May 3, 2016 - Run for Your Life Pipeline Fighters Complete 500-mile Run

Press Release: May 3rd, 2015

Contacts

Jessye Stein, peopleoverpipelines@gmail.com , 605-223-5930
Manape LaMere (712)-204-0570

Omaha, NE – On April 24th, dozens of Native and Non-Native runners, primarily youth, set forth from Cannonball, ND, on the Standing Rock Sioux tribe reservation, to embark on a 500-mile relay run to Omaha, NE. Their goal was to deliver a message to the Army Corp of Engineers that they “resist the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline from crossing beneath sacred water [the Missouri River] needed for life.” Today, that group which goes by the name “People Over Pipelines”, accomplished that goal.

The proposed Dakota Access Pipeline, backed by Texas based Energy Transfer Partners, is a 1,168-mile, 30-inch diameter pipeline that would carry Bakken crude from western North Dakota to a distribution hub Illinois on route for refinement in the Gulf Coast.

If built, the Dakota Access Pipeline would transport as much as 450,000 barrels of oil per day with a future capacity of 570,000 barrels per day.

“As we our approaching the end of our journey, I am honored to have witnessed native and non-native people come together to protect our Unci Maka (Mother Earth). proving it doesn’t matter where we come from, or what our ethnic background is.”, states Bobbi Jean Three Legs, lead run coordinator. “We all need water to live. This journey has taught me a lot about ourselves as humanity overall. The best part was the prayers and the faces of generations we seen. We reminded them we are here and that we do care what our future holds.”

“This black snake that is threatening our water is going to affect everyone using the Missouri River south of where they intend to establish it. Should it fail, it will poison our water and we won’t ever be able to drink, bathe, or cook with it again. Everything our ancestors ever fought for will almost be for nothing.” -states Shayla Gayton (Lakota) relay runner

Runners will present a petition to the Army Corps of Engineers opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline and calling for a rejection of its permit. The letter can be read here: http://wp.me/p53nUw-mV

“Sičháŋǧu, Oglála, Itázipčho, Húŋkpapȟa, Mnikȟówožu, Sihásapa, Oóhenuŋpa, Isanti, Omaha, Meskwaki and Winnebago through unity of the people brought prayers, awareness and a huge impact by running 500 miles to the Army Corp of Engineers [ACOE] headquarters to say no to the Dakota Access Pipeline.” ~Waniya Locke

For more information go to: http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1412613446

*Cover photo by Jewell Parker