News Release

For Immediate Release
December 21, 2016

Clark College Mature Learning program features course on the
Océti Sakówin Encampment in North Dakota

This unique course will be taught by journalist and Clark instructor Jacqueline Keeler
based on her direct experience at the encampment.

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Clark College’s Mature Learning program, a part of the college’s Economic & Community Development (ECD) division, is offering a five week winter course entitled The Return of the Great Sioux Nation,” taught by journalist Jacqueline Keeler, a member of the Océti Sakówin (Standing Rock Sioux tribe). Keeler is currently reporting directly from the Dakota encampment.

Despite the news that the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline was halted and not granted an easement, the project will be affected by a new administration in January. This class offers an exciting opportunity to see next steps unfold directly from sources at the site.

A variety of guest speakers who have been to the encampment will offer stories and testimony as well as an exploration of the painful and difficult history of American Indian tribes and their broken treaties with the United States. Clark College’s Native American Culture Club and staff member Anna Schmasow of the Standing Rock tribe are contributors to the course.

The Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota are all members of the Océti Sakówin, the seven council fires. According to Keeler, the 1,168-mile-pipeline extending across four states from North Dakota to Illinois has sparked a prairie fire of united Native American resistance not seen since Wounded Knee, and is seen as a “return of the Great Sioux Nation.” Protestors against the pipeline have been encamped in North Dakota since September, 1, 2016, sparking a movement across racial, geographic, and generational lines. The line, owned by Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners LP, had been complete except for a segment planned to run under Lake Oahe, a reservoir formed by a dam on the Missouri River.

The 5-week course is being held Mondays at 1:30 p.m. from January 9 – February 13, 2017.  Classes will take place at Clark College at Columbia Tech Center located at 18700 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd. There is a $58.00 registration fee to attend.

Registration is available online or by calling 360-992-2939. The deadline to register is the first day of the course, January 9. 

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For additional information:
Toccara Stark, Communications & Marketing | T: 360-992-2526  E: tstark@clarke.edu
Tracy Reilly-Kelly, Economic & Community Development | T: 360-992-2163 E: tkelly@clark.edu