Winnipeg protesters eye big banks day after 'great victory' at Standing Rock

Anti-pipeline protesters in Winnipeg urge Canadians to remove their money from financial institutions they say are in bed with big oil.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Sunday it would not approve the four-state, $3.8-billion Dakota Access Pipeline developers wanttobuild beneath Lake Oahe,a Missouri River reservoir near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota.

• Standing Rock protesters celebrate 'big victory' as pipeline construction halted

Despite the "great victory," Winnipeg educator Anny Chen says thebattle isn't over yet.

Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners LP, which owns the Dakota Access Pipeline, and Sunoco Logistics released a statement Sunday criticizing the Obama administration's move to halt development.

"We can see that they're going to keep fighting, so we have to as well," Chen said.

"If yousupport Energy Transfer Partners, then you are supporting Dakota Access as a whole," she said.

"When I think about the future of my family, the future of my loved ones,I want clean water,clean air, these simple basic necessities of life. And secondly, there is a viable economic future in sustainable energy, so why is it that we're holding on, building old technology instead of transitioning out?"

Chen is closing her bank accounts with PC Financial and RBC and switching to a credit union because, she said, several big banks have Canadians' money invested in fossil fuel development.

"If you are banking with those banks, then your money is being used to support pipelines," Chen said.

'Sustainability and safety'

Scotiabank spokesperson Rick Roth released a statement saying while the bank does have investments in the oil and gas sector, the bank isn't directly involved in financing the Dakota Access project.

"We strongly believe in responsible resource development and that federal and local governments have rigorous public consultation and impact review processes," Roth said."Environmental assessments and consulting with local residents are important parts of the process."

A TD spokespersonsaid the bank has been listening to critics and respects the rights of protesters to voice their opinions.

"We support efforts to ensure the sustainability and safety of the Dakota Access Pipeline site," the spokesperson said in a statement.

"TD played an active role in helping to secure an independent human rights expert to conduct a review on behalf of the lenders and advise on recommended improvements ETP and Sunoco Logistics can make to their social policies and procedures moving forward."

RBC said they are lenders to Energy Transfer partners but don't have direct financial involvement in the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Chen said banks may not be actively financing the Dakota Access Pipeline in particular, but the fact they have money invested in the fossil fuel industry at all goes against the goals of sustainable energy.

"If you are invested in companies that are committed to the current technologies, then are we going to move forward?" Chen asked.

"If you were affected by the brutal treatment of the water protectors [at Standing Rock]and disagreed with it, you have to know that you have a choice there. You have a choice to approach your bank and say, 'I do not accept this action, I don't support it and I want you to invest in a fossil-free future.'"

Winnipeg educator Leah Gazan said now that construction on the Dakota Access Pipeline has been suspended, it's time for Canadian Indigenous land and water protectors to turn their attention to the pipelines approved recently by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

• Trudeau cabinet approves Trans Mountain, Line 3 pipelines, rejects Northern Gateway

"The battle's long from over. Trump could certainly change that decision and Indigenous people have seen a history on Turtle Island that clearly states you don't get a change in decision and automatically trust that you can leave."

Many protesters remain committed to staying at the Dakota Access Pipeline construction side through the winter.