Horseback rider visits tribes along 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline

What began as a desire to draw attention to environmental actions affecting her world prompted Sarah Murphy to share the story of pipelines and natural resource extraction with everyone she knew.

Years ago, Murphy had witnessed the negative impact of coal development on the people of Kentucky. She began planning a 600-mile trip on horseback. In fall 2018, Murphy began her journey in Kentucky with her trusted horse Rob Roy, who was 24. After resting over the winter, she brought her newest horse Unbridled Flourish, nicknamed UFO, who was a 5-year-old retired racing horse.

The fall ride marked her second long trek. Being a master equestrian, she rode horseback in 2013 with Rob Roy, her then 19-year old horse, across the mountains of Kentucky, protesting the removal of the mountaintops. Seeing firsthand the damage that the process had on the lands of Kentucky lead her to the realization that before long there wouldn’t be any more mountaintops to remove.

This concerned Murphy, a Native of Virginia, because she knew coal was a finite resource, that once tapped out, the coal miners would come to the place she called home.

Her premonition came true.

In 2017, Murphy returned to Virginia after caring for her grandmother until she died. She soon learned that the Atlantic Coast Pipeline developer had announced plans to begin building a pipeline in Virginia. The company is a joint venture between Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, and Southern Company Gas, with Dominion serving as the lead stakeholder.

This time however, she decided to seek American Indian viewpoints on how this would affect their land.

“I think I’m more interested in learning from the Indigenous people,” said Murphy. She said that the respect for America’s Indigenous population began in her early childhood and she felt remorse for how they were treated.

“It was important to reach out to the tribes because of their spiritual beliefs connected to the Earth,” Murphy said.

Even though Murphy claims no Indian ancestry, she felt this was a necessary part of her trip. She was able to meet with the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Sussex, Virginia, the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe of Hollister, North Carolina and the Lumbee Indian tribe of Robeson County, North Carolina.

“It’s been really interesting to me to see how the cultures have changed with the times and what it means to be a modern indigenous person maintaining traditions and cultural heritage,” Murphy said. “I think it’s important for everyone to come together in the best way possible for good stewardship of the world that has been gifted to us.”

Murphy believes in the American Indian concept of living for the Seventh Generation, in that the decisions being made today about energy, water, and natural resources are sustainable for seven generations into the future. She was thankful that the Indian people she met along the way shared a similar mindset.

“Our Creator has used the non-violent actions of Sarah, UFO and Rob Roy to bring much needed awareness to the Atlantic Coast Pipeline,” stated Nottoway Indian Tribal member Leroy Hardy. “Whether you’re for it or against it, like it or not, you can’t help but admire her!”

Donna Chavis of the Lumbee tribe, who is also very involved in environmental causes of her region agreed. “We are family,” Chavis said of Murphy visiting Robeson County. “We will take care of her.”

Murphy also visited the Haliwa-Saponi’s tribal community and offices.

“I felt a special kinship with the people I met during my stay in the tribal community,” Murphy said, after spending about five days in the region that encompassed the Haliwa-Saponi tribal community. She also met with people who were facing Eminent Domain during that stop. They were Valerie Williams of the Concerned Citizens of Halifax County and Marvin Winstead with the Nash County Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League chapter, also known as Nash Stop the Pipeline. She had been in communication with both for several months and was grateful to finally meet them face to face.

She also realized why her trip was needed.

“It’s like people feel powerless and don’t know much. Like the pipeline kind of got snuck under the radar. But it is 600 miles of pipe,” Murphy said. “Along with that, word has leaked out that Dominion Energy wants to connect with the electric company in South Carolina (SCANA) and carry the pipeline all the way to Georgia. I was thankful to share these things with the people I came in contact with.” 

Murphy received her first horse at three and is an accomplished rider. She was awarded associate membership into the Long Riders Guild after her Fall 2018 trip but needs 1000 miles on horseback to be a full member. When she ended her journey in Robeson County on July 15, 2019, she had 875 miles on horseback.

Upon completion of the 600-mile trek, she was greeted by several Lumbee Tribal members and treated to a meal at the legendary Cozy Corner in Pembroke, North Carolina. She was also gifted with a new saddle for her horses and spoke at the Lumbee Boys and Girls Club in Pembroke, North Carolina, during their weekly cultural classes.

Murphy cherished her time during this journey, especially the ones where she was able to connect to the American Indian population. She was touched by an incident that happened before leaving the Haliwa-Saponi community. On the way back to her host home for the evening, whole traveling with Haliwa-Saponi tribal members, a double rainbow appeared in the sky. Murphy asked to get out of the car, and took pictures, but truly felt it was Creator’s way of telling her she was on the right path.

A. Kay Richardson Oxendine is from the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe of North Carolina. She just completed her second novel, Satches Lagoon, this summer.
For more information about Sarah Murphy’s journey and to follow her progress, go to https://acponhorseback.tumblr.com/.