Photos: Cowboy Indian Alliance offers Obama gift in hope that he bars Keystone XL pipeline

by | Apr 28, 2014 | Faith, Ethics + Spirituality, Politics

  • Tribal leaders prepare to march in Washington Saturday to deliver a painted tipi to the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, hoping that President Barack Obama bars construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. (Mallory Black/MNS)

  • The Crow and Lakota names of the tipi are Oyate Owicakiye Wicasa and Awe Kooda Bilaxpak Kuuxshish -- names given to President Barack Obama by the tribes in 2008. The names translate to “Man Who Helps the People” and “One Who Helps People throughout the Land.” (Mallory Black/MNS)

  • Actress Daryl Hannah speaks to reporters Saturday in support of the Cowboy Indian Alliance's Reject and Protect demonstration against the Keystone XL pipeline. (Mallory Black/MNS)

  • Thousands gather at the National Mall Saturday to support the Cowboy Indian Alliance's protest against construction of the tar sands oil pipeline that would run from Canada to Nebraska. (Mallory Black/MNS)

  • A dog ambles through the crowd at the Cowboy Indian Alliance's Reject and Protect encampment at the National Mall Saturday. (Mallory Black/MNS)

  • Musician and environmental activist Neil Young greets Bryan Brewer (right), president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, at the Reject and Protect encampment to join the protest against the Keystone XL pipeline. (Mallory Black/MNS)

  • Bekah Starr O'Brien (left), Michael O'Brien (center) and Isaiah Starr O'Brien (right) traveled all night from Buffalo, New York, to Washington to participate in the demonstration against the Keystone XL pipeline. (Mallory Black/MNS)

  • The Cowboy Indian Alliance marches through Washington on April 26 to deliver a painted tipi to the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. (Mallory Black/MNS)

  • Members of the Cowboy Indian Alliance and tribal leaders present the tipi Saturday to representatives of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. (Mallory Black/MNS)

  • Lakota artist Steve Tamayo, of the Sicangu Lakota tribe, designed the tipi for the Keystone XL demonstration. His family is from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. (Mallory Black/MNS)

WASHINGTON — Nearing the end of a weeklong demonstration against the Keystone XL pipeline, actress Daryl Hannah and musician Neil Young joined the Cowboy Indian Alliance Saturday to deliver a painted tipi to the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

Accepted by the museum as a gift for President Barack Obama, the tipi was intended to symbolize the alliance’s desire that the president block construction of the oil pipeline that would stretch from Alberta, Canada, to Nebraska; the entire pipeline system would continue to refineries in Texas. The pipeline would carry tar sands oil and needs State Department approval because it originates in a foreign country.

The alliance of farmers and ranchers, tribes and advocacy groups set up their encampment at the National Mall in protest of the Keystone XL pipeline on April 22.