Editor’s note: The following is a letter of solidarity signed by over 160 University of Toronto students, faculty, and staff, expressing support for the Standing Rock Sioux and other groups protesting against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The letter was sent to The Varsity on October 12, 2016.
This statement was written prior to the court ruling on September 19, 2016, which halted construction for 20 miles on either side of Lake Oahe. Protests have continued in response to the construction still ongoing at other locations across the pipeline route.
As members of the University of Toronto community, we, the undersigned, express our resolute solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux and all land and water defenders at the Sacred Stone Camp against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).
The DAPL is one of the largest pipelines currently under construction, and it would transport 450,000 barrels per day of fracked oil from North Dakota to southern Illinois. The pipeline route travels through 1,800 km of land, through lakes and waterways, like the Missouri river, that provide millions with drinking water, and through sacred Indigenous sites and territories (some of which have already been destroyed). We stand in opposition to the development of oil pipelines in North Dakota and across Turtle Island – infrastructure that ignores and violates Indigenous sovereignty; that threatens the health of present and future generations and their environments; that exploits land and people for short-term capitalist profit.
Like the pipelines themselves that traverse colonial borders, we recognize that the Standing Rock struggle is part of the same fight being waged and won by Indigenous nations the world over against the dispossession, displacement, and destruction of Indigenous peoples, lands, and ways of life; that this action is part of a broader struggle against the violence of extractive activities that reflect and entrench ongoing state commitments to settler colonialism, environmental racism, and capitalist exploitation – violences equally perpetrated by the Canadian state. We oppose the Canadian government’s allocation of billions of taxpayer dollars towards the expansion of the Albertan tar sands, an industrial megaproject that carries far-reaching social, economic, and environmental consequences for people across Turtle Island, including the Standing Rock Sioux and their allies. We oppose the investments made by the Canadian oil conglomerate, Enbridge, in the DAPL project.
We celebrate and give thanks for the labour and the victories of the land and water defenders at the Sacred Stone Camp, including their efforts to gather people and build community – a show of power and determination that has secured the ruling by the Obama administration to halt construction on part of the DAPL. We add our voices and efforts to the struggle until we can guarantee full respect for Indigenous sovereignty and land rights, and ensure healthy land and water for generations to come.
In solidarity,
Maureen FitzGerald, Fellow, Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, University of Toronto
Nickie Van Lier, PhD student, Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto
Leah Montange, PhD student, Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto
Michael Chrobok, PhD student, Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto
Isabel Urrutia, PhD student, Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto
Robert Fajber, PhD candidate, Department of Physics, University of Toronto
Cristina Jaimungal, PhD student, Social Justice Education, University of Toronto, University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union (UTGSU) Executive
Cindy Ka Man Lee, Masters student, Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto
Christopher Cully, MA candidate, Department of Social Justice Education, President, OISE Graduate Students’ Association
Brieanne Berry Crossfield, M.Ed Student, Social Justice Education, University of Toronto
Emma McClure, PhD student, Philosophy Department, University of Toronto
Mary Jean Hande, PhD Candidate, Leadership, Higher and Adult Education, OISE, University of Toronto
Cynthia Morinville, PhD student, Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto
Anna Shortly, MScPl student, Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto
Zachary Anderson, PhD Candidate, Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto
Jeremy Withers, PhD student, Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto
Justin Kong, MA Candidate, Department of Sociology, University of Toronto
Phoebe Edwards, PhD student, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto
Emily A. Moorhouse, MA, Department of Social Justice Education, University of Toronto.
Anna Heffernan, MA Candidate, Centre for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, University of Toronto
Alexander Ivovic PhD Candidate, Department of Physiology, University of Toronto
Emily Gilbert, Associate Professor, Canadian Studies Program and Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Deborah Cowen, Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Benjamin Patrick Butler, PhD student, Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto
Laura Landertinger, PhD Candidate, Department of Social Justice Education, University of Toronto
Jeff Bale, Associate Professor, Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
Jillian Linton, MA Candidate, Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto
Ellyse Winter, PhD student, Department of Social Justice Education, University of Toronto
Dylan Clark, Lecturer in Anthropology, Contemporary Asian Studies, and Geography. U. of Toronto
Léa Ravensbergen, PhD Student, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Lauren Kepkiewicz, PhD Candidate, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Shane Lynn, PhD Candidate, Department of History, University of Toronto
Jocelyn Piercy, PhD Candidate, OISE, University of Toronto
Jessica Concepcion, Teacher Candidate, OISE, University of Toronto
Yukiko Tanaka, PhD Student, Department of Sociology, University of Toronto
Louise Birdsell Bauer, PhD Candidate, Department of Sociology, University of Toronto
Kim de Laat, PhD Candidate, Department of Sociology, University of Toronto
Ambika Tenneti, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto
Nasim Ramezani, PhD Student, Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto
Sarah Cappeliez, PhD Candidate, Department of Sociology, University of Toronto
Noah Kenneally, PhD Candidate, Department of Social Justice Education, OISE, University of Toronto
Fernando Calderón Figueroa, PhD Student, Department of Sociology, University of Toronto
Jonathan Kauenhowen, PhD Student, Department of Sociology, University of Toronto
Merin Oleschuk, PhD Candidate, Department of Sociology, University of Toronto
Matthew Farish, Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Katie Mazer, PhD Candidate, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Ximena Martinez, PhD student, Social Justice Education, University of Toronto.
Jesse Jenkinson, PhD Candidate, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto.
Anelyse Weiler, PhD Student, Department of Sociology, University of Toronto
Andrew Merrill, PhD Student, Department of Geography, University of Toronto
Sarah Snyder, PhD Candidate, Department of Social Justice Education, University of Toronto
Jess Clausen, PhD student, Social Justice Education, University of Toronto
Khursheed Sadat MA Student, Women and Gender Studies Institute, University of Toronto
Marie Laing, MA candidate, Department of Social Justice Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
Kimberly Todd, Ph.D Student, Social Justice Education, University of Toronto
Suzanne Narain, PhD Candidate, Department of Social Justice Education, OISE, University of Toronto
Yessica Rostan, MA Student at OISE/UofT in Social Justice and Comparative International Developmental Education, Youth Worker and Community Educator
Kristy Bard, USW1998 Chief Steward, Faculty of Arts & Science, University of Toronto
Victor Barac, Ph.D., Lecturer, University of Toronto, Dept. of Anthropology
Sam Spady, PhD Candidate, Social Justice Education, University of Toronto
Storm K. Jeffers, PhD Student, Department of Sociology, University of Toronto
Diana M. Barrero, M.A student, Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
Justin Holloway, USW1998 Steward (OISE), M.A. student, Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
Lora Senechal Carney, Arts, Culture and Media, UTSC
Linda Kohn, Professor, Biology Dept., UTM
Karen Dewart McEwen, PhD Student, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto
Nicole Laliberte, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, UTM
Nhung Tuyet Tran, Associate Professor of History & Canada Research Chair, UNiversity of Toronto
Theresa Enright, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto
Rosa Sarabia, Professor, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of Toronto
Natalie Rothman, Associate Professor, Historical and Cultural Studies, UTSC
Dana Seitler, Associate Professor, Department of English, University of Toronto
Tavleen Purewal, PhD Student, Department of English, University of Toronto
Francis Cody, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto
Jens Hanssen, Associate Professor, Departments of History & NMC, University of Toronto
Sarah Wakefield, Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Kanishka Goonewardena, Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Kerry Parrett MA student, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto
Catherine Thompson-Walsh, PhD Student, School and Clinical Child Psychology, Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, OISE, University of Toronto
Anna Ek, MA Student, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Angie Fazekas, PhD Student, Women and Gender Studies Institute, University of Toronto
Alex Djedovic, PhD Candidate, Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology. University of Toronto
Kajri Jain, Associate Professor, Departments of Visual Studies and Art History, University of Toronto
Jennifer Jenkins, Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Toronto
Paul Hamel, Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
David Seitz, Lecturer, Sexual Diversity Studies, University of Toronto
Michelle Murphy, Professor, Department of History and WGSI, University of Toronto
Alejandro I. Paz, Assistant Professor, Anthropology, University of Toronto
Rena Helms-Park, Associate Professor, Linguistics/Speech Pathology, University of Toronto
Sylvia Mittler, Associate Professor, Centre for French and Linguistics, UTSC
Ron Smyth, Department of Psychology and Centre for French and Linguistics, UTSC
Jennifer Nedelsky, Faculty of Law and Department of Political Science, University of Toronto.
Ilana Newman, MI student, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto
Laura Moncion, MA student, Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Toronto
Noah Ross, MA student, Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Toronto
Amy Wood, PhD student, Political Science, University of Toronto
Sara Klein, MI student, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto, Irena Smith, MA Student, Women and Gender Studies
Alexandra Izgerean, MA student, School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Toronto
Kathryn Henzler, MMus student, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto
Judi McIntyre, MIRHR student, CIRHR, University of Toronto
Hoda Ebrahimi, MT Student, OISE, University of Toronto
Megan Harris, PhD Candidate, English Department, University of Toronto
Zoe David-Delves, Master’s of Global Affairs Candidate, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto
Olivia Shortt, MMus in Instrumental Performance, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto
Napat Malathum, MMSt student, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto
Mohammad Alhaj, MD. DLSPH -Department of Epidemiology, University of Toronto.
Bogdan Smarandache, PhD Candidate, Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Toronto
Nisha Toomey, PhD Student, Social Justice Education, OISE, University of Toronto
Bhavani Raman, Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Toronto.
Maria-Saroja Ponnambalam, MA student, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Lauren Maxine, MI student, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto
Andrew Kaufman, PhD Student, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Evan Miller, PhD Student, Department of Mathematics, University of Toronto
Katherine D. Balasingham, PhD Student, Department of Physical and Environmental Science, University of Toronto
Alison Traub, MASc Student, Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto
Holly Pelvin, PhD Candidate, Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies, University of Toronto
Sarah Dungan, PhD Candidate, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto
Talha Khan, MSc Candidate, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Milan Ilnyckyj, PhD Student, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto
Una Creedon-Carey, PhD Student, Department of English, University of Toronto
Patrick Lorenzo, MSW Student, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto
Rebecca Jacobs, MA Student, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Nicholas Field, PhD Student, Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto
Fatima Altaf, MA Student, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto
Madelaine C. Cahuas, PhD Candidate, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Heather Hanwell, MSC PhD – MPH (Epidemiology) Candidate, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
Elizabeth Davis, PhD student, Department of Social Justice Education, OISE, University of Toronto
Peige Desjarlais, PhD Student, Department of Social Justice Education, OISE, University of Toronto
Angela Michener, MSW Student, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto
Christopher Wai, MMSt (Museum Studies) Student, Faculty of Information (iSchool), University of Toronto
Christopher Boccia, MSc student, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto
Camille-Mary Sharp, PhD Student, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto
Neil Nunn, PhD Student, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Shaniqwa Thomas, M.ed Student, Department of Social Justice Education, University of Toronto
Alison McAvella, MT, Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning
Madison Stirling, MMSt (Museum Studies) Student, Faculty of Information (iSchool), University of
Toronto
Celina Carter, RN, Doctoral Student, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
Andrea Meeson, Research Education Coordinator, Collaborative Program in Resuscitation Sciences, University of Toronto.
Dominique Soutiere, PhD candidate, Department of Physics, University of Toronto
Nicole Stradiotto, MI student, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto
Tania Ruiz-Chapman, PhD Student, Department of Social Justice Education, University of Toronto
Shanelle Henry, MA Student, Applied Psychology & Human Development, University of
Toronto OISE
Paul Matthews, MA Student, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
James A. McNamara, MT student, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
Ben Losman, MEd Student, Social Justice Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education,
University of Toronto
Kaylee Cameron, MA Student, Adult Education & Community Development, Ontario Institute for
Studies in Education, University of Toronto
David Helps, MA Student, Department of History, University of Toronto
Lila Platt, MA Student, Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto
Dr. Giselle Gos, Celtic Studies, University of Toronto
Tadhg Morris, PhD Candidate, Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Toronto
Shea Sinnott, MEd Student, Adult Education & Community Development, Ontario Institute for Studies
in Education, University of Toronto
MattheW Badali, PhD Candidate, Department of Physics, University of Toronto
Iehnhotonkwas Bonnie Jane Maracle, Aboriginal Learning Strategist, First Nations House, University
of Toronto
Nishant Singh, PhD Student, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto
Brent Wood, Lecturer, Department of English and Drama, University of Toronto at Mississauga
Raina Loxley, MPH Candidate, Epidemiology, DLSPH, University of Toronto
Alberto Garcia-Raboso, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Mathematics, University of Toronto
Ann Wilkin, M.A. English, University of Toronto and M.Ed. Curriculum Studies and Teacher
Development, OISE
Tim Wesson, M.Ed student LHAE, OISE
Emily Clare, PhD Student, Linguistics Department, University of Toronto
Linda McNenly, PhD, Visiting Scholar, Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto
Mississauga
Justin Stein, PhD Candidate and Course Instructor, Department for the Study of Religion, University of
Toronto
Shayne A. P. Dahl, PhD Student, Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto
Rastko Cvekic, PhD Candidate, Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto
Jessica Broe-Vayda, PhD Student, Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto
Vasuki Shanmuganathan, PhD Candidate, Department of German and Women & Gender Studies, University of Toronto
