IamA Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Councilmember Charles Walker AMA!

What can the average Redditor do to help not only your people, but all Native Americans?

To support Standing Rock they can donate to our Clean Water Campaign to help us prepare for a oil spill and ensure water safety, and you can continue to reach out to your representatives and advocate for the rights of Standing Rock and other Tribes. There are other Tribes dealing with the same issues today like for example Navajo land has some pipeline issues.

Hi, I run a chapter of student engineers who develop clean water, sanitation, and hygiene projects. We are starting a domestic team this year. What can we do you help communities like yours ?

Reaching out directly to the Tribe is your best bet, we'll message you with an email address! Thank you for thinking of us.

Without access to the report I ask is there a "good" place to build the pipeline, or a cost effective way to transport it without building the pipeline? Do you think the government will abide the courts decision and not try to get around it by slight changes or executive presidential orders?

The way the system is set up, it's always set up against us as people and Tribes. From the very beginning our treaties have been broken, we've always upheld our end, but the other end hasn't been honored. It's not realistic to be positive for the future, we must be prepared for the government and companies to circumvent our joint agreement between two nations. As for there being a good place to build it, they could have explored other alternatives aside from the alternative north of Bismarck. The route north of Bismarck was denied because of fears of contaminating their water supply. So the question then arises why does our people's water supply matter less?

What advice can you share for non-Native allies wanting to support your Tribe and others impacted by colonialism? (Huge question I know, sorry)

Standing with those Nations and helping to project their voice is beneficial, this can be done through raising awareness online or being involved in your local communities.

What’s your favorite kind of cheese 🧀?

Pepperjack cheese! Next!

Was the pipeline ever approved by the tribe?

How could the protests been handled better to mitigate the environmental damage caused by the people protesting themselves?

Do you have a "list of demands" which, if met, would allow you to support the pipeline?

No the pipeline was not approved by our Tribe.

How could it have been handled better is a good question, a lot of the individuals who came out were not prepared for North Dakota winters, a lot of people were thinking they could withstand our winters during the entire protest, that's one piece of why, they could have been better informed and better prepared when coming here to stand with us. People thought they could just wing it, and that couldn't and didn't happen, and the result was that Standing Rock put out dumpsters, but people abandoned their posts and left things behind. I don't know how Standing Rock could have taken better steps, individual the council told people to come prepared.

As for supporting the pipeline, no. The council put their foot down before the pipeline was built, and we still hold the position that we do not want the pipeline threatening our homeland and people's access to clean water.

How long did it take to clean up the mess the protesters left?

I don't have that timeframe off the top of my head, it took several weeks to clean up the mess.

What other concerns do you have about the pipeline that do not involve leaks? Have there been any form of compensation given to the tribes for the installation of the pipeline?

The process in which they went about obtaining the permits and the lands in which the pipeline had passed through. They go through treaty lands, yet the lands that belong to the people of Standing Rock were never consulted and so it's a form of trespass.

As for compensation, no there has been no compensation.

Hello fellow student, nice to meet you hiy hïy. Ever think about presenting these issues at the First Nation University(Regina) about the problems and what can be done?

That's something we'd consider with an invitation.

Do you feel Standing Rock's message was successful? How so / why not?

And since Standing Rock I have noticed that there has been an increase in native / first nations activism! Do you feel this will continue? If so, where do you hope it ends up?

Edit: one more! Edit2: words

Do you feel that this activism has been beneficial to your youth. I read about the Lakota teens going to DC, do you have hope that they will be heard?

First question: First of all the pipeline happened, the pipeline is laid and there's oil flowing and so in that aspect, no. It wasn't as successful as we would have liked it to be sure, and it was successful in that it brought people together, bringing Tribes and Nations together, bringing members of the Oceti Sakowin together, that we stood in solidarity together against the pipeline, and together for the rights of all Indigenous people.

Second Question: Yes, I don't know if it's been an increase but it's certainly brought a light to it. Social media has been this new avenue to highlight these different activists, it has given a voice to Native communities to stand up against what goes against our values. I do hope it continues, it's our hope that people stand up for human rights.

Third Question: Yes, it has been very beneficial for our youth, it has shown them that their voices are heard at the Tribal and national level. It's amplified their voice and we are very proud of them.

What other ways has the protests made a difference in the community? Do you know the status of the Mni Wiconi free medical clinic that funds were raised for?

It has brought the people together, the people of Standing Rock who may have had a different set of opinions this was the first time we all gathered together for a cause to protect our homelands.

As for the medical clinic I do not know, that was completely out of the control of the Tribe as far as I understand that was its own thing.

Could you talk a little about what's gotten you here, how people have been involved, and what there's still to be done? How many people are still in legal limbo due to their actions? Do you feel corporate/government response has been appropriate?

People are still involved through donations that go toward our legal costs and Clean Water Campaign. There is still a long ways to go with litigation, our Tribe just recently submitted our report in response to Judge Boasberg's remand order calling for a more in-depth analysis on the impacts of the pipeline. Also our technical team and water resources department are currently preparing on how to address a leak. We need to establish water monitoring wells and a emergency management plan, that's what our Clean Water Campaign is all about. The threat of a spill lingers and we must be prepared to protect our homeland. As of how many people are still in legal limbo we do not know, that would be a question for the Water Protector Legal Collective and Lakota People's Law Project.

As for the corporate/government response being appropriate, I think it was appropriate until this new administration overstepped laws because for example under the Obama Administration everything he went by was according to the book, he went by the law especially with environmental laws. This administration overlooked those laws to expedite the process for the pipeline.

What do you think about the media's coverage of the pipeline so far, and the general public's reaction?

The coverage has been somewhat biased, but that is to be expected where fossil fuels are a huge tax base.

Posoh/Hi Charles, Thanks for doing this chat! I'm Menominee & our tribe stands with you & the Standing Rock Tribe on NODAPL.

So overall, what do you think it's going to take for there to be a shift in the dominant society for corporations to think about how their actions might harm the environment first & then choose to a different path/alternatives like using renewable energy sources like solar/wind, etc.?

Thanks & good luck to you & the Standing Rock!

It will take nations and many people to begin moving in a direction where renewable energy is the primary source of energy. Many tribal nations have begun moving in this direction. We need to get away from fossil fuels altogether. It's easier said than done, but the small acts and efforts will show this is something serious.

My buddy working in the fields wants to know why your protesters physically attacked pipeline workers and fired shots at them in some instances. He also wants to know why they tried to set explosive charges over the pipelines to cause leaks. Any insight?

First off they are not OUR protestors, people came from over the world to support us. We didn't have any say in those individuals who came and acted aggressively, from what I understand these are merely allegations, we don't know what happened. The Tribe has never once allowed, promoted any illegal activity or aggressive violent activity. The Tribe promoted peaceful and prayerful protest, that has always been the agenda of the Tribe, to move in peace.