Activists and leaders reflect on Standing Rock a decade on

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-22T15:30:49.309Z • Permanent link

President Barack Obama's administration announced the final approval of the Dakota Access pipeline's construction permit on November 15, 2016, just days before the presidential election. However, protests by tribal members and environmental activists continued, culminating in a massive gathering at the pipeline's endpoint in North Dakota. The Standing Rock protests, as they came to be known, drew national and international attention to the controversy. Key figures such as former President Bill Clinton, who had a personal stake in the project, and prominent Native American leaders like Russell Means, played a role in publicizing the issue.

Dakota Access Pipeline officials initially denied that the construction of the pipeline would threaten the water supply of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, despite data indicating otherwise. As the protests escalated, over 800 people, including prominent activists like DeLanna Studi and Jesse Watters, were arrested for participating in peaceful protests. Law enforcement agencies from multiple jurisdictions, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, deployed tear gas, water cannons, and other non-lethal force to disperse protesters.

International organizations such as Amnesty International and the American Indian Movement joined the fray, condemning the actions of law enforcement and calling for greater transparency and consultation with Native American communities. The protests also drew attention from tech companies, with many employees taking time off to participate in demonstrations and raise awareness about the issue. Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook were flooded with hashtags and posts calling for the pipeline's shutdown.

The Dakota Access pipeline protests have significant implications for the global energy sector, particularly in the United States. Companies like TransCanada and ExxonMobil stand to gain substantial revenue from the pipeline's operation, which is expected to transport over 600,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The protests have also raised concerns about the safety and environmental impact of the pipeline, which could have far-reaching consequences for the industry as a whole.

Research communities have taken notice of the Standing Rock protests, with many academics and experts weighing in on the issue. Studies have highlighted the disproportionate impact of fossil fuel extraction on Native American communities, with some estimating that Native Americans are 10 times more likely to be exposed to oil and gas pollution than the general population. The protests have also sparked a broader conversation about the role of indigenous peoples in decision-making processes related to natural resource extraction.

The Standing Rock protests are part of a larger pattern of resistance to fossil fuel extraction on Native American lands. The Dakota Access pipeline is not the first such project to be met with resistance; similar protests have occurred in places like the Keystone XL pipeline and the Chaco Canyon oil and gas development. Competing approaches to energy development, such as renewable energy and carbon capture, are also gaining traction, but the Standing Rock protests highlight the need for greater transparency and consultation with Native American communities.