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Standing Rock protester to speak at Liverpool Hope

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Indigenous Water Protector Thomas Tonatiuh Lopez, who played a key role in the Standing Rock Dakota Nation oil pipe protest, is set to share his experience with Liverpool Hope students and members of the public this week. 

The protests led by The Standing Rock Dakota Nation united 200 Indigenous Nations for the first time in 500 years to resist a ‘Big Oil’ pipeline at the Cannonball River, North Dakota, which threatened their only water source. The pipeline has now been approved by the current Republican Administration. Thomas will discuss the protest and what happens next.

Thomas Tonatiuh Lopez has been working with the International Indigenous Youth Council on the ground at Standing Rock to defeat the Dakota Access Pipeline. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado; Thomas identifies as Chicano paying homage to his Mexican, Diné, Apache and Hunk-Lakota roots.

He is a grandson of Chief Leonard Crowdog and the son of Water Woman Sharon Lopez and Sundance Chief Thomas Lopez Sr. Thomas is a college graduate from Metro State University of Denver with a Bachelor’s Degree in Technical Communications and a minor in Native American Studies.

He is continuing his work as a leader and mentor for the IIYC; being a voice for those who have been silenced.

The discussion is presented by AKI in partnership with Writing On The Wall, Liverpool Hope University's Department of Social Work, Care and Justice, the Centre for the Study of Crime, Criminalisation and Social Exclusion at Liverpool John Moores University and the School of Law and Social Justice, University of Liverpool.

 

Dakota Pipeline Event: Guest Speaker Thomas Tonatiuh Lopez. 

Friday 5th May, Time: 1pm (Doors open 12.30pm) Location: EDEN Lecture Theatre. All Welcome.


Published on 20/03/2018