Sep 1, 2016 - Solidarity Action Against the Dakota Access Pipeline held in Seattle

On August 28th, a solidarity action to support the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and others in the fight to stop the Dakota Access pipeline took place in Seattle, WA. The action featured speakers from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, local urban and Tribal leaders, Sen John McCoy (Tulalip), and individuals who had spent time at the Camp of Sacred Stones.

Millie Kennedy and Cindi Beech LaMar, who helped organize the action, talked about the action and why they felt it was necessary to show solidarity with Standing Rock.

“A peaceful rally for water and indigenous justice took place in Seattle to stand in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. With roughly 88,000 Native’s living up and down the I-5 corridor in Washington, we decided as Urban Native women to have this rally because we cannot make the long trip to North Dakota. We carried the chants coming from the camps at Standing Rock at the Seattle Public Market’s Victor Steinbreuck Park. We challenge other major cities to do the same to do the same so everyone who stands with Standing Rock can make sure they are not only being seen on social media, but also heard!” stated Millie Kennedy (Tsimshian, Raven Clan) who helped coordinate the action.

Cindi Beech LaMar (Choctaw) goes on to state, “It does my heart good to see Tribal nations from all Four Directions of Turtle Island — Native nations who were once sworn enemies — standing in solidarity with Standing Rock Sioux against the Dakota Access Pipeline. This is huge! This is not history repeating itself, it is history in the making. But this time, the entire world is watching and they are rooting for us. No DAPL!! They will try to wear us down, but they will only sharpen our resolve.”

Millie went on to say, “The Mainstream Media will not silence the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe against the Dakota Access Pipeline! We stand in solidarity from Seattle, Washington as Urban Native’s, Tribal Leaders, and Tribal members along with our non-Native allies. We will continue to use social media as our smoke signals from and to Standing Rock to get the word out. We will not back down with our voices, songs, drums and prayers. We will not back down until we are heard globally and when this pipeline is shut down!”

The Dakota Access pipeline, 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. Once built, the Dakota Access pipeline will transport as much as 450,000 barrels of oil per day with a future capacity of 570,000 barrels per day.

Photos from Seattle action by Millie Ke