An open letter to President Obama:

“President Obama! You saved the day!”

This is a quote from Standing Rock, North Dakota on Sept. 9. This day, you and the federal government affirmed water is life. This day, the federal government affirmed that treaties with American Indian sovereign nations are government-to-government contracts and are to be respected as the law of the land.

Standing Rock water protectors have forced these issues with peace, prayer, determination and allies. We are a group of concerned activist allies  who live by the Salish Sea (Puget Sound) working on water and shoreline degradation issues with local American Indian Tribes. We stand in solidarity with a national environment priority, spearheaded by Tribes, that water is life. The news that the federal government has stepped in is so appreciated, empowering and hope-filled.

May the future bring new respect and understanding for American Indian Tribes as governments work together to solve life-survival issues. Please, Mr. President, do not let this be a false victory for all humanity and the earth.

Thank you for inspiring this work. We humans are 60 percent water.

With gratitude,

KLEAN (Kitsap Livable Environment Action Network)
Alice McCain, Baker Stocking, Bert Jackson, Bruce McCain, Craig Jacobrown, Margaret Tufft, Marilyn Bode, Mark Barabasz, Mary Gleysteen