A message to President Obama from Standing RockA powerful message from Kendrick Eagle at Standing Rock to President Obama.
You have the power to end this pipeline. Now is the time to use it. Sign the petition: http://standwithstandingrock.net/take-action/ #NoDAPL
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Thank you to the creators of this video: Elevate films, Lori Woodley, Doug McClean, & Jonathan Klett
Posted by Unify on Thursday, November 24, 2016
Standing Rock member Kendrick Eagle just released a heartfelt message for President Obama, asking him to be a man of his word.
Credit: Lori Woodly / YouTube
In April 2014, President Obama visited the Standing Rock reservation, an experience that, according to Eagle, gave members “a lot of hope.”
Later that year, at the Tribal Nations Conference, Obama made it clear that his administration would stand up for “first Americans.”
CREDIT: LORI WOODLY / YOUTUBE
Obama promised more than words, saying “talk was cheap, and there’d been too many promises that hadn’t been kept.” Adding, “I’m proud every single day to be your partner. We are all one family. Let’s not make this just a dream.”
President Obama brought up Kendrick Eagle’s story during the conference, highlighting the struggles Native Americans face.
CREDIT: LORI WOODLY / YOUTUBE
“That’s a life-changing thing for me,” Eagle says to the camera, talking directly to President Obama. “Cause it’s like you cared about me, you know. You cared about my story.”
These days, however, Eagle is not so sure President Obama meant what he said.
CREDIT: LORI WOODLY / YOUTUBE
“You said you had our back, and here we are.”
CREDIT: LORI WOODLY / YOUTUBE
Since August, tensions between protesters and authorities at the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) have steadily increased. A few weeks ago, several protesters were injured in a clash with authorities, who pelted them with rubber bullets, high-pressure water, and tear gas canisters. Many protesters went to the hospital as a result, and one protester nearly had her arm amputated.
Several prominent figures have come out on behalf of Standing Rock.
CREDIT: Keep Indigenous Culture Alive / Native American Indian / Facebook
Bernie Sanders, Shailene Woodley, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson are just a few critics of the pipeline, which if installed could have environmentally disastrous affects on those living in the area. And while it’s good for celebrities to bring awareness to the crisis, it’s not enough. The people of Standing Rock need real help.
But President Obama has stayed quiet throughout most of the protests.
CREDIT: LORI WOODLY / YOUTUBE
This hasn’t gone unnoticed by Kendrick Eagle.
With nothing left to lose, Eagle asks President Obama to stick to his word.
CREDIT: LORI WOODLY / YOUTUBE
“You told us to our face,” Eagle tells the camera, “that as long as you’re in the White House you had our back. And now’s the time that we really need you. Desperately need you.”
So far, President Obama has not responded to Kendrick Eagle’s message.
