Dakota Access Pipeline

Post #1: Topic Proposal

For my topic, I will be focusing on the controversy over the Dakota Access Pipeline and the protests regarding the pipeline currently in the U.S. I would like to draw attention to this subject matter as it a current event issue that is and will affect many lives to come.

My interest in wanting to focus on the Dakota Access Pipeline controversy stemmed from my curiosity of when I took a class two semesters ago called “Race, Activism, and Climate Justice”. The class, which was taught by Professor Klasky, was not only one of my favorite classes to take but it was also the most eye-opening for me. Going into the class I was not very well-informed with current issues in the world regarding activism. I learned so much in the class and one of the sections that we studied in the class that I gained the most out of was the rights of Native Americans and their land.

This topic matters to me because it is unfair that the Native Americans are getting no say on what happens on their land. What in fact the Dakota Access Pipeline actually is can best be described by Jack Healy in “Who’s Fighting and Why”, and he writes as follows, “The Dakota Access pipeline is a $3.7 billion project that would carry 470,000 barrels of oil a day from the oil fields of western North Dakota to Illinois, where it would be linked with other pipelines.” (The New York Times). The main issues that Native American tribes have with the potential pipeline is that the pipeline will cross on sacred tribal lands and has a high rate of bursting into the Missouri River. The Missouri River is the water source for thousands and thousands of residents, and if the pipeline does indeed burst then the water will unfortunately become contaminated. The pipes that are being used to build The Dakota Access Pipeline are made out of a cheap material that overtime will not be sturdy or sufficient enough to withhold the thousands of barrels of oil that will be going thru the land.

The Indigenous Peoples of America are not going down without a fight. There have already been numerous accounts of protesting on the actual potential pipeline itself, with Native Americans refusing to let construction workers sabotage their homeland. According to, “What’s the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline?”, The Associated Press explain, “It led to Saturday’s clash between protesters and private security guards; law enforcement officials said four security guards and two guard dogs were injured, while a tribal spokesman said six people were bitten by the dogs and at least 30 people were pepper-sprayed.” (The New York Times). This shows that neither the oil company, nor the Native Americans are going to back down anytime soon without a fight on what they each think would be the best decision regarding the pipeline.

Works Cited

Healy, Jack. “North Dakota Oil Pipeline Battle: Who’s Fighting and Why.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 26 Aug. 2016. Web.

The Associated Press. “AP Explains: What’s the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline?” The New York Times. The New York Times, 09 Sept. 2016. Web.

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