FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2016

Contact: Francys Crevier
NCUIH Policy Analyst and Congressional Relations Liaison

FCrevier@ncuih.org

National Council of Urban Indian Health supports Standing Rock Sioux Tribe opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline

Washington, D.C. – Protestors in North Dakota, officials in Washington DC representing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department on the Interior and the Advisory Council on Historic Prevention voice their concerns and seek support against Dakota Access oil pipeline contrition project.

The Dakota Access oil pipeline is intended to transport nearly 470,000 barrels of crude oil per day, through an approximate 1,100 mile pipeline from the Bakken region of western North Dakota across South Dakota and Iowa to Illinois where it will be connected to an existing pipeline with assess to Gulf of Mexico. A section of the pipeline is designated to run across Missouri River north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.

While the pipeline will not run directly thought the Standing Rock Reservation it will be located several hundred feet upstream form Standing Rock’s boarder which poses conceivable irreversible harmful impacts on water, environment, resources, and land of Standing Rock Nation. The quality of water of the Missouri River, as the only natural source of water in the area, is crucial to the health as well as economic and cultural well-being of Standing Rock Sioux for generations to come.

Pursuant to federal environment and historic prevention laws, projects such as the
Dakota Access Pipeline are required to consult with federally recognized tribes living in near proximity prior to initiation of any construction activities. Unfortunately, Standing Rock Nation’s voiced concerns were not taken into consideration which, consequently, led to violation of the trust responsibility between the government and the Tribe.

In the light of this event, the President of National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH), Ashley Tuomi, wrote a letter to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in support of the opposition of Dakota Access Pipeline and a plea to initiate an Administrative process enforcing full Tribal input that would address consideration of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s health, environmental, and cultural well-being concerns.

Read President Tuomi’s letter of support to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe