The Environmental Crisis on Native American Lands

Our film A Different American Dream had its theatrical premiere at Cinema Village in New York City on January 6th. It was reviewed in The New York Times and The Hollywood Reporter. The film is now available for educational screenings.

The unfortunate reality is that since the release, construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline will be completed under the pen of the current administration. The Army Corps of Engineers issued an evacuation deadline for February 22nd ordering protesters to withdraw from the Oceti Sakowin camp. Small numbers of journalists on the scene sent live streams across Facebook when militarized police did a sweep of the camp (as the mainstream media remained mostly silent), showing Americans that the Trail of Tears did not end with Andrew Jackson. Tribe members turned tepees and tents into scenes of flames, while officers destroyed sacred sites.

In light of these atrocities, we are inspired rather than discouraged, empowered instead of disillusioned. Entire cities from Seattle to Berlin have been pulling out of banks that invest in oil companies associated with the Dakota Access Pipeline. The stress has been so harsh that DNB, a Norwegian bank, has pulled its investments out of the pipeline. At the same time, displaced victims of Standing Rock are taking legal action to pursue justice.

With the recent approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline by the State Department, a new battle for land and water protection in the region begins. Pipeline giant, TransCanada, still faces legal and financial hurdles in their bid to complete construction. They need approval from the Nebraska Public Service Commission and local landowners and the massive financing needed for the pipeline is not yet secured. Surrounding indigenous communities, First Nations and environmentalists have been organizing resistance on a scale that is likely to meet or surpass the protests against DAPL.

3 Generations will pursue justice alongside them. We will film and archive these encroachments on human rights, Native American rights, sovereign rights, and environmental rights. We will give voices to those who are being ignored by the government and major news sources. We will always #resist to #StandWithStandingRock.  

Links:

• Trailer for "A Different American Dream"
• Video from Unicorn Riot of #noDAPL camp, Feb. 2017

Good news is that our feature documentary film A Different American Dream will have its theatrical premiere in New York City on January 6th at Cinema Village. The film is being distributed theatrically and non-theatricallyby First Run Features and is available.

Our commitment to support Native Americans with their struggle for environmental justice is longstanding. As well as telling the story of the MHA Nation at Fort Berthold we have also spent time at The Standing Rock Sioux Nation. 3 Generations has been in close contact with different water protectors at Standing Rock. An invaluable ally, Myron Dewey, is a drone operator who has been documenting the protests, the response of police and the pipeline construction from the skies. He has made all of his footage available to his tribe and it has been widely shown on various media outlets. On December 3rd, 3 Generations founder and executive director, Jane Wells returned to Standing Rock to bring Myron additional supplies for his drone work. She was there the day the water protectors were supposed to be forcibly removed from the land. Instead On December 4, the Army Corps of Engineers delayed the construction of the pipeline and denied the easement through Lake Oahe. They have started drafting an environmental impact statement to look at possible alternative routes that carry less risk of water and wildlife contamination.

We are thrilled to hear what seems like positive news, however it is important to continue to be vigilant about the progress of work on the Dakota Access Pipeline and to continue to defend our environment and the rights of Native American tribes.

Links:

• Watch our video: Standing with Standing Rock