Reject and Protect Camp Comes to Life on National Mall

By John Zangas and Anne Meador

Set-up of the campsite by the Cowboy Indian Alliance for a week-long protest against the Keystone XL pipeline began on the National Mall in Washington, DC today. “Reject and Protect” officially begins tomorrow with an opening ceremony at the Capitol Reflecting Pool at 11am.

So far seven tipis standing 20 feet tall have been assembled with one in progress and more to go up tomorrow. Several will be painted with ceremonial tribal designs as the week progresses.

Ranchers, farmers and members of native communities along the pipeline route formed the Cowboy Indian Alliance to stand against energy company TransCanada’s efforts to acquire land under eminent domain.

Cyril Scott, President and Tribal Leader of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, watched over the camp while other tribal leaders and elders met nearby. “We are here to stop the Keystone XL and protect our people and water,” he said.

If approved the pipeline will transport dilbit, a slurry of toxic tar sands from Alberta, through seven states to Gulf Coast refineries for export. “Its not a matter of whether the pipeline [will] break, it’s when it breaks,” said Scott.

The Cowboy Indian Alliance will be joined by First Nations of Canada for a variety of ceremonies, story sharing, demonstrations, lectures, films and photography displays to help the public understand threat the Keystone XL pipeline poses to the environment.

“Without water not only will Native Americans not exist, but no one will exist,” said Scott. The pipeline route passes over the largest water aquifer in the United States.

Jane Kleeb of Bold Nebraska says that the Cowboy Indian Alliance, a group of about 200 at the campsite, wants to make sure that President Obama knows that he must reject the pipeline.

What does she think of the just-announced delay of the President’s decision on Keystone XL?

“Obviously delay is our friend. We think that this pipeline could collapse under its own weight… The President made the right move in delaying the decision.”