N.D. Indigenous leader willing to support future pipeline fights

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe chairman Dave Archambault, who has been at the centre of a contentious pipeline debate in North Dakota, says he's willing to support future pipeline fights including those in Canada.

"If I have an opportunity to make a difference for this world, and ifthat means standing up with people who have a strong belief and helpthem with their cause, I'll be more than willing to be there," he toldCBC News Monday from the Standing Rock tribal chambers in Fort Yates, N.D.

His declarationcomes as pipeline opponents continue to celebrate a decisionSunday by the Department of the Army denying permission to tunnel under a reservoir of the MissouriRiver albeit while remaining skeptical of the implications ofDonald Trump's impending U.S.presidency.

The reservoir is on landland managed by theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a division of theDepartment of the Army that maintains some federal land, infrastructure, waterways and military facilities.

At the same time, others are looking at this case through the lens of Indigenous consent in future naturalresource projects.

"I believe that you follow your heart and if you know something is notright, even though the law is the law, you have every right to standup against it," said Archambault.

"But I think it's important that you stay in prayer. Prayer will getyou through any adversity," he added.

The 1,885-kilometre pipeline owned by Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners LP is mostly complete, except for a segment that had been planned to run under Lake Oahe just outside the reservation near Cannon Ball, N.D.

The companyreleased a statement Sunday night describing thearmy's decision as a "purely political action" playing to an extremepolitical constituency.

The company added it has no plans to reroute the line.

• Trump mum on pipeline

"I say it's over," said Archambault in response. "Everybody needs togo home and the company needs to re-evaluate and re-assess and find analternative route off our treaty lands."

But Archambault clarified his goal is not to stop pipelines including Dakota Access entirely.

Oil will always be in demand

"The demand is always going to be there," he said of oil. "What I'masking is to reroute this pipeline off treaty lands, or if if you'regoing to continue infrastructure projects like this, give us anopportunity to give consent."

This case has experts pointing to possible future implications.

University of Manitoba law professor Aime Craft says the significanceof Standing Rock goes beyond one pipeline, adding she hopesfuturenatural resource projects would incorporate more holistic decision-making and better inclusion of Indigenous people.

Tara Houska, an Indigenous lawyer, said,"This has gained the momentum it has because of solidarity from aroundthe world and this very powerful gathering of Indigenous nations."

Time to go home

As for the immediate future, Archambault says it's time for people inthe camps to go home. The cold weather makes itunsafe to stay.

"It's time now. We can relax, we can breathe. and we don't need tocontinue to create an unsafe environment. We don't need to continueto put people's lives at risk," he said.

Yet fears linger among those in the main Oceti Sakowin camp about whata Trump presidency could mean down the line, with vows to stayrooted until that becomes clear.

Mr. President-elect, let's chat

Archambault is diplomatic on that point.

"I see it as an opportunity to try to welcome a conversation with thepresident-elect, because he has to understand why we resisted thispipeline," he said.

"We can build infrastructure, we can establish economies, we canassure national security and we don't have to do it off Indigenouspeoples' backs," added Archambault.

In fact, Archambault says, he is praying to speak with Trump, adding hewould greet Trump with open arms.

"He's welcome," said Archambault. "Anyone is welcome to our community."