Standing Rock Historian on
Pipeline Resistance
Jon Eagle Sr, the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, recently sat down with us to discuss the historic events of the NODAPL movement, which has grown in response to the ongoing construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
He highlighted the significance of the gathering of a large number of indigenous people, including the entire Oceti Sakowin, or Seven Council Fires, which had not occurred in 140 years. He reminded us that the people of Standing Rock are Sitting Bulls people. He told us that the last time the entire Oceti Sakowin were together was during the Battle of the Greasy Grass, also known as the Battle of Little Bighorn, which was led by Sitting Bull. He explained that the gathering was a unified effort to protect the Lakota way of life.
He explained that the gathering was a unified effort to protect the Lakota way of life and their sacred land. The NODAPL movement was a response to the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which threatened the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s drinking water and cultural sites.
Jon acknowledged the support received from around the world and spoke of this being a time of a prophecy of people coming together to defeat the black snake.
