Under the Department of Homeland Security, the United States
has the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services. From the words in
those previous titles alone it is easy to determine what they are all about,
and what they possibly represent and do. Yes, the United States is a sovereign
nation with borders with other nations. However, unless one is a descendant of
tribes that lived here in these United States before anyone else came over from
elsewhere than one cannot be called a Native American. Of course, the reality
is the majority of United States citizens are not Native Americans by ancestry.
The history of Native Americans in these United States is extensive and complex
in relationship to all others who settled afterwards, and I strongly suggest
that everyone would become more informed and acquainted with this history. Most
Native Americans today live on reservations which are segregated from where
other settlers live going back almost two centuries in many cases. Treaties
such as The Fort Laramie Treaty; for example, gave ownership of land that was
seemingly already theirs to certain Native Americans. I am aware that I am only
referencing one treaty just to hint at how the present reality came about. The
following excerpt from the WCC website provides an understanding of what has
been all over the news with relevance to Standing Rock, one of the reservations
in which Native Americans dwell.
“Since April 2016, people from more
than 100 tribal nations, environmental advocates and indigenous rights
defenders have protested against the proposed construction of the controversial
Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL). The oil pipeline, connecting production fields
in North Dakota to refineries in Illinois, would run alongside the Standing
Rock Sioux Reservation and traverse the Missouri River.
While proponents of the DAPL
contend that the project will bring jobs and economic expansion, indigenous
communities worry about harmful impacts on water and soils. The Missouri River
is a key source of drinking water for many communities in the area. Moreover,
the DAPL is said to cross Sundance grounds and village sites – lands deemed
sacred by the Sioux Nations, the Arikara, the Mandan and the Northern Cheyenne.
“The construction of the pipeline,
which would not only restrict access to drinking water for indigenous
communities but would also pollute the river, is clearly a violation of the
right to water,” said Dinesh Suna, coordinator of the WCC Ecumenical Water
Network (blog.oikoumene.org).”
I suppose that no one should be questioning why I am writing
about this topic on an ecumenism blog because stewardship of this planet is the
responsibility of all. The following gathering and prayer is a great example of
this stewardship with relevance to our Faith.
“On 3 November, “a day of
protective witness in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Nation and with
the water protectors,” church people from various traditions prayed together.
“Creator, you loved creation into
being. Your goodness is present in the land and waters, in the creatures and
peoples you created. You call us to be in right relation with all living
things. Be present today, and every day, where people stand in peaceful defense
of your creation. We recognize your presence in Standing Rock, with indigenous
peoples who are protecting the waters. May we also be present in spirit and in
truth. We recognize your presence in our own country where indigenous peoples
also stand peaceably in defense of land and waters. May we be present in
witness and solidarity. We recognize and repent for the violence that has
marked relations with indigenous peoples on Turtle Island. We claim your
challenge of truth and justice, and your promise of healing and reconciliation
(www.oikoumene.org).”
I hope that this post has helped raise a little awareness on
the matter. If you wish to become more involved, I suggest doing a Google
search on Standing Rock, and I am sure that many helpful links will come up.
Also, you can read more at the reference links below.
http://blog.oikoumene.org/posts/standing-rock-the-pain-of-the-past-and-the-challenges-of-the-future.
https://www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/news/eco-justice-at-stake-for-standing-rock-people-in-usa.
References:
http://blog.oikoumene.org/posts/standing-rock-the-pain-of-the-past-and-the-challenges-of-the-future.
https://www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/news/eco-justice-at-stake-for-standing-rock-people-in-usa.
