europeans sharing a meal together, however, not only negate a violent history, they also negate a current reality that is far from appetizing.
Read Full story: http://bit.ly/2gI92mQ
From Christian Forums:
Police fired tear gas and water at hundreds of protesters in the freezing North Dakota weather late Sunday and early Monday, in the latest violent clash over a pipeline project running through the state.
Read Full story: http://www.christianforums.com/threads/police-fire-water-cannon-at-dakota-pipeline-protesters-in-freezing-weather.7977623/
From Catholic Herald:
Two members of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas joined more than 500 ministers and religious leaders on November 4 for a day of prayer and conversation in south central North Dakota to confront what they contend is an ecological disaster waiting to happen.
Read Full story: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2016/11/07/nuns-join-protest-against-dakota-oil-pipeline/
From National Catholic Reporter:
A letter from 30-plus faith leaders and several more religious organizations across the country urges President Barack Obama to put “an immediate halt” on construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline and to intercede in increasingly contentious confrontations between opponents of the project and local law enforcement.
Read Full story: https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/eco-catholic/faith-groups-express-dakota-access-pipeline-opposition-obama
From the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
CHICAGO – The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has issued the following statement on Standing Rock.
Read Full story: http://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/7865