Standing Rock Indian Reservation – Oct 28, 2016 – Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter arrived at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota this morning, demonstrating the Nation’s support for those who have been bravely standing on the front lines of the Dakota Access Pipeline conflict. Halbritter, on behalf of the Oneida Indian Nation, will also deliver recording devices to protestors, empowering them to protect their freedoms through documentation of their treatment and to broadcast the dispute’s often shocking daily events for the world to see.
The Standing Rock Indian Reservation has been at the center of the battle over the 1,172-mile Dakota Access Pipeline, since it would endanger the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s water supplies and sacred sites as the tribe was not properly consulted on the route. In addition to tribal members, thousands of others have come to stand up against the pipeline, but have had their right to protest restricted through violent measures and are now threatened with being forcibly removed.
“The struggle in North Dakota is more than a critical fight over a pipeline,” said Halbritter. “It is also part of a courageous fight over many generations to protect the basic civil rights of all people — including those like Native Americans who have too often been bullied, ignored or treated as afterthoughts. The Oneida Indian Nation is proud to stand in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as they fight to protect their clean water, to preserve their sacred tribal sites and to defend the basic First Amendment right to peaceably protest.”
“This conflict is every American’s concern because we know from history that an attack on one person’s freedom of speech is an attack on every American’s freedom of speech. In light of that, we are working with the Standing Rock Tribe to provide them with tools they can use to protect their civil rights — and document their experiences for everyone to see. The whole world is indeed watching this historic standoff in Indian Country — and we urge everyone to stand on the right side of history with the Standing Rock Sioux.”
In addition to visiting the protest sites to recognize their efforts and delivering the recording devices on behalf of the Oneida Indian Nation, Halbritter will join Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Dave Archambault II and also meet other members of the tribe during his time in North Dakota.
