Sep 21, 2016 - Cheyenne River Sioux Chairman to Testify on Threats to Water Posed by the Dakota Access Pipeline

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FOLLOWING ALABAMA PIPELINE BREAK, CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE CHAIRMAN FRAZIER TO TESTIFY AT HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES ON DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE AND THE THREAT TO RESERVATION DRINKING WATER

WASHINGTON D.C. – Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman Harold Frazier will be giving testimony this week at the House Committee on Natural Resources Democrats Forum regarding the Dakota Access Pipeline in advance of the White House Tribal Nations Conference taking place September 24-26.

Last week, the Continental Gas Pipeline broke, spilling 600,000 gallons of gasoline in Alabama. The Dakota Access Pipeline proposes to move 570,000 barrels of oil daily to cross under the Missouri River, along the eastern border of the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. Along with other Sioux tribes, the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation draws nearly all of its drinking water from the Oahe Reservoir.

Committee testimony is scheduled for Thurs. Sept. 22, 2016 at 1:30 PM, 210 Cannon House Office Building. Chairman Frazier is available for interviews directly following his testimony at the Cannon House Office Building.

The Chairman is a vocal opponent of the Dakota Access Pipeline Project, citing recent history in Flint, Michigan as an example of what can happen when government fails to protect the water of its citizens.

“As Lakota people we know we have to protect our water for the sake of future generations, our children and children everywhere. We have seen how other communities have been shattered when the government fails to protect their water– the Navajo Nation downstream from the Gold King Mine leak and the little children of Flint, Michigan whose water was full of lead, not to mention the devastating impacts that result from oil spills and pipeline leaks all over this Nation.” – Chairman Harold Frazier

A break of similar size to the Continental Gas Pipeline near the Oahe Reservoir, would render the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, the Oglala Reservation, the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation, the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation, the Santee Sioux Reservation and others-completely uninhabitable, devoid of clean water for drinking, bathing, use in schools, hospitals and replicating the very worst of what has already come to pass in places like Flint, Michigan.

Chairman Frazier’s testimony, “Taking a Stand: Protecting Water & Native American Sacred & Cultural Resources at Standing Rock,” will be made available in full to media outlets.

Please contact Activism Articulated at 512-577-3107 to book an interview time or to request a copy of his testimony.

CONTACTS:
Darcy Totten Remi Bald Eagle
Activism Articulated PR CRST, Intergovernmental Affairs
512-577-3107 (cell) 605-515-1112 (cell)

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