The Dakota Access Pipeline project has incited significant controversy and protest, particularly from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and environmental activists. Protests at the Standing Rock camp led to police intervention to clear the area for pipeline construction.
The people of Standing Rock used art in the form of signs, jewelry, videos, etc. to raise awareness. "Give Thanks" was an artist-led migration to Standing Rock to show support for the people living there.
Photography has helped spread awareness and show what is going on during protests at Standing Rock.
The building of the pipeline through the reservation brings up issues of racial superiority and the right of free speech.
Water protectors were attacked by police at Standing Rock. People were shot with water cannons in freezing temperatures and rubber bullets. The police also used mace and tear gas. This shows how far the government was willing to go in order to silence protestors.
Building the pipeline through the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe reservation would destroy ancestral lands and ruin drinking water if built under Lake Oahe.
The construction would destroy sacred spots and old burial grounds if the plans remained the same. This would be an act against the people living there and would create an even greater rift between natives and the government.
Dominant Narrative(Hegemony)
The protests became such an issue that police forces had to be sent to the Standing Rock camp to try and clear out the area where the pipeline was supposed to be built.
ETP lawsuit against Greenpeace states that Greenpeace and their No DAPL allies are not legitimate and don't deserve an equal voice on the issue.
ETP states protestors are fallacious, but this effort to discredit them is problematic because it implies there is a power imbalance over civil rights issues and environmental activism.
The government moved the route of the pipeline to prevent an oil spill in the Missouri River, which would ruin the state capital's drinking water. They believe they had the right to make this change.
Standing Rock Sioux states the government didn't properly consult with them before making the change to build under Lake Oahe. They also state that the land is rightfully owned by the Sioux through a century old treaty with the U.S. government.
The government states pipeline won't impact the quality of drinking water and that it is a safe way to transport crude oil.