DRAFT

September 7, 2016

The Hon. Dave Archambault, II, Chairman

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Building No. 1-N Standing Rock Avenue

P.O. Box D

Fort Yates, North Dakota  58538

Re:     Dakota Access Pipeline

Dear Chairman Archambault:

The City Commission of Lawrence, Kansas, hereby professes its solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in its opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline.  Lawrence, Kansas is the proud home to the premiere tribal university in the United States, Haskell Indian Nations University (Haskell).  Haskell’s student population consists of approximately 1,000 students each semester from over 130 U.S. federally recognized tribes.  The Lawrence City Commission supports Haskell’s vision statement to advance “sovereignty, self-determination, and the inherent rights of tribes.” We value the contributions Haskell’s students and faculty make to our community.  We also have a number of Native American students and faculty at Kansas University as well as local residents who contribute to the rich fabric of our community. 

We are deeply disappointed that the Dakota Access Pipeline is proceeding over the strong objections from, and without proper consultation with, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other indigenous nations along the pipeline’s proposed route.  We are saddened by reports that the pipeline has destroyed significant cultural and historic areas of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

Our community cares deeply about clean drinking water not only for our people today, but for future generations.  We share the concerns of your tribe that the 1,100 mile pipeline carrying over one half million barrels of crude oil per day across several Midwestern states could jeopardize the precious and life-sustaining water resources of many, many Midwestern communities. 

In conclusion, the City of Lawrence, Kansas values and honors the original inhabitants of our nation’s land.  We wish to express our strong support of the indigenous peoples’ opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Hon. Dave Archambault, II

Sept. 7, 2016

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Respectfully,

Mike Amyx, Mayor                                          Leslie Soden, Vice Mayor

Stuart Boley, Commissioner                              Matthew Herbert, Commissioner             

Lisa Larsen, Commissioner