VANDERBILT POLITICAL REVIEW
FEATURE
Pipe dream
Keystone XL Pipeline threatens Native American sovereignty
I
t has been hundreds of years since
Europeans first arrived in North
America, but political and territorial disputes with indigenous peoples
remain unresolved. A recent manifestation of this conflict involves the construction of the Keystone Pipeline,
the Indian territory it endangers, and
the lack of consultation with tribal nation leaders before making plans.
Despite the support for the TransCanada’s Keystone XL Pipeline by both
political parties, the pipeline debate is
still unsettled and many continue to
insist the plan should be seriously reconsidered. According to TransCanada’s website, the Keystone XL Pipeline
“will be the safest and most advanced
20
by ALLIE DOTEN ‘18
oil pipeline operation in North America. It will not only bring essential
infrastructure to North American oil
producers, but it will also provide jobs,
long-term energy independence and an
economic boost to Americans.” However, the benefits claimed by proponents
are exaggerated and disguise significant harm to Native American tribes.
One of the key benefits of the Keystone Pipeline is the creation of a
plethora of jobs. It is true that the Keystone XL would provide about 42,000
construction jobs, each of which would
benefit the jobholder and the economy-but only briefly. Construction and
other support jobs are temporary. According to Coral Davenport of the New
York Times after the two-year construction period, only 35 permanent jobs
would remain. The cost of this massive
loss of jobs may outweigh the temporary benefits of creating them. The
Keystone XL Pipeline websit H\