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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Native Americans Fighting Back Against Oil Companies – Again

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Monday, November 25, 2019   

BISMARCK, N.D. – It's been three years since Native American communities attempted to block an oil pipeline in the Standing Rock protests.

After a spill from Keystone XL in North Dakota and a proposal to expand the Dakota Access Pipeline, those protests continue to echo.

Chase Iron Eyes, an attorney with the Oglala Sioux Tribe, says the four tribes of the Great Sioux Nation are standing together to oppose pipeline development.

But that won't be easy. Iron Eyes says tribal members know from experience what happens when people try to stand in the way. Take the Standing Rock protests.

"Eight-hundred-fifty people went to jail over it,” he points out. “I was facing six years in prison over it. The president of this Oglala Sioux Nation was facing a year in jail over it.

“Sophia Wilansky lost her arm over it. And a couple others lost their eyeballs over it. So, no small matter to us. We're preparing to fight again."

Last month, the Keystone XL Pipeline leaked about 383,000 gallons of oil into the ground in northeast North Dakota. Last week, it was discovered that the leak affected about 4.9 acres of land – 10 times larger than what was first reported.

North Dakota officials also are considering a proposal from Energy Transfer Partners to double the capacity of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Iron Eyes and other tribal leaders in the region are pushing back hard on this proposal.

Pointing to the Keystone as an example, Iron Eyes maintains leaking is natural part of the process for pipelines. He says the legal system needs to adapt to properly punish companies when a pipeline leaks.

"How can these guys destroy our children's very lives?” he questions. “And they're paying maybe a fine, but they're not facing any jail time or public humiliation and shame. Those things work and we have to do them. It's our civic duty."

U.S. House Democrats have called for an investigation into TC Energy's management of the Keystone Pipeline.

Iron Eyes knows it's an uphill battle to take on the oil industry. He says supporters in the fight will have to stand strong on all fronts.

"Sometimes it means putting ourselves in harm's way in order to defend the sacred and the sources of our livelihoods, the real, true sources of any real economic value, which is, you know, our water and our natural ecosystems," he states.


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