Oglala Sioux Tribe to Oil Companies: "The Exploitation of the Oglala Oyate Ends Now"

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Challenges. Discussion »

PINE RIDGE, SOUTH DAKOTA– In a tersely written statement, Tom Poor Bear, vice president of the Oglala Lakota Nation has advised TransCanada Corporation and all other commercial carriers of tar sands oil-related equipment that future attempts to come through the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation will not be tolerated.

Tom Poor Bear, Vice President of the Oglala Lakota Nation

He called the usage of reservation roads an exploitation of the Oglala Oayte.

“This exploitation of the Oglala Oayte ends now,”

writes Poor Bear.

Poor Bear stated that legislative action will be taken to ensure the safety and protection of the Lakota people and its resources.

Poor Bear was referencing an incident that occurred last Monday when Transtron Transportation entered the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation with a convoy of oil company related vehicles, much to the dismay of tribal citizens.

The convoy was transporting two new trucks marked "oversize load" that appeared to be hauling oil company pipes bound for Canada from Texas.

The convoy was stopped by a human blockade formed by tribal citizens near Wanblee, South Dakota on Highway 44. Five people who live on the reservation were arrested and released within hours.

The trucks were there with the proper permits according to Jason Glodt, senior advisor for South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard.

"They complied with the federal standards for axle configuration to transport the weight they were carrying,"

stated Glodt to the Native News Network on Monday afternoon.

"There is a lot of misinformation out about what happened. The highway patrol did not enter the reservation with the convoy, but was at the crossroads where the reservation ends to provide them with safety."

Poor Bear's statement reaffirmed the

“opposition and objection to the proposed Keystone XL pipeline”

He further states,

“The Oglala Lakota Nation will not tolerate the exploitation of Tribal lands, roads, or resources by TransCanada or any other corporate entity for the ultimate purpose of tar sands oil development or transportation.”

photo credit Jennifer S. Baker;
posted March 14, 2012 8:30 am edt