Our History Is the Future: Standing Rock Versus the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Long Tradition of Indigenous Resistance

This legislation granted reservation land and unceded territory to the Oceti Sakowin. In addition, it established that any use of this land would require consent from the Oceti Sakowin nation. Estes points out that the establishment of dams through the Pick-Sloan Plan—as well as the construction of DAPL—directly violated this treaty.

Founded by a group of Ojibwes, AIM originally focused on developing community programs and alternative education for Indigenous youth. AIM grew exponentially, leading to many monumental protests, including a protest of the illegal seizure of the Black Hills to build Mount Rushmore.

Formed by Indigenous women from AIM, this coalition of Indigenous activists and white ranchers sought to stop dangerous mining in the Black Hills.