APA has voiced its support for American Indian tribes, Water Protectors, environmental groups and others who are protesting the construction of an oil pipeline that would cut across four states and potentially undermine the drinking water, sacred sites and well-being of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota.
What's at issue?
The Dakota Access Pipeline Project is a 1,172-mile, 30-inch diameter pipeline that would bring crude oil from production areas in the Bakken formation and Three Forks area of North Dakota to Patoka, Illinois. According to Energy Transfer Partners, the company building the pipeline, the project is a $3.7 billion investment that could create 8,000 to 12,000 temporary local construction jobs.
The pipeline would run across four states—North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois. American Indians and others are concerned that a part of the pipeline is planned to go under the Missouri River just a mile north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The Standing Rock tribe has stated that the pipeline's construction would undermine its sacred land and be a hazard to its drinking water supply.
Protestors, who are urging the federal government to revisit the pipeline's course, have raised concerns about harsh treatment by law enforcement.
Why is APA supporting the protestors?
APA outlined its concerns in a Nov. 14 letter to President Barack Obama, which urged the president to consider re-routing the pipeline. In particular, APA is concerned about the possibility for future leakage posing harm to the people of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.
"As psychologists, we are particularly troubled by the potential for adverse neurological effects of oil-contaminated water," the letter states. "Moreover, we are disturbed that the pipeline was considered too risky to route close to Bismarck, North Dakota, but not to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation."
APA's letter also underscored that American Indian populations have been historically marginalized and mistreated by the United States, citing as examples that not all states recognized American Indians' right to vote until 1957, and that many tribes experienced great loss of life, land and culture as the result of state and federal legislation.
"This mistreatment is associated with historical trauma in which the loss experienced by one generation is transferred to subsequent generations through biological, psychological, environmental and social means," APA writes. Psychologists' research has shown that historical trauma is linked to health disparities, including increased likelihood of early death due to unintentional injuries, assault, homicide and suicide.
"We strongly advocate for the empowerment of these communities through continuous, meaningful consultation with tribal leaders as the project develops," the letter states.
APA also emphasized that it is very concerned about the violence that has occurred in response to protests. "Media reports describe protesters being held in dog kennels and shot with rubber bullets, a frightening continuation of the historical mistreatment of Native Americans. We ask that you do whatever you can to urge law enforcement to show restraint as they try to diffuse the conflict," APA writes.
The letter was signed by APA 2016 President Susan H. McDaniel, PhD, and Jacqueline Gray, PhD, president of APA Div. 45 (Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race).
APA coordinated the effort with the Society of Indian Psychologists (SIP) and the Council of National Psychology Associations for the Advancement of Ethnic Minority Interests, of which SIP and APA are members. Each organizational member of the council sent a separate email to President Obama. According to a statement from SIP leaders Art W. Blume, PhD, and Gayle Skawennio Morse, PhD, "The American Indians at Standing Rock have rallied their steadfastness, their courage and their strength as a positive example to exemplify the community spirit and resilience of the American Indian people."
The letter added that, "it is important to remember that the American Indian Water Protectors were engaged in peaceful prayer and ceremony in their efforts to stop this encroachment on sacred lands and water bodies in areas historically linked to the culture and the people of Standing Rock. The task of the Water Protectors was to maintain the purity of the life giving water for the people of the world. In support of their charge, they were joined by American Indians of over 200 tribes from across the North American continent as well as Indigenous people and other allies from around the world. Their mission is to protect the sacred lands and most importantly the pure water that is necessary for all life. We stand as one with the Water Protectors."
Also, more than two dozen members of APA Div. 48 (Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict and Violence) wrote a letter to the chair of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to express solidarity with their cause.
What's the latest?
On Nov. 14, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it needs more time to study the potential implications of the pipeline before it can decide whether it can continue to be built along the planned route. In a letter to tribal leaders and Energy Transfer Partners, Army Corp Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy wrote that "additional discussion with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and analysis are warranted," according to a report from The Associated Press. Darcy's letter also noted that the discussion would include possible changes to the river crossing, which could reduce the risk of an oil spill.
What else is APA doing?
The association is developing a blog series to draw attention to the issues raised by the pipeline, such as human rights violations, environmental justice/injustice and historical trauma. APA is also urging law enforcement to show restraint as they try to defuse the conflict.
APA will continue to support and bring attention to the issues affecting American Indian communities and to other marginalized groups, a cause that is central to APA's mission "to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives." This mission underscores the need to speak out when the health and well-being of any group are threatened.
Psychologists who want to help in the effort are encouraged to contact the Society of Indian Psychologistsopens in new window President Art Blume, PhD, at art.blume@wsu.edu or SIP President-elect Gayle Skawennio Morse, PhD, at morseg@sage.edu. Financial support can be sent to sacredstonecamp.orgopens in new window.
