Explanation

The Episcopal Church has a powerful story of Bishop Whipple standing with the Ojibwe and Dakota people in Minnesota. He continued his advocacy for the Dakota people as they were exiled into the Dakota Territory and called on the House of Bishops to elect William Hobart Hare for mission among the Great Sioux Nation and he became known as the Apostle of the West. Today the Episcopal Church continues to be known as an ally to the Indigenous Nations in Minnesota and the Dakotas. Most recently it was known to Stand With Standing Rock in the confrontation with the Dakota Access Pipeline that runs through treaty land (1851 & 1868) and adjacent to the Standing Rock Sioux Nation. The Bishops of North and South Dakota, Bp. Smith and Bp. Tarrant, together with Presiding Bishop Curry were counted among those that supported Standing Rock in its stand against the risks brought to its water. Now, Minnesota, has given its permission for Enbridge Line #3 to develop a route through the waters and land of Northern Minnesota. Bishop Prior of Minnesota has spoken in support of Ojibwe sovereignty and their responsibility to protect the water. When the State and County officials in North Dakota placed themselves in opposition to the Standing Rock Sioux Nation, and Standing Rock’s call for the Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation) to come to its aid, a sometimes violent standoff with Law Enforcement ensued against the Water Protectors that gathered at the Backwater Bridge. As a church we support prayerful, peaceful and non-violent approaches to express our concerns of the risks to the environment and the people of these territories. As a church we call on all elected officials to guide and direct their conduct to be above reproach. As a church we call upon all levels of government to support and honor treaty obligations. We believe the Ojibwe Bands of northern Minnesota are right to assert their opposition to the pipeline under the treaties that were made on their behalf by their ancestors.