Cowboy and Indian Alliance protests Keystone XL Pipeline
Beginning on Earth Day, the Cowboy and Indian Alliance will spend a week camping on the National Mall in hopes of convincing President Obama to…
Shane Red Hawk of the Sioux Tribe from South Dakota, center, rides a horse with other Native Americans, farmers, ranchers and cowboys, during Reject and Protect rally to protest against the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, Tuesday, April 22, 2014, looking toward the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Beginning on Earth Day, the Cowboy and Indian Alliance will spend a week camping on the National Mall in hopes of convincing President Obama to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline.
The Alliance, also known as the CIA, is comprised of ranchers, farmers and Native American leaders from seven tribes.
SEE ALSO: Earth Day is of special concern for Latinos
Their Reject and Protect protest is meant to raise awareness of the environmental impact the Keystone XL Pipeline would have on both tribal lands and agricultural areas.
While only around 200 people are expected to participate in most of the weeks activities, the CIA estimates that up to 5,000 will take part in a march past the Capitol next Saturday.
Secretary of State John Kerry, whose department is in charge of reviewing the proposed KXL project, has said that he wont be issuing a recommendation to President Obama on the previously determined schedule.
According to Reuters, the administration is unlikely to make a decision about the proposed pipeline until after November of 2014.
Protecting the Ogallala Aquifer: Water and Fire Ceremonies
Ranchers and tribal leaders involved in Reject and Protect, especially those from Nebraska, Minnesota, and the Dakotas, are adamant about the devastation they see stemming from the Keystone XL Pipeline.
The tip of a Native American prayer stick, is seen near the Capitol dome during a Reject and Protect rally by farmers, ranchers and cowboys, and Native Americans to protest against the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, in Washington, Tuesday, April 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
The Ogallala Aquifer is a particular point of concern: as one of the largest aquifer systems in the world, according to the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District, it provides the U.S. with 30 percent of its irrigated groundwater.
The Keystone XL Pipeline route, though revised since its original creation, still passes over portions of Ogallala, and Reject and Protect organizers are concerned about spills and groundwater contamination.
Theyve also pointed out that there could be significant contamination of water in the Canadian tar sands region, another area through which the pipeline would pass.
To recognize that threat, each day of the protest will begin with a traditional water ceremony led by members of the Native American tribes. In addition, a ceremonial fire will burn throughout the week.
Message to Obama
Reject and Protect organizers want to make sure President Obama and Secretary Kerry think long and hard about those potential environmental impacts of the KXL.
The week-long schedule of activities, published on Common Dreams, includes numerous events designed to get the U.S. politicians attention.
Cowboy and Indian Alliance leaders will begin on Tuesday with a ceremonial horseback ride from the Capitol to the National Mall.
On the groups reserved area near the Reflecting Pool, ranchers and tribal leaders will erect almost 30 teepees, including a ceremonial teepee for President Obama.
Shane Red Hawk of the Sioux Tribe from South Dakota, left, rides a horse with other Native Americans, farmers, ranchers and cowboys, during Reject and Protect rally to protest against the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline,Tuesday, April 22, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
According to CIA leaders quoted in Politico, the teepee will have a clear message to the president on it, as well as the Indian names given to President Obama by Montanas Crow Nation and the Lakota Tribe.
Tribal artists will also paint water and land protection symbols on the teepee. At the end of the protest, the structure will be donated to the National Museum of the American Indian.
CIA will also lead a protest outside of Secretary Kerrys home, according to The Prince George Citizen.
Jane Kleeb, a political activist from Nebraska, told the same paper that actions directed at both Obama and Kerry are meant to make sure that the president sees our faces, and sees the images of cowboys and tribes working together. We think those messages from the communities that will be directly impacted will stay with the president, whether hes making a decision today or a decision in 2015.
Civil Disobedience
Finally, the Cowboy and Indian Alliance protesters will partner with The Other 98% on Thursday in what theyre calling a bold action.
As part of Reject and Protect, protesters will work together to project messages against the Keystone XL Pipeline directly onto the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Using a large-scale, high-intensity projector, The Other 98% will broadcast comments from ordinary Americans asking the EPA to boldly and publicly reject Keystone XL.
Organizers told Politico that Thursdays events will represent a small act of civil disobedience, likely resulting in arrests.
SEE ALSO: Government Releases Environmental Report on Keystone XL Pipeline
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