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Michiel Montiel
Michiel Montiel takes very seriously his pledge to protect American democracy and the rights of Americans to express their opinion.
On Dec. 2, VFW Post 3584 Quartermaster and Superior resident Michiel Montiel and Kearny resident Arturo Yescas left the Copper Corridor heading to North Dakota as part of an organized protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline by a group of Veterans. The Veterans plan to place themselves as a visual barrier between the authorities and the protesters.
“(Arturo) and I both have Native American in our blood and it’s something that really bothered us,” Montiel told Copper Area News. “Everyone always asked that question—What can I do? We had talked about trying to find a time in both our schedules that we could go out there and find out what we can do and how we can support them.”
A couple weeks ago, they saw a Facebook post about an organized group of several hundred Veterans from all around the country that were self-deploying to North Dakota. They decided to join the group.
“We are going there to work, going there to defend the Constitution,” Montiel explained. “That’s why the people there are protesting. They are, completely justifiably, very upset that a corporation has been given carte blanche to step on their human rights, step on their rights as a tribe, step on their sovereign rights as a government and take back all the things that were agreed to and given to them over a hundred years ago.”
The pipeline as planned would go under the Missouri River and Lake Oahe. If the pipeline ever burst it would damage sacred lands and contaminate the water source and contaminate the drinking water of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.
“Yes, they are fighting for themselves, but it’s much larger than that.” According to Montiel, “Not just the tribe would be affected.” It could potentially contaminate the drinking water of millions of people. “We feel that we do need to stand up and be one of the many voices saying, ‘no this is not okay’ and we are not going to sit by and let it happen.”
Michiel and Arturo are heading down to Phoenix where they will gather with other Veterans and travel in convoy to North Dakota. The Veterans group has provided a list of things that should be packed for the trip. Not surprising, cold weather gear is on the top of the list, but there are other things such as protective gear, heavy clothing and gas masks listed. According to the group, law enforcement at the protest is using a lot of different nonviolent tactics such as rubber bullets, tear gas, water canyons, and concussion grenades. The group wants all the veterans that are going to be protect themselves as much as possible and to be prepared to stand and take whatever is thrown their way.
Michiel and Arturo both know that while they are protesting there is a very good chance they may be arrested.
“The last I heard bail was $1,600 which you have to come up with ten percent of that cash to get bonded, bailed out, so Arturo and I both planned ahead and we have $160 there and waiting in case we do get arrested and have to get bailed out,” Montiel said.
The trip to North Dakota will take the convey two days. Michiel and Arturo plan to be gone for eight days. Michiel’s goal is “Raising awareness.” He says most the people he talks to about the pipeline only know a small part of what is going on. They don’t realize the pipeline is being put on sovereign, Native land. “The land was never seeded to the United States,” he says. “By every treaty and agreement ever made between the Sioux and the national government it is Sioux land.“ He goes on to explain that the government has offered the Sioux a settlement for the land, but the tribe doesn’t want to sell. He feels that the public doesn’t truly understand the situation. “If you took ten people and sat them down in a room and explained to them the situation and what’s going on, nine out of ten of them are going to say that’s wrong.” That they need to find another way.
Update: According to the New York Times on Sunday, Dec. 4, the Department of the Army announced it is looking into alternative routes for the pipeline crossing. The Army Corps of Engineers, which is part of the Department of the Army, is not going ahead with building the pipeline under the Missouri River and Lake Oahe. The Department of the Army has called for an environmental study to be done.
About Montiel: Michiel is half Yaquipscua. He grew up in Superior and graduated from Superior High School. After graduation, he joined the army. He spent four years in the army and was an artilleryman and an infantryman. Michiel did tours in Kosovo and Iraq. When he came home he went to Mesa Community College and received his associate degree and then moved onto Arizona State University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in a dual major — Business and Human Communications. He moved back to Superior where he started a business growing gourmet mushrooms for restaurants.
Comments from Michiel’s Facebook page.
Photo of all vets who attended.
Article by Cat Brown
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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