American Indian & First Nation Leaders Voice Concerns over Keystone XL Pipeline

Native News Network Staff in Native Challenges. Discussion »

WASHINGTON - American Indian and First Nations tribal leaders, along with grassroots members with support of the Indigenous Environmental Network, met with United States Assistant Secretary of State Dr. Kerri-Ann Jones early today. They traveled to Washington DC to voice concerns on Canadian pipeline company TransCanada's proposed Keystone XL pipeline. If approved, the 1,700 mile, 36 inch pipeline would carry 900,000 gallons per day of dirty tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada through the United States to the Gulf of Mexico.

American Indian tribes are upset of the lack of consultation on the planning of the pipeline on or near tribal lands in several states. Tribal leaders are upset because of the violation of trust between the United States government and American Indian tribes. Assistant Secretary Jones was in meetings when her office was contacted this morning by Native News Network.

The Native leaders are in Washington to voice their concerns on the day of the final public hearing on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline at the Ronald Reagan Building, located at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, in Washington. The hearing will be from 10:00 am - 2 pm edt today.

Map of the Proposed Pipeline Project

Several thousand environmentalist activists opposed to the proposed Keystone XL pipeline are expected to protest outside of the Ronald Reagan Building while the hearing is being held.

posted October 7, 2011 11:57 am edt