section one: In Montana,Native Americans fear a leak could destroy their way of life, but local politicians worry approximately the threat of protesters above all else
Words by Oliver Laughland, or photos and video by Laurence Mathieu-LégerSupport our environmental reporting with a contribution or by fitting a member“Our people call it the black snake because it is evil,” says Tressa Welch, as thunder clouds steamroll the blue sky over the plains of Wolf Point. “And like snakes they come out of nowhere, or they slither and strike unknown.”She faces southwards where,a couple of miles away, forks of lightning crack over the Missouri River. The 2m acre Fort Peck Indian Reservation straddles this winding water source, and providing sustenance for the nearly 7000 Assiniboine and Sioux tribe here and thousands of others throughout north-east Montana. It is the river that Welch and other Native American activists on the reserve say the Keystone XL oil pipeline – or the black snake” – will corrupt.
Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com