Native American Pipeline Injustice Research Paper

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A general knowledge of injustice perpetrated against Native Americans is crucial, but in order to prompt serious change, the public needs to be educated about how decisions regarding the pipeline affect everyday life on the reservation. When the pipeline was proposed, it initially traveled through Bismarck, North Dakota, where the residents complained about the potential hazardous effects of the pipeline. Immediately, it was rerouted towards the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, where residents suffer a much lower quality of life than non-reservation counterparts: a 43% poverty rate, 79% unemployment, rampant alcoholism, and some of the highest childhood mortality, suicide, and dropout rates in the country (Lee). Life can be bleak on the reservation, …show more content…

After the initial discomfort of taking a stand against the pipeline for the rights of the Native American people, American citizens would be able to live in a more just society. It would be uncomfortable at first because Americans need to be resensitized to the injustice perpetrated towards the Native American people. We know what happened to their ancestors and recognize that it was wrong, but when it is still happening today, not many bother to care. To simply recognize the struggle and understand what the Native groups are fighting for is necessary to begin helping them achieve their goal. If their goal of stopping the pipeline is achieved, Americans could stand to live in a society more consistent with its core values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Those core values are not often extended to groups like Native Americans, but by helping them regain sovereignty, they could be. By reshaping the conversation to make positive change a reality, we could resensitize and ensure that more people enjoy the benefits of life, liberty, and the pursuit of

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