In a plea for President BarackObama to support protestors of the Dakota Access Pipeline, one member of the affected Sioux tribe reminded him about their personal encounters two years ago.
Kendrick Eagle, a member of the Sioux Nation at Standing Rock reservation in North Dakota, addresses Obama directly in a video from filmmakers Lori Woodley, Doug McLea and Jonathan Klett uploaded to YouTube this week. Eagle, one of the pipeline protestors from more than 200 other Native American tribes, first met the president when he visited the reservation in 2014.
“You gave us hope, a lot of hope,” he said. “It was a great time, and two months after that you flew us out to D.C.” They toured the White House, rode in the motorcade, and went out to pizza and an NBA game with the president and first lady Michelle Obama, Eagle recalled.
The president later mentioned Eagle, who is raising his four younger brothers, in a speech at the 2014 Tribal Nations Conference and lamented that life would present them with fewer opportunities than it would his own daughters.
“It’s like you cared about me and you cared about my story ... it was amazing to hear you say that in front of people, in front of all the tribal leaders in DC,” Eagle said.
“You said, ‘Let’s not make this just a dream,’ and right now it kind of feels like it was a dream, because you said you had our back, and here we are,” Eagle continued. “Help us stop this pipeline.”
Protesters in North Dakota and at solidarity demonstrations around the world want to see construction of the oil pipeline halted and its route altered. They argue it would disturb sacred lands and burial grounds and poses a serious threat to the Missouri River, which provides the tribe’s drinking water.
Watch the entire moving video above.
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Phil Little Thunder Sr. attends an evening gathering at an encampment where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipe (DAPL), near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on September 3, 2016.
Protestors gather at the blocked entrance to a construction site for the Dakota Access Pipeline to express their opposition to the pipeline.
Native Americans march to a sacred burial ground that was disturbed by bulldozers building the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).
People hang a sign near a burial ground sacred site that was disturbed by bulldozers building the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).
Native Americans march to a burial ground sacred site that was disturbed by bulldozers building the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).
Native Americans march to a burial ground sacred site that was disturbed by bulldozers building the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).
A Native American protestors holds up his arms as he and other protestors are threatened by private security guards and guard dogs.
Over a thousand activists rallied on the steps of the U.S. District Court Washington DC in solidarity with Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, who has sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over its approval of the $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline.
Actress Susan Sarandon speaks during a rally and protest by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe in support of a lawsuit against the Army Corps of Engineers and plans for the Dakota Access Pipeline outside the US District Court in Washington, DC.
Native Americans march in protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, September 3, 2016.
Actress Shailene Woodley speaks during the Enough is Enough protest in Los Angeles California, August 27, 2016.
Protestors march to a construction site for the Dakota Access Pipeline to express their opposition to the pipeline.
North Dakota Native American children participate in the Stop The Dakota Access Pipeline protest at Union Square on August 7, 2016 in New York City.
North Dakota Native American children participate in the Stop The Dakota Access Pipeline protest at Union Square on August 7, 2016 in New York City.
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