The World Conscious Pact in solidarity with Standing Rock

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The World Conscious Pact in solidarity with Standing Rock World Conscious Pact Northeast (USA) team held the third Chaski Fest in Danbury, CT, USA Chaski Fest for Standing Rock, in support of water protectors who have been defending their ancestral lands and water from the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline for nearly ten months. If completed, the pipeline will transport half a million barrels of crude oil across fifty counties in four states, and beneath the MIssouri River.

Guests at Chaski Fest for Standing Rock

Guests at Chaski Fest for Standing Rock.

The event took place at A Common Ground Community Arts Center, and featured five conscious bands (Jc Alza & the Band of Brothers, Touro Duo, The Atom Family, Ecu-Chaskis, and Blue Onyx), special guest, poet and activist Atulananda Swami, and speakers Rana LaPine and Mike Dobshevitch, both recently returned from Standing Rock. Through the support of 100 community members and the sale of conscious artwork donated by artists from all over the United States and Mexico, the event was able to collect a generous donations for the efforts of water protectors in North Dakota.

Rana LaPine (Haudenosaunee tribe) speaking at Chaski Fest for Standing Rock

Rana LaPine (Haudenosaunee tribe) speaking at Chaski Fest for Standing Rock.

Despite the long history of deadly pipeline leaks and months of resistance, the United States Army Corps of Engineers recently dismissed their promise to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement ordered in December, following a directive from President Trump. Now, they have granted the final easement to complete the pipeline under the Missouri River and may resume construction within the upcoming weeks.

Energy Transfer Partners, the company building the pipeline claims that it could be completed and begin transporting oil within just 83 days. According to Philip Ellis, a spokesperson for the environmental law firm Earthjustice, the tribe will be filing litigation against the Army Corps within the next few days.

Dave Archambault II, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe says “We are a sovereign nation and we will fight to protect our water and sacred places from the brazen private interests trying to push this pipeline through to benefit a few wealthy Americans with financial ties to the Trump administration,”.

Despite the granting of the final easement under a presidential administration that disregards environmental preservation, hundreds of water protectors are still on the ground in North Dakota and are calling on allies around the world to stand up against the Dakota Access Pipeline through worldwide divestment in banks and companies funding the pipeline, and protest.

Conscious artwork donated by artists from around the United States and Mexico, in solidarity with Standing Rock

Conscious artwork donated by artists from around the United States and Mexico, in solidarity with Standing Rock.

The Indigenous Environmental Network has long vowed to stop the pipeline in every way, even after oil begins flowing through it. Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network director says, “The granting of an easement, without any environmental review or tribal consultation, is not the end of this fight—it is the new beginning”.

To contact theWorld Conscious Pact Northeast (USA) team, view more photos and videos of Chaski Fests in Danbury in solidarity with Standing Rock, or to participate in the next Chaski Fest in Danbury, CT (June 2017), visit their Facebook Page or email [email protected]

We thank all the volunteers, activists, artists, and community members who supported Chaski Fest for Standing Rock through attendance, donations, and artistic contributions!

World Conscious Pact volunteers and conscious artists

World Conscious Pact volunteers and conscious artists.

Below, see a video of Chaski Fest in solidarity with Standing Rock: