A Victory for the Standing Rock Sioux, But Will It Last?

The Standing Rock Sioux have won! Unless they haven’t. On Sunday, December 4, the North Dakota tribe received word that their long fight to block the Dakota Access Pipeline had succeeded. The Army Corps of Engineers denied a permit for the river crossing that traverses land the tribe deem sacred. A pipeline also risked poisoning their water should a leak occur.

The historically unprecedented gathering of over 100 tribes from around North America, and around the world, has completed its mission.

At least for now. Under a Donald Trump administration, this ruling may be reversed. I interviewed Jan Hasselman, the EarthJustice staff attorney who has represented the Standing Rock Sioux throughout the long fight. My first question was whether he thought Energy Transfer Partners, which has been building the pipeline, might simply wait for the new administration.

https://emagazine.com/victory-standing-rock-sioux-will-last/