Presentation 2 scripts

Slide 1: Viewing the Land - Native spirituality vs Government’s Capitalism 

In this presentation I will explain the different perspectives of how land, and from that - the earth, is viewed differently by different cultures even in our own country.  On one hand we have the native american spirituality vs The United state's government's capitalist views.

Using articles and an interview with a Native Medicine Woman (From the Abnaki tribe) I will present both the views and give a contemporary example of a conflict between these views: The Dakota Access Pipeline.




Slide 2: What are the two perspectives?

- Natives:
Native Americans view the land as sacred. It provides everything that they need to live; clean water to drink, earth to grow crops, and animals to hunt. It is a living force that takes care of them, thus they feel they too should take care of it. It is a spiritual love of the land and a relationship of reciprocity. While different tribes had different territories, the land was never owned or belonged to any individuals.

-  Government:
The American Government views land as something to be owned and thus be used for profit. It is simply a resource to be divided up and used. "Progress" is they goal, even if the land damaged and affected is protected and belongs to others - i. e. Native American peoples.  Examples of this are littered throughout our history, but perhaps the most recent example would be the Dakota Access Pipeline.


Slide 3: Example - Dakota Pipeline

- the scenario
The scene opens in 2016 when it was proposed that the Dakota access Pipeline go through South Dakota and Iowa to get to Illinois. In doing this it would go under several prominent rivers and a lake beside the Standing Rock Souxe Reservation; the natives considered the pipeline a threat to their clean water and sacred burial grounds.

- the protests
In April 2016, Standing Rock Sioux elder LaDonna Brave Bull Allard established a camp as a center for cultural preservation and spiritual resistance to the pipeline; over the summer the camp grew to thousands of people. Violence was a primary method used by the government as a means to clear out the protesters; examples from 2016 being:
-In September , construction workers bulldozed a section of land the tribe had identified as sacred ground a ndwhen protesters entered the area security workers used attack dogs which bit at least six of the protesters and one horse.
-In October, armed soldiers and police with riot gear and military equipment were seen using excessive force to clear the encampment
-In November, police use of water cannons on protesters in freezing weather drew significant media attention.

- outcome:
There have been several negative outcomes after the pipeline was given the go ahead to proceed. There have been several oilspills - multiple within the first six months and one as recent as March 12 2019. the later having spilled approximate one hundred thirty thousand five hundred  (130,500) gallons.

As pipeline workers flood into work camps near reservations to work on the pipeline, violence against natives have skyrocketed. Kidnappings, rapes, and assaults have grown exponentially due to a lack of background checks and abundant racism within the working force.

The pipeline was given a critical deadline given to it in which it was suppose to replant trees to help the land heal -  naturally they missed the deadline.

Many of the Souxe people and those still engaged in protesting are still undergoing harassment and legal issues.


Slide 4: works cited



Sources for Presentation

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/dakota-access-pipelinehttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/16/dakota-access-pipeline-bayou-bridge-protest-activism
https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/business/energy-and-mining/4583842-keystone-pipeline-leak-south-dakota-dropped-estimated-130500
https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2016/12/us/dapl-protests-cnnphotos/