A SCOTTISH MP has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) highlighting the environmental and cultural threats posed to the lands of Native Americans by the Dakota pipeline project.
There have been clashes over recent weeks between police and protesters near the site of the 1,170-mile pipeline that will deliver billions of barrels of crude oil from the Bakken Formation – a huge underground deposit where North Dakota and Montana meet Canada – into South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois.
But many see it as a potential environmental disaster that could destroy sacred Native American sites.
Martin Docherty-Hughes, the SNP MP for West Dunbartonshire, who tabled the EDM, told The National: “I am deeply concerned to see reports of continuing violent clashes between demonstrators at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation and American law enforcement.
“The construction of the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline is viewed by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as a serious environmental and cultural threat to scared Native American lands. The possibility of catastrophic environmental damage in the event of the pipeline rupturing is alarming and the US authorities must take account of these concerns.
“The situation in North Dakota is causing outrage amongst people across the world who are concerned about the handling of this situation.
“I’m pleased to have received cross-party support from my parliamentary colleagues calling on the US Government to work with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to bring a satisfactory conclusion to the long running stand-off.”
His EDM reads: “That this House recognises the profound issues faced by the First Nations of the United States since European settlement; further recognises that members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe see the pipeline as a major environmental and cultural threat to the First Nations of the Americas; understands that historical and cultural reviews of the land where the pipeline will be buried were inadequate; notes that concerns of catastrophic and environmental damage if the pipeline to break near where it crosses under the Missouri River have not been considered; stands in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe; and calls on the Federal Government of the United States and State authorities to work with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other First Nation Communities to bring an end to the long running stand-off while respecting and upholding the cultural, economic and environmental wealth of local communities.”
The motion has been signed by 38, mostly SNP MPs, but also some Plaid Cymru and Labour members.
Docherty-Hughes has also written to Matthew Barzun, the US Ambassador to the UK, expressing “concern and alarm” over the issue. He told the ambassador: “I hold very strong sympathies with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe who believe this pipeline is a major environmental and cultural threat to the First Nations of the Americas and that concerns of catastrophic and environmental damage if the pipeline breaks near to where it crosses under the Missouri River have not been considered.
“These are very serious accusations that will have long term effects that will have a fundamentally detrimental impact on the area. I believe the Federal Government has an obligation to ensure that proper cultural and historic reviews have taken place before permission must be given.
“I have concerns over the handling of this whole situation.”
Docherty-Hughes has also asked that the ambassador meets the MP and his colleagues to hear how US authorities are working to reach a positive conclusion.
The US Embassy did not respond to a request for comment from The National.
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