Barb Shane from Atkinson, Nebraska. "We want to save the water from the Ogallala aquifer from being contaminated from the Keystone XL pipeline. We want to tell the President to stop the pipeline."
Madonna Sitting Bear from Rosebud, South Dakota. "We are out here today to support the protest and to say no to the Keystone XL Pipeline."
In April of 2014 a large gathering or ranchers, farmers and members from various indigenous nations from Nebraska took over a section of the National Mall in protest of the Keystone Pipeline. The week-long ‘Reject and Protect’ rally was given high exposure in the media. The portraits here represent an attempt to document that protest in a way to goes beyond typical photographic coverage of these types of events.
Will Craige, from Washington, DC. "I am out here today to join the demonstration against the pipeline, as well to raise awareness on climate and environmental issues, and to celebrate the 44th Earth Day."
Lori Collins from Lake Creek, Texas. "I am out here today to support and protect our land and our water".
Shane Redhawk from Mission, South Dakota on the Rosebud Indian reservation. "We're here to defend Mother Earth, the sacred resources, our water, this land for future generations, and all kids no matter what color they are."
Gary Door the Game, Fish and Parks Director on Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation, and Nez Perce Indian from Idaho. "We are here to send a message to the President and to the world that the pipeline is not allowed on reservation land. We're going to stop it from going through."
Filmmaker Josh Fox. "The Keystone XL pipeline fight is one of those things that is binding together all of these people who are fighting extreme energy; fracking, tar sands, mountaintop removal, and coal. It's really one movement, so we all have to participate when it's possible. I'm very happy to see this happening."
Alexandra Keriakedes from Lincoln, Nebraska. "I hate the pipeline. I hate all all fossil fuels. To a certain extent, for a certain limited time now, we are faced with these [options] and the disadvantages of them. But, I am above all an incurable optimist."
Casey Camp-Horinek a member of the Ponca Nation of Oklahoma. "What is not being connected, and the dots that make the picture of our Mother Earth, is that we human beings have a finite situation in terms of time to change the way in which we inhabit our portion of creation."
Samantha Jones and Tashina Redhawk from Rosebud, South Dakota. "We our out here today to stop [the XL] pipeline from contaminating our lands. In our traditions we plan for the next seven generations. If the pipeline happens…it's going to ruin our land."