November 14, 2016
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Obama:
We are writing on behalf of the more than 117,500 members of the American
Psychological Association (APA) and our Society for the Psychological Study of Culture,
Ethnicity and Race to express our support for your Administration’s hold on the
construction of the oil pipeline near the Standing Rock Reservation, and your
consideration of alternate routes for the project.
APA is the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in
the United States. Our mission is to advance the creation, communication, and
application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.
Due to the proposed placement of the pipeline, we have concerns about the possibility for
future leakage posing harm to the people of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. As
psychologists, we are particularly troubled by the potential for adverse neurological
effects of oil-contaminated water. Moreover, we are disturbed that the pipeline was
considered too risky to route close to Bismarck, North Dakota, but not to the Standing
Rock Sioux Reservation.
Native American populations have been historically marginalized and mistreated by the
United States. For instance, not all States recognized Native Americans’ right to vote
until 1957, and many tribes experienced great loss of life, land, and culture as the result
of State and Federal legislation. This mistreatment is associated with historical trauma in
which the loss experienced by one generation is transferred to subsequent generations
through biological, psychological, environmental, and social means. Studies have shown
that historical trauma is linked to health disparities, including increased likelihood of
early death due to chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, unintentional injuries,
assault/homicide, and suicide. We strongly advocate for the empowerment of these
communities through continuous, meaningful consultation with tribal leaders as the
project develops.
We are also very concerned about the violence that has occurred in response to protests.
Media reports describe protesters being held in dog kennels and shot with rubber bullets,
a frightening continuation of the historical mistreatment of Native Americans. We ask
that you do whatever you can to urge law enforcement to show restraint as they try to
diffuse the conflict.
Thank you again for your commitment to consider re-routing the pipeline in an effort to
preserve Native American sacred ground and a safe water supply. If we can be of any
assistance, please contact Serena Dávila, J.D., in APA’s Public Interest Government
Relations Office, at 202-336-6061 or sdavila@apa.org.
Sincerely,
Susan H. McDaniel, PhD, ABPP
Jacqueline Gray, PhD
President
President
Society for the Psychological Study
of Culture, Ethnicity and Race
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