As of this morning, the construction of the Keystone XL was approved by the Trump administration. Since its commission in 2010, we have been aware of many threats the Keystone pipeline would have to the environment. Not only could the Keystone XL compromise the Ogallala Aquifer, which would contaminate valuable drinking water, this pipeline will continue to perpetuate climate change by encouraging the use of crude oil.
The environment isn’t the only thing that will suffer because of the pipeline. It’s no secret that the Keystone XL will endanger the livelihood and culture of Indigenous People, but many don’t know the extent of this endangerment. During the construction of the pipeline, thousands of non-indigenous construction workers will set up camp very close to Native communities, consequently compromising the safety of the Natives.
A study performed by the Department of Justice with a test group of 2,000 women surveyed showed that 84% of Native American women have experienced violence, 56% have experienced sexual violence, and over 90% have experienced violence at the hands of a non-indigenous attacker. You may be thinking that these numbers sound extremely high (which they are), but experts say these record numbers still underestimate the number of women affected by violence.
North Dakota’s Uniform Crime Report reveals that violent crime has increased 7.2% while 243 reported rapes occurred in 2012. 12 of the state’s top oil-producing counties were responsible for much of that crime, potentially caused by camps of thousands of male workers who have come to their territory to profit from the oil boom- more than doubling the population with an influx of non-indigenous workers.
“We are worried about man camps that are coming to our territory, we have seen our women suffer.” Faith Spotted Eagle of the Yankton Sioux
The Keystone XL is about to introduce thousands of non-indigenous workers into the communities of Native women who already fear for their safety. Tribal courts currently do not have the jurisdiction to prosecute non-indigenous people for crimes such as sexual assault and rape, even if the crime is committed on Native land. Obviously, this is a huge problem because most assaults are committed by non-indigenous people. This loophole in legislation contributes to the awfully high level of victimization among native women (they are more than twice as likely to be sexually assaulted than any other race).
“In 2012, the tribal police department reported more murders, fatal accidents, sexual assaults, domestic disputes, drug busts, gun threats, and human trafficking cases than in any year before. The surrounding counties offer similar reports. But there is one essential difference between Fort Berthold and the rest of North Dakota: The reservation’s population has more than doubled with an influx of non-Indian oil workers—over whom the tribe has little legal control.” Mary Pember
TransCanada, the corporation developing the Keystone pipeline, plans to establish housing for construction workers in three rural “man-camps” close to reservations in South Dakota that will each roughly hold 1,000 workers. Law enforcement, Native and women’s rights advocates are in agreement that these man-camps will contribute to violence against women where they are established. Sexual violence is already rampant in the Great Plains, and this oil boom is about to devastate Native communities on multiple levels.
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