Native American People are being profiled in the State of North Dakota because of the Dakota Access Pipeline Protest.  They have been the target of derogatory slurs, gestures, and blatant acts of racism. Many untruths are being told by the media and people in political positions about Native Americans that are protesting, such as protestors having pipe bombs, weapons, and beaming pilots with lasers while they are in flight.  A barricade by the State of North Dakota has been placed on Highway 1806 South of Mandan, N.D.  Individuals cannot gain access to the Standing Rock Reservation or the Prairie Knights Casino which is owned by the Standing Rock Tribe. They can obtain access to the City of Mandan and Bismarck to ensure the cities maintain their financial status.  Children who reside along Highway 1806 and are enrolled in the Mandan Public Schools are being escorted by police officers to school while people who reside in Fort Yates are forced to take unnecessary detours on gravel roads to return home from Bismarck and Mandan.

We have faced unnecessary obstacles in maintaining our right to protest and freedom of speech.  Native American Treaties have been ignored and broken in every way possible and our rights have been blatantly disregarded. We do not get free education, health care, trade goods, yearly cash annuity payments, and assurances that no further demands would be made on our people as stated by the treaties.  We are not expendable!  If mindsets are not changed it will continue to affect people of all color. 

I am Native American and am a parent and grandparent.  Our youth need to be protected. The ugliness and hate needs to stop.  Grandparents and parents need to stop teaching bigotry and racism.  I acknowledge that not all people are racist and there is ignorance and ugliness in every race.  Many of our brothers and sisters of other races are in support of our cause and I thank you!

There is no place for racism in our world today.  Meetings need to take place, plans of action need to be completed, and action needs to occur to ensure racism will no longer be tolerated within our state.