The organizers of Syracuse-area protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline are only so happy to hear about the suspension of the project by the Army Corps of Engineers. One local Native American has some insights on the latest developments - and what it might mean for environmental and indigenous policies.
Syracuse saw several events in support of the protesters in North Dakota.
A flash mob at Destiny, a march from the Onondaga Nation to downtown, and others. Mohawk Hugh Burnam, a grad student at Syracuse University, helped organize some of them…and was caught by surprise when the pipeline was suspended.
“I thought to myself, ‘well this is good, this is a victory’ probably for about 20 minutes afterward. And then reality hit.”
He’s heard from the pipeline site that some construction continues, against federal order. But he’s glad people raised their voices …and says the local actions served several purposes.
“When have these local protests I think it brings it back home. It brings attention to not only the pipeline over there, infringing on sovereignty rights, native rights, but also potentially contaminating the water for everybody.”
He notes industrial pollution of Onondaga Lake serves as an example of the potential threat. Burnam believes the policy shift might have had to do with recent support for the Dakota protestors.
“The veterans in this fight are crucial because they represent something that is the United States. They represent potentially native people, Native American veterans themselves. But they represent the people who are directly involved in this fight, the protectors, the people that represent us, the citizens, people of the United States.”
He says there are many developments ahead on the issue…so it’s only a minor victory. He also knows a new administration could change things in favor of the developers.
“They want the change in presidency, because they believe Donald Trump will have this pipeline continue, and will support them in any way (to get) it done…and quite honestly, I think they’re right.”
But Burnam wonders if it might impact legislation on environmental and sovereignty issues for some time to come.
