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Opposition to Keystone XL as Indian-White Reconciliation Project?

Last updated on 2011.10.29

It's just one handshake...

Rosebud Sioux Chief John Spotted Tail and Draper rancher Paul Seamans shake hands at an anti-Keystone XL pipeline rally near Manderson, SD, October 27, 2011. (screen cap from KELO-TV video)
Rosebud Sioux Chief John Spotted Tail and Draper rancher Paul Seamans shake hands at an anti-Keystone XL pipeline rally near Manderson, SD, October 27, 2011. (screen cap from KELO-TV video)

...just one clap on the shoulder, one smile (well, two smiles)...

Rosebud Sioux Chief John Spotted Tail and Draper rancher Paul Seamans participate in an anti-Keystone XL pipeline rally near Manderson, SD, October 27, 2011. (screen cap from KELO-TV video)
Spotted Tail and Seamans, West River neighbors, united by TransCanada's threat to our land and water (screen cap from KELO-TV video)

...but maybe instead of fighting each other, Indians and whites in South Dakota can work on reconciliation by finding enemies we need to fight together... like land-grabbing Canadian oil companies:

"What Transcanada is doing is they're bullying U.S. Citizens with threats of eminent domain, and that is outrageous," [anti-tar sands activist Tommy] Weis said.

And that's bringing people from different backgrounds together.

"The non-Indians on this waterline finally realized how we felt when the government has taken our land. And now it's happening to them," Rosebud Sioux Chief Spotted Tail said.

"They've always been real heavy handed about it. Right off the bat they let us know that they have the power of eminent domain and they will use it," Paul Seamans said.

"It's something to see when you see the Indian and the non-Indian standing shoulder to shoulder fighting this tar-sand pipeline," Chief Spotted Tail said.

"That is a very powerful alliance and one I wouldn't want to mess with." Weis said [Derek Olson, "TransCanada Protesters Rally on the Reservation," KELOLand.com, 2011.10.27].

Whether TransCanada has its way with another line of South Dakota landowners or not, please remember Keystone XL protests like this as an example of how South Dakotans of all colors can work together to protect their shared interests.

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One Comment

  1. Bruce Whalen 2011.10.30

    I think it is more proper to say that XL Pipeline is bullying Obama through Secretary Clinton. The real question is what will Obama do?

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