Stories From the Frontline Jan. 23, 2017

1-22-17~ Eryn Wise… Yesterday’s Women’s March on Washington was overwhelming. Upon our arrival Thomas and I were faced with the short tempers, inconsiderate nature and intensity of women we were supposed to be standing in solidarity with.

The indigenous folx present were able to carve out a space in front of the National Museum of the American Indian large enough to form a circle where we spoke, sang, and danced in honor of our foremothers. It was the only space in the march that, for me, felt inclusive and welcoming. After our rally as we tried to enter the march I watched many women be pushed, shoved, yelled at, and cut short by other women. An indigenous woman grabbed my hand, trying to lead me further into the march so that we could catch up with our group and at every turn there was another woman planting her feet before us and saying, “You can’t go by me here. You’ll have to go around.” When this happened friends looked on, nodding their approval and leading some others to even say that “these Indian girls lost their drums. That’s why they’re trying to get through us.”

I realized that I was in a space that had been created with good intention, under the guise of unification but in reality was for white feminists and their vaginas. I thought about my sweet trans, queer, non-identifying, intersectional, and non-white sisters that seemed absent in the crowd. For every ten pink pussy signs waving in my face, I saw one, maybe two, signs that represented women of color. It was weird and uncomfortable. Once the bubble of indigeneity was gone from around me I was desperate to leave.

I became frustrated with the crowd screaming, “This is what democracy looks like!”

SO many sisters and womyn were absent that I began to cry. Women who had only minutes earlier been shoving me out of their way began stopping to ask me what was wrong. “This is fake,” I found myself repeating. “I hate this.” Some tried to blame it on the size of the crowd. Others tried in very gentle ways to ask me if I was on or approaching my moon. Unintentional sexism dripped from the tongues of these women as they tried to calm me.

“Whose land? OUR LAND!” they chanted. “Whose bodies? OUR BODIES!” they cried. “THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!”

Not in my eyes, but I’m just one woman. Outside of my own experience, I have seen hundreds of my sisters uplifted by the Women’s Marches held around the globe. Many of them had never attended a rally, felt like they belonged so fully, or mattered as much. For these reasons, I am grateful that the marches took place. I just wish a more inclusive space had been created for the non-white feminists who truly need a voice, especially in the onset of Trump’s administration.

I am lucky enough to say that I was raised by many inspiring, and impactful women. My chosen family is full of brave, radical, two-spirit, and beautiful women; many of whom are with me in D.C. right now. I was able to attend the rally/march to speak and sing alongside women I deeply love and respect — for these gifts, I am grateful.

I write this to call upon the women out there reading along. Please do not forget your fellow women of color. Trans sisters. Undocumented sisters. Sisters of different faiths. Sisters without vaginas. Sisters with vaginas of different shapes, sizes, and colors — we do not all have perfect pink pussies – please do not encourage the narrative that there is only one way for a body to be. Please remember that the wounds of women first start with the great, intentional, and continual wounding of our Mother Earth. May we continue to rise together, with all our sisters, in honor of each other and Unci Maka.

1-22-17 ~ Lee Sprague… Standing Rock Tribal Council votes for Indian Removal Act. It’s Trail of Tears version includes allied Water Protectors. Making Indian People move in the dead of winter, because someone wants the land for farming, ranching, or industrial activities, sounds familiar to me. Now the Standing Rock Tribal Council wants to Trail of Tears us out of camp? It raises historical trauma, similar to our relatives who were force marched at the hands of the US Government, from their lands.

*Concerned about the loss of revenue to the Standing Rock Tribal Programs, Council votes to dip into the 6.5 million in legal funds that were contributions to Water Protectors.” Now they want to close down each Camp?
If the concern is public safety, as stated, sheltering in place during the harsh North Dakota Winter is the safest way forward, except for DAPL cowboying it up. The main camp is not on ‘Standing Rock’ lands, it should be though. The Army Corp of Engineers claims the land we are camped on.

In this picture is Alex. I stayed in his TIPI most of this winter until it became unlivable. Thanks Alex. Lots of good times in the Tipi. We kept our batteries and controllers in there for our solar wind power system. Ben moved it. Now folks know how to set up a solar/wind now thanks to Brad Kallio.
We all could use the legal funds.

1-22-17 Jacky Smith‎… As a white European woman, I’ve been watching this feed & commenting – I think this is the first time I’ve posted here. But I read something yesterday that hit home hard and I think it’s something people like me should notice. Someone who lives near Standing Rock said that they were scared about what might happen when the visiting water protectors go home, because they remembered the terrible things that happened at Pine Ridge after AIM went home in the 70’s. Well in the 70’s I was an activist and I noticed what was going on – but I couldnt figure out a way to find out more, or to do anything about it. And then I got involved in anti-apartheid, and didnt have time for any other campaigns. I apologise for that, from the bottom of my heart. This time, we have social media and a shedload of people all round the world are watching. We need to carry on watching, and noticing, and talking about it – and we need you guys living at Standing Rock to keep posting, keep telling us what’s going on, keep talking to us. This time I won’t get distracted, you’re top of my list. There are a lot of issues that the new president will be fighting on, we have to make sure that yours is one of the big ones. The UN are coming to investigate, the ACLU are out there, the guys that monitor the ethics of the government can be dragged kicking & screaming into the fight, climate change is getting to the point where only a combover dumbo who never goes outside can ignore it, the Chinese are making renewables so cheap that coal prices cant be propped up, gas prices are still so low that fracking makes a loss, the demand for oil is tanking. All these things are on your side, exactly as your ancestors predicted. Now is the time to keep praying, chanting, singing, dancing, talking and above all hoping. We are with you, and we’re not going to let go. Mni wicone!

1-21-17 ~ Steven Jeffrey Chrisjohn… Leaders of Standing Rock ask all camps to clean up and leave is the messages from Facebook Updater Steven Jeffrey Chrisjohn “We get frozen Rubber Bullets that can penetrate wood and skin. That’s the gift that we get. That’s the special the Indians get out here. We don’t 30 feet of distance before we get shot. We are lucky if we get 7 feet. I apologize if I put anything at risk for you at Standing Rock I only meant good will.” Steven Jeffrey Chrisjohn Read More http://tinyurl.com/z9dz8un

http://tinyurl.com/zty79ad
1-21-17 ~ Lyla June…I am a Diné (Navajo) woman but I wrote this last verse in Spanish because our native brothers and sisters in Central and South America experience a deeper suppression of thier culture and identity than we do up here in the “the states”. The Eagle and the Condor are coming together. This is why we are mislabeled “hispanic” or “latino”. Don’t let the imaginary border fool us. We are one tribe of Turtle Island! I also want to acknowledge that some of the first Indigenous Peopeles that were forced into hiding were the medicine women of Old Europe. They estimate that 6-9 million women were raped, beaten, tortured, burned alive or drowned alive for being “witches.” Let us reclaim our Earth Selves no matter what “race” you are and do it soon! The earth may depend on it.

Yo soy una mujer Diné, pero escribí el segundo parte en español por que reconozco que la mayoria de nuesrtas hermanas y hermanos indígenas del central y sudamérica experimentan una mayor supresión de su cultura e identidad. Es por esto que estamos mal etiquetadas “hispano” o “latino”. No deje que la frontera imaginaria nos engañe! Somos una tribu de la isla de la tortuga! El Aguila reconozca el Condór! 😀 También quiero reconocer que algunos de los primeros pueblos indígenas que se vieron obligados a esconderse eran las curanderas de Europa Vieja. Se estima que 6-9 millones de mujeres fueron violadas, golpeadas, torturadas, quemadas vivas o ahogadas vivas por ser “brujas”. Recupere su mismo como Genta de la Tierra, no importa la “raza” que usted es, y lo hace pronto! La tierra puede depender de esta subida de conocimiento ancestral.

Come join us at the Black Hills Unity Concert this weekend! September 9-11, 2016. www.TheUnityConcert.com. Many are headed to http://sacredstonecamp.org/ in Cannonball, ND after the concert to protect the water from DAPL. If the judge rules in our favor some might come to the concert to celebrate. #NoDAPL #ProtectMaunaKea #DoodaFracking#Run4Salmon

1-21-17 ~ Kaelly Salazar… Sorry for the poor photo quality, but I had to share this.
They are targetting those of us trying to document the situation. He was aiming right at me with his weapon. Jon Ziegler was targetted last night for live streaming and nearly lost his pinky. They were aiming for his phone. (Anyone have an update on him?)
Pray for these officers… Pray for us.

1-21-17 ~ Confluence Documentary with Dallas Goldtooth … WATER IS LIFE
The Lakota have long prophesied that one day a great black snake would slither through the land, pollute the water, and bring great destruction to the people and the Earth…. In 2014, Energy Transfer Partners announced plans to build a pipeline that would transport fracked crude from the Bakken formation to refineries in the Gulf Coast. Obama had recently lifted the ban on exporting petroleum via the international market; big oil needed to find a way to capitalize on this. Using the smokescreen of “energy independence from the Middle East,” as propaganda, the public in North Dakota believed that this was about decreasing our dependency on foreign oil. In all actuality, it was just about profits for oil companies and would create very few jobs here in the US. The Dakota Access Pipeline originally proposed route crossed the Missouri River near Bismarck, but was re-routed through native land in violation of several treaties signed with the government and threatened their drinking water supply (as well as for near 30 other million people downstream). When construction began and sacred burial sites were being destroyed, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe realized that this was the manifestation of the prophecy of the black snake. It needed to be stopped.

In April of 2016, after runs across the country to raise awareness, members of the Youth Council set up camp along the Missouri River to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline. After putting out a call for support, the camps have swelled to as many as 10,000 Water Protectors from around 500 tribes as well as non-native allies who showed solidarity to the cause. An unprecedented peaceful demonstration, water protectors began praying and chaining themselves the DAPL construction equipment. Many were arrested by the Morton County Sheriff’s Department, who essentially was working as a private security force for Energy Transfer Partners.

In the beginning, there was a complete media blackout and independent journalists who were arriving to tell the story were being specifically targeted. Water protectors and free press were brutalized, shot with rubber bullets, attacked by viscous police dogs, shot with tear gas canisters, concussion grenades and pepper sprayed for protesting peacefully. Communications have been jammed using sting rays and dirt boxes; Indigenous leaders have been spied on in this advanced Orwellian surveillance state. To date, Energy Transfer Partners has spent near 200 million dollars in private security on top of 22 million in tax payer money for law enforcement to finance the paramilitary spectacle. Arrestees have been strip searched for misdemeanor trespassing offenses and held in cages that resemble dog kennels, often times in their underwear for 12 hours or more. The scene goes in direct contrast with what the United States of America supposedly stands for; although Native Americas would beg to differ that America is a just nation founded on principles of so-called democracy and human rights. The pipeline is a direct extension of the legacy of colonization and genocide that their people have endured for hundreds of years.

As the election distracted most of the public, politicians turned a blind eye to Standing Rock as it would disrupt the Democratic energy platform for the next 40 years… Most of Hillary Clinton’s top campaign contributors were financing the pipeline and Donald Trump had personally invested millions. Standing Rock chairman David Archambault II testified in front of the UN to ask for help pleading that water is a human right. As the fight against the DAPL began to pick up steam, the powers that be could no longer turn a blind eye to the human rights abuse and disregard for the law. Much spin has attempted to quell the support of the movement, but… it kept growing. An influx of media and celebrities brought even more attention to the camp. Actress Shailene Woodley, Amy Goodman, and even Presidential candidate Jill Stein were charged/arrested during front line actions. Water protectors like Red Fawn were illegally detained and held without bail. They have endured all of this to protect life’s most basic need…water.

On December 4, 2016, The Army Corps of Engineers gave the water protectors of Standing Rock a major victory when they refused to grant permits for DAPL to drill under the Missouri River. This decision shows that the power of the people cannot be ignored. Although significant, the victory is only temporary as the pipeline company is appealing the decision in federal court. Thousands of Water Protectors have remained diligent through blizzards and sub zero temperatures and remain to this day.

…the fight continues. Please stand with Standing Rock and support the indigenous led resistance against not just the DAPL, but all the other pipeline black snake construction projects around the country that threaten our water….

Water is Life. Mni Wiconi
Music by: Will Evans
Footage credits: Tim Yakitis, Eddie Mnoian (Viral Viral Appetite Productions), Myron Dewey (Digital Digital Smoke Signals), Kandi Mosset (Indigenous Indigenous Environmental Network), Shiyé Bidzííl (Dr0ne2bWild), Jonathan Klett, Renegade Media, Unicorn Riot, Dallas Goldtooth (Indigenous Environmental Network), Richard Bluecloud Castaneda, Spencer Keeton Cunningham, The Young Turks, Daniel Speers, Indian Law Resource Center, Democracy Now

1-21-17 ~ Ricardo Jasper… Hi my name is Ricardo Jasper I’m a native American from the Diné nation aka Navajo Nation, im Originally from Tuba City Arizona, I’m a bitter water clan and Manygoat clan..

The reason why I’m here is because I wanted to share what I have experience in standing rock and to bring awareness to the movement, it all started with the Colorado River being contaminated when the mining company, Gold King Mine, in Silverton Colorado a team of workers with environmental protection agency accidentally released 3million gallons of toxic waste into the river, which the Animus River in Colorado had turned orange as a toxic spill continued to flow downstream and through other states, this is when I realized what was going on with fracking, and how all these oil companies were digging into our mother earth to look for oil. That’s when i started looking into more about fracking, then I heard about Standing Rock battling with oil corporations and the State of North Dakota, these companies have come so close together that the people are at a moment where they don’t feel like their voices are being heard, and so the last thing that was left for us is to assemble, is to gather together and to protest or protect, and I had the urge to go out there and help my relatives protect the water , our future generation, our kids future.

When I drove up to the camp site (Oceti Sakowin Camp) it was breathtaking my heart started to cry, the feeling was unbearably beautiful, you could feel the positive energy, you could feel the spirit around you and the love and peacefulness, the people were so kind and generous, very helpful, everybody loved each other, everybody helped each other, and if you needed help they would have volunteers there waiting to help you right away, you would wish the whole world would be like Oceti Sakowin Camp, I stayed there for like 2½ months I helped with the construction part of the camp we built Tarpees. The reason why we called them Tarpees was because they look like Tepees but they were made out of tarp, the other buildings were teepees, yurts, and hogan’s.

We started to winterize the camp and I helped out with the actions too. Actions were being on the front lines of stopping the construction of the pipeline, people sacrifice their lives, tying themselves to the equipment’s and peacefully praying for the company to stop from hurting our mother earth, to stopped them from desecrating our ancestral burial grounds, I was always at the front lines getting shot with rubber bullets being pepper sprayed for no reason, all we did was pray and try to talk to the officers and pray with them some of them would stand there and cry some were in shocked at what their fellow comrades were doing to the people, some of them would stare at you and smile then point the gun at you some would have a blast shooting people and laugh about Tear gassing us, shoot percussion grenades at the people, spraying us with cold water with water cannons in 15 degree weather, and it would go on for hours, everybody there was dedicated to protect the water, to protect what’s right for all of us, it wasn’t just an Indigenous thing it was about everybody. I told people “if I bleed red and you bleed red it’s your problem too” “It’s not about being a hero, we have no egos, and it wasn’t about being important, it was about being part of the team we stand in solidarity with standing rock we wanted to tell people that we should realize that if they should being upset about ISIS destroying those artifacts in Syria Iraq they should be twice as upset as they are desecrating them graves, destroying those ancient sites, if they’re going to be angry at the injustice around the other world then they need to start talking about the injustice here in America as well, there still Colonization going on and you can see it in the ground that she is bleeding right now, and when you look up around the other world, you see there is a river in Russia that is now red blood red because of the dirty chemicals from a metal plant that’s there now and we gonna have the same thing here, this is the company that’s done this before and this isn’t anything that we can get rid of, and you know I remind people that we can’t eat green paper, we can’t drink that Gucci purse sweetheart All we have is this water, all we have is this Land, and we have to protect it, we belong to the earth, the earth doesn’t belong to us, we just protect her, she doesn’t ask for money, all she asks is to take care of her as she will take care of us.

My experience in Standing Rock is something that I will never forget, it was beautiful it was emotional but we all stood together, we all looked after each other, some of us may have PTSD but we are all here for each other, now I have all these beautiful, beautiful people, my new extended family from all over the world, different nations, different tribes, different nationalities, if we keep standing together fight for what’s right for our people for our mother earth, for our future generations, we can the change the world.. We are the people we don’t need one person to run our country, we have the power to be ONE LIFE, ONE LOVE, ONE NATION.. AHÒ I could talk for hours and hours about Standing Rock… I will never forget it !!

1-21-17 ~ Johnny Dangers… Pro DAPL North Dakota Republican Congressman Cramer said earlier today Trump will rescind the EIS and approve Missouri River crossing possibly as soon as Monday. We will soon see how #Trump actually acts on the pipeline and if he respects the process.
Share! #NoDAPL #WaterisLife #J20

“By next week the EIS will be rescinded,” Cramer told me referring to the lengthy environmental study President Obama initiated in his final days in office. The Congressman said the Trump administration has the authority to rescind it because, in legal filings responding to the pipeline company’s request that the study be enjoined, the Obama administration itself argued that this was the case.

Cramer also said a decision granting permission for the pipeline to cross the Lake Oahe reservoir is imminent. “The easement will be issued maybe as early as Monday,” he said.

1-21-17 ~ ‎Jim Petoskey‎… Do not sit around waiting for the next great leader to come along. That’s how we got into this mess to begin with. Sitting around waiting for the next, Kennedy, the next Crazy Horse, the next Sitting Bull, the next Pontiac or Tecumseh. Martin Luther King or Ghandi . When they do come, they kill them off. Instead of giving a damn about the khardashians, the Super Bowls, worry about how to respect all life and what that really means. Become a participant in life. Give a sincere damn about our neighbors, the sick, the aged, the future of generations to come. We sat back and watched others do what everyone should be doing. We let people exploit the resources, pollute the land water and food and wonder why we are sick. We all have a brain, use it, but make sure your heart is connected. Nurture your spirits, not man made religions. DO NOT be afraid to be curious, question things, That’s exactly what they want. They have successfully dumbed down education and in turn dumbed down us. Now do yourself and the world a favor THINK. Even question what I just told you.

1-21-17 ~ Elizabeth Hoover… Was sitting on the plane editing photos that I took at Standing Rock over the past several days, and noticed the ladies next to me peering at my screen. They asked if I was a war photographer- where were these photos taken? Right here in the US of A, ladies. Yes those are unarmed civilians those National Guard and police officers are shooting at. Indian reservations have again become military training grounds

1-20-17 ~ Jon Ziegler… Here’s an update from the journalist who almost got his pink blown off a couple nights ago… Jon. Please send prayers for his healing. .

“Surgery went well. Took longer than expected as part of the bone was smashed “like a chicken bone hit with a hammer”-DR

Your well wishes and support will get me through this and out on the front lines asap. It has been my honor and a privilege to stream the truth for you these last 5 years. From Chicago to Ferguson; Baltimore to Oakland; NY and elsewhere, I have never stopped learning and being inspired by all the passionate ppl I have come to know, some of whom I now consider family. And that goes for many of you online as well!

I will be in a hotel resting and elevating my hand (picture make more sense now? ) for the next few days.

1-20-17 ~ Lee Sprague… This is the Larceny and Theft report I filed. I’m alleging the Sheriff Department stole and destroyed four of my canoes, paddles, rescue first aid kits, Also stolen, part of my canoe trailer.
Report Filed

Not accurate is officer 4973’s written comment that I confessed to bringing goods to to Turtle Hill.
“We carry warm clothes and blankets, gloves, mittens in water proof bags. We carry watersheds to the prayer lines. We carry people hurt by the Morton County Sheriff, Because they don’t respond to water protectors in harm’s way. Harm visited on the Water Protectors by the Morton County Sheriff Department.“

The REAL ‘Lone Ranger’ Was An African American Lawman Who Lived With Native American Indians
The real “Lone Ranger,” it turns out, was an African American man named Bass Reeves (July 1838 – 12 January 1910), who the legend was based upon. Perhaps not surprisingly, many aspects of his life were written out of the story, including his ethnicity. The basics remained the same: a lawman hunting bad guys, accompanied by a Native American, riding on a white horse, and with a silver trademark. Continue Reading http://tinyurl.com/kr6zycg

1-19-17 ~ Jim Graywolf Petruzzi‎… Take care Friends in the light—Finger Pointers, Name Callers and Dissent Sowers are everywhere

I have tried to not comment on negativity, dissension causers, finger pointers and attackers – but a lot of people in this group and others keep asking me about these things. And want to know why it seems to be increasing. They ask why groups are questioning groups… and why some are attacking posters and video people… and on it goes.

I see people attacking others in the camps, on the virtual support and education pages, on personal pages and elsewhere. Questioning motives and trustworthiness. Questioning money use and intentions. Asking why they are not white or red or yellow or black. Speaking total lies. Working with all their might to create dissent so it will destroy everyone’s work from within. I have seen people I know to be working with all they can for clean water being attacked and villefied. And when I have come to their defense, watched myself attacked. And others. Several we watch in the group attack a list of water protectors each day. Sadly, some believe too many lies.

I see more attacks as we create the Water is Life Movement because that scares the hell out of the business people and politicians. Each day on our Standing Rock Protectors group we add hundreds of people – and about 25% are phony accounts when we check.

If we let these trolls and company plants divide us we will collapse into chaos. Or even those people still stuck in thinking one group or protest or people can lead this entire peaceful revolution.

Question what you see and hear. And when you think you know the truth – question further. Continue to come together as one. In the way of the prophecy of the four colors uniting.

Together we will win this war. The worse enemy now is ourselves if we allow the dessention sowers to divide and conquer. None of us are perfect, but we are all standing for Standing Rock, clean water and other camps everywhere. Focus there and let the hate mongers flow over us like a wind.

Thanks for hearing me.
~ Jim Graywolf Petruzzi

1-19-19 ~ Cody Two Bears… Hau’ Mitakiyapi (All My Relatives) I am Cody Two Bears (Mah’to Nun’pa) Councilman of the Cannon Ball Community (Eyapaha) for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. I am Yanktonai (From the Cut Head Band) My Ancestors come from the east side of the Missouri River and lived there for 125 years before 1862 when the Minnesota Uprising and White Stone Hill Massacre moved us to the west side of the Missouri River. I speak to you today with a strong heart. I wanna share some concerns with you that we has a tribe and has a community do not agree with the current situation going on at the Backwater Bridge north of Cannon Ball. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and elders have consistently asked people not to confront DAPL and law enforcement since after the Decision was made on December 4, 2016 and to stay away from the Bridge. We all know the Bridge was tested and it needed minor repairs to open it back up. But with what’s been happening the past three nights have hurt those chances of it being open again. Our Membership need that bridge open for emergency and daily commutes. We have elderly and people with a lot of health issues, dialysis, diabetics, heart problems. We have community members that have business that are being affected. Not only that but we know drugs and alcohol use has been in these camps recently. We the Tribe and its membership know this fight isn’t over. But the more unnecessary actions that take place north of Cannon Ball hurts our chances with winning this fight in court and at the government level moving forward. I feel we are in a great position now that Native Nations will have a big Voice Moving forward. We owe a great thanks to everyone that has came and support us with this fight. But we feel now the peace and prayerful actions are not happening anymore. I see violence happening from our side the people that came here to help us. We the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and our Membership don’t support these actions it’s only hurting our chances moving forward. Once again We ask people to stand down. If we truly believe in prayer and trust in it we will win. Let our prayers do all our actions. Let’s not stoop to there level cause once we do we are no better than them!! They want us to start to be violent so The Tribe it’s membership and this whole movement will lose everything we have gained. Please be respectful and honor the wishes of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe it’s elderly and it’s membership.. Thanks to you all once again. Hau Mitakuye Oyasin..

1-19-17 ~ Tomas Karmelo Amaya… “Women are traditionally associated with water and men with fire, but this moment made me think of the culmination of the two forces. As the shadows cast across the sides of the teepee, a home that represents the womb from which we are reborn daily, I also thought of a blazing ember. Fire cannot burn without oxygen and water contains oxygen just like our women hold the answers to our deepest tribulations. They are our ultimate medicine, our healers, our guardians of the future.”

The night before Morton County law enforcement attacked water protectors, Jade and I drove around camp looking for Faith Spotted Eagle so that we could interview her for @indigenousrising. Once we arrived to her location, I was not allowed to enter the teepee because a women’s meeting was in session. As I walked away I noticed the silhouettes of my aunties and sisters projected on the structure.

Women are traditionally associated with water and men with fire, but this moment made me think of the culmination of the two forces. As the shadows cast across the sides of the teepee, a home that represents the womb from which we are reborn daily, I also thought of a blazing ember. Fire cannot burn without oxygen and water contains oxygen just like our women hold the answers to our deepest tribulations. They are our ultimate medicine, our healers, our guardians of the future.

I left shortly after taking this photo and I would not see Jade until several hours later. Although she did not get to interview Faith, she came back more powerful than ever.

Photo and Story by Tomas Karmelo Amaya

1-19-17 ~ Nataanii Means… “Today I board a plane to Utah still tasting the tear gas and mace pellets, still hearing the rounds of rubber bullets and bean bags being fired off like popcorn. Last night a group of young men put a tipi up on the road on our side of the bridge. Signifying our continued fight for treaty rights. The police then crossed the bridge and tore down our sacred home and took the poles.

Last night when I arrived it was hectic; you know there will be people that are agitators that do jeopardize a lot with how they act on frontlines like this. We de-escalated them, and you also have to understand young men who have been taking this abuse for months, who have been made to feel lower than low by the police that support corporate entities like DAPL. I’m not making excuses for them, but there are ways to talk with them. After all the commotion we remained prayerful, we sang our sacred songs, we prayed for Leonard Peltier who was denied clemency, we prayed for our treaty rights, we continued to try and clean the bridge as best we could. Again I want to stress that I know our fight is not with the police, that it is in the courts, but we have to let the world know the violence is still happening, that the lights are still up, in no way have we negotiated a situation that benefits us, we’ve been weak. As long as we keep these police out, we exhaust them and their resources, if they want to continue to make the conscious choice to protect a pipeline, then we will make them stand in the cold with us. Continuing to live on treaty land with lights in our faces, heavy police forces, and a drill sitting there is a slap in the face.

The police reacted in violence last night. They reacted to prayer in violence. Like always. We have NO WEAPONS, we know what THEY are capable of so we protect ourselves with shields, we are not looking to fight, but we will protect ourselves as we try our best to protect the water and make these statements. DO NOT look at us any other way than what we are, that is young people caring for our children’s future. Support us and remember we are people of strength, stop showing our weakness by questioning everything someone does.

If only the old leaders were alive to remind us who and where we come from. But we are the next, the young generation. And we are here standing with NO FEAR. I watched Russell Means stand with no fear, and we are trying our damn best to do what we can. My dad was shot on Standing Rock by BIA police after Wounded Knee. I also know he would be ashamed and sad of what is happening here, how OUR OWN PEOPLE ARE TREATING OUR OWN FOR ONLY WANTING TO BE FREE!

Somebody said last night “If we cross the barricade they’ll stop the EIS” well first we DID NOT want to cross it, second, why do we have to act from a position of fear. That is a direct threat on our own treaty land. That is a scare tactic, I just want to know where is our strength, I haven’t seen it since my father passed. The olders here act and say everything from fear, I understand that, but I’m not used to that.

So here we are. Young people remaining in prayer and unarmed strength. I love you all.

Again, I am no one. Here, I am just ikce wicasa, I’m only a common man that wants clean water for the future. I am not a leader, nor do I want to be, just updating the social atmosphere with my thoughts. A’ho…”

1-19-17 ~ International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee… I woke up this morning excited, happy, hopeful and imaginging the upcoming weekend. I was going to pick Uncle Leonard up from prison and drive him up north. I was going to stop at his daughter Marquetta’s in Kansas, his sister Betty Ann’s in Fargo, ND, and his grandchildren Cyrus and Alex in Grand Forks and lastly his hometown in Turtle Mountain.

The family has been commuicating constantly in these last hours, so excited about our future plans and finally having the eldest man in the family home.

We have had thousands of people from all over the world praying for his freedom, which could only be given by Obama. We all believed and had so much faith in our President. We believed he truly cared for Leonard.

I had just finished visiting with a friend with so much joy that Uncle Leonard would be free and home by this weekend. Not even fifteen minutes later, i was given the heart wrenching news he was denied clemency. Basically a death sentence. I am asking all of you to let Obama hear our OUTCRY over and disappointment with his decision today.

Call, email, tweet. Use Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and your powerful prayers… whatever is your means of communication… to let him know we are not happy. The people are not happy. His family is not happy. You can change your mind, Obama. You have the power.

I beg and plead. Hear our outcry!
On behalf of Leonards family
Kari Ann Boushee
Co-Director of the ILPDC

1-19-17~ Mitra Singh‎… I found this tent buried in snow, Rosebud camp at Standing Rock, in the excavation I found an item I would consider of great value and notebook paper with handwriting that says owner arrived on Aug 10 and was arrested on Aug 11. If you can name the valuable item I can hold it if you are returning. I am camped next to your old spot

1-19-17 ~ Margo Talk… Something is going wrong. There are instigators and outsiders provoking violence, laughing, swearing and yelling death threats at authorities tonight. Myron asks our research help to check whether DAPL is trying to distract all from something else. Are they taking action to illegally pump oil thru the gas pipeline already there? I cannot tell my friends from my enemies in this. So this will be my last post. Prayers for all involved. Please follow Myron Dewey/Digital Smoke Signals for the truth. Link to his livestream here:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php…

1-1-19 ~ ‘Stormfronts’ of North Dakota’s Streets… White supremacists not finished with the Peace Garden State, form hit list of small towns. Since the town of Leith’s victory against white supremacists, eleven towns across North Dakota made their hit list. The towns range from populations of 16 to nearly 7,000. Listed by names, pictures, and real estate advertisements by Pioneer Little Europe North Dakota, a white supremacist operation welcoming Nazis, the Creativity Movement, Ku Klux Klan, militants, white nationalists, and racialists, the North Dakota towns are the group’s next targets to become Aryan enclaves. Continue Reading http://tinyurl.com/hope3x4

1-19-17 ~ This was posted 45 mins ago by someone who is at Standing Rock currently. “All call. DAPL has turned off all its lights overlooking oceti sakawin Rose bud and Sacred stone. They have NEVER turned off the lights an only Jonny Danger live feed showed for a minute to see absolute dark….. Something is happening. Even if not something is and calls need to be made. Post numbers in comments if you have them. Help standing rock before this company and government allow the unthinkable. Hasn’t this gone on long enough. Haven’t enough been injured and mistreated for simply wanting to live. Do something”

1-19-17 ~ I can Confirm all DAPL lights across the river are off. We don’t know why and this has never happened before. #NoDAPL
Fog is also extremely thick right now.

1-18-17 ~ JOURNALIST TARGETED BY MORTON COUNTY SHERIFFS AND THUGS… Morton County law enforcement and thugs target journalist on the front lines at Standing Rock last night.
Last night Jon Ziegler was targeted as a journalist. “Law enforcement” called out his name and then law enforcement specifically shot at the hand he was holding his camera live streaming. His pinky is completely broken, and his leg is injured as well, he is getting medical care at the moment.
This is what Morton County calls using none lethal weapons on water protectors, when will we put a stop to this?

1-18-17 ~ Mike Fasig’… In listening to several Live Feeds, while the Protectors stood and prayed and drummed the Police went and stole and tore down prayer Tipi they had stationed and flags. Obvious instigating anger.

1-18-17 ~ Jason George… Hello loved ones.Hope that you and all are well and warm. There was violence here last night. I am well and still stand strong, but there were shots fired gas deployed and protesters arrested. Please pray for us all that we might be gifted the ability to show our lost brothers and sisters the good red road without further bloodshed. That we might help give them the courage to pull down that barricade and join us in this beauty and warmth that our mother has lovingly set before us. I send love from all of us here in standing rock to all of you wherever you may be. J.(High hat)

1-18-17 ~ Lee Sprague… I’m here at the Attorney General’s Office at the North Dakota State Capital to file a complaint for the theft and destruction of our canoes, rescue equipment, my cell phone, my paddles, my canoe trailer lids to trailer storage boxes were also stolen.
The Attorney Generals Office said to me, Morton County has to take my formal complaint. The Attorney General has no jurisdiction over the Morton County Sheriff’s Department.

Hmmm, the old run around by the government trick. Like I’m the first Indian to figure that out

1-17-17 ~ “My struggle is what made me who I am…. I want my children to be proud of their culture, and mostly, their dad.” Watch and listen to what Kansas has to say about being a strong Native American man. #NativeHope #SeasonOfHope

1-17-17 ~ Colter Hoyt… It’s happening NOW at Standing Rock! All day tear gas, rubber bullets to the face, multiple shots. March and prayer attempted to reach the DAPL drill sight.
The Backwater bridge is active THIS second!
Pray for the brave unarmed Water Protectors!!
Mni Wiconi!

1-17-17 ~ Linda Black Elk… “This is not rumor: one of our water protectors was hit by a cop on a snowmobile…hard. Medics couldn’t reach her. Police called an ambulance and it appears that she has been transported off site. PLEASE, PLEASE pray for this young woman. Call the State of North Dakota Department of Heath and Morton County law enforcement demanding that she receive immediate care! #NoDAPL”

1-17-17 ~ Chase IronEyes… “Strength to the brothers and sisters on the bridge right now getting maced, shot & arrested. That bridge blockade is an economic sanction to punish Standing Rock for standing up, punitive measures to force Native people back into 2nd class citizenhood, to turn tribal & state public opinion against the water protectors & its working. This is why we are kept poor, in tutelage. They can manipulate by withholding rations. The chains are there if you look. This is about more than a pipeline. This is about an inevitable and natural liberation from the state of oppression being perpetrated on not only Native Nations but all human beings.”

Calling my beloved adoptive caravan of veterans. Calling all veterans. Calling all protectors able to withstand subzero elements. Your strength is needed. Your presence is needed. My heart pulls me to return immediately, but camp is requesting I stay in DC to bring information to the public.

Billy Taylor, your skill set as front-line peacekeeper and the skill sets of our DNC teammates would be of great help in Standing Rock now if you are able and up for it.

SHARING IS CARING.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
SHARE THE LOVE, TEAM.

1-17-17 ~ Myron Dewey… Updates About Standing Rock With #NoDAPL Warriors Digital Smoke Signals (1/17/2017) The Movement North Dakota Bill Would Protect Drivers Who ‘Accidentally’ Hit And Kill Protesters A bill that state GOP Rep. Keith Kempenich introduced would exempt drivers from liability if they *accidentally hit* a pedestrian, including but not limited to off-roading snowmobiles.

1-17-17 ~ Jon Ziegler… Anti-drone missile system confirmed on top of a hill guarding the DAPL drill pad. Many water protectors made it further around the bend to the east closer to the drill site and were met with police and reports of mace used. We climbed up the hill on the west side right up next to the launcher.

1-17-17 ~ Anoli Wood‎ … So last night I am cooking dinner and suddenly got a coughing fit. It just kept getting worse the longer I cooked. Sat down to eat but couldn’t catch my breath so I put my plate to the side until I could breathe. Came upstairs to try and relax. I log on Facebook to see live feed that the water Protectors being attacked with tear gas and shot in the backs with rubber bullets. My coughing fit was just like being hit with the tear gas. I couldn’t take a breath and my eyes were tearing up. All this is happening to me at the same time they were being attacked. I think it was a sign. Such is life as an empath… across the ocean in England I felt their distress. When I woke up this morning I have a bad painful back right below my left shoulder blade. I had hubby look at it and it’s bruised. Someone there was channeling me. #lookingforanswers.

1-17-17 ~ Dallas Goldtooth… Take a good look at this. This an AN/TWQ-1 Avenger vehicle. It shoots missiles and is used for surface-to-air defense scenarios.

It is now deployed to overlook the #NoDAPL camps. That’s right. North Dakota has deployed more military vehicles to the Cannonball river area. This is intimidation tactics 101. Demonstrate the extent of your power in hopes to deter action.

To be clear, there is no indication that this vehicle is armed. Numerous veteran allies have stated that this vehicle is mostly likely being used for its FLIR system (Thermal, Night, and Infrared Vision). This will allow the police to track movement at night or in snowy conditions.

However, it DOES NOT BELONG in the area of what remains an overall peaceful demonstration. How can the state hope to further the message of peaceful resolution when they continue to escalate the situation?

1-16-17 ~ SHOTS FIRED! #NODAPL BACKWATER BRIDGE STANDING ROCK- xBLACKxOPSxSECRETSx
Militarized Police standing on ancestral graves, running over people with snowmobiles and shooting them in the back with rubber bullets as they’re walking off the bridge, many being maced with pepper spray. The water tanker was filling water cannons.

1-16-17 ~ CRAZY! ANTI-DRONE MISSILES AT #NoDAPL SITE, LAW TO RUN OVER ACTIVISTS – DAHBOO77
These shocking images were caught by Rebelutionary Z on twitter. As you can see, there is a surface to air anti-drone system now setting on the top of the ridge.

1-16-17 ~ Simon R Jones … Camp was pretty intense this evening, so much going on and being said…
100 people made it to the Drill pad, they were target w rubber bullets,
Turtle island action (1 arrest)
DAPL & military are mobilizing,
Planes flying over camp all day,
Helicopters flying lower each day, circling camp
We remain in Prayer Strong

1-16-17 ~ Johnny Dangers… Police mobilizing for Large Peaceful Prayer Walk on Day of Action! We are now near the Cannonball River near the Drillpad! Water Protectors went on another Prayer Walk to the Cannonball River and placed 2 Prayer flags for the one the police stole!
Earlier today police stole the Water Protector’s Prayer Flag on Standing Rock Sioux Reservation land since yesterday’s Prayer Walk!!!
Do they not care about freedom of religion?

1-16-17 ~ Wicapi Otto‎… We need people on the phone and sending letters questioning the DAPL contents.
Why did DAPL take 146 million gallons of water from the Missouri River. That amount is extremely excessive for water sampling. That is NOT a sampling amount, that is just shy of the amount Nestle’ just purchased from Michigan for bottling. The man who believes that water is not a human right. Current Wall Street Trends are showing that water is a commodity that is turning to Gold in the market.

We need to question the motives of DAPL on whether this is about the oil or the oil AND the water. Demand an investigation to what happened to 146 million gallons of water taken by DAPL today. Contact your state representative, contact the White House, contact Army Corp of Engineers and demand to know what happened to all that water TODAY.

To Contact the Army Corp, go here for the form or telephone number:
http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Contact/
Go here to find your state legislator:
https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/
Click here to write to the White House:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact#more

1-16-17 ~ Water Protectors went on another Prayer Walk to the Cannonball River and placed 2 Prayer flags for the one the police stole! Share!
Earlier today police stole the Water Protector’s Prayer Flag on Standing Rock Sioux Reservation land since yesterday’s Prayer Walk!!!
Do they not care about freedom of religion?

1-16-17 ~ Beatrice Long Visitor Holy Dance… “We have to keep repeating the prayers over and over again. When I reflect on my life of 79 years, I see a flat road of destruction. Youths are dying of drugs and ozone layer is depleting. The most powerful tool with us is to pray and pray with other communities for world peace.” – Beatrice Long Visitor Holy Dance

1-15-17 ~ North Dakota Bill Would Protect Drivers Who ‘Accidentally’ Hit And Kill Protesters

Vanessa aka Sioux Z, Navajo Nation … “Last week, a week and a half ago, when everybody was moving the trucks off the bridge I was given a head shot by Morton County’s Sheriff Department. Six, five, six? I’m not sure how many. There were quite a few of them tear gas canisters launched, aimed at my head. Also after I was hit in the eye with one of the tear gas canisters as I left to run; I was also shot with a rubber bullet in the back, my lower leg, my lower butt, my upper thigh area. Yeah, that’s what happened.

I am a dispatcher for Oceti Sakowin Akitchita. I’m a warrior. I’m a dispatcher of information. Right now, my role is kind of changing now that I can’t be…..I’m still here. I still answer dispatcher calls, but not being able to go to the front lines any more, which I’m still going to go. The Veterans are here, so I’m going to run with the Veterans over there, but my goal now is to really look at our health care system as being Native American, which is also in our treaties. You know, I didn’t get the care that I needed within 72 hours to save my eye because I had IHS from Navajo and Arizona Medicaid, and nobody would work with me, you know? I’ll never see again, and it’s just so sad that our system is broken in so many ways. And I just want the world to know that there’s a lot more things to our treaties other than land. Healthcare was included in these treaties, and our government needs to start honoring these treaties, so my role is changing a little bit.”

Please consider donating to Vanessa’s gofundme, so that she may get the medical care she needs. She also asks that you pray.

STORIES FROM THE FRONTLINE 2016
http://wp.me/P6lD99-1dE

Stories From the Frontline Jan. 16, 2017

Kristeen Hernandez aka Lady2Soothe Follow @OurVoicesEcho

HIGHLIGHTS IN BLUE ARE EMBEDDED LINKS TO NEWS SOURCES. CLICKING OPENS THE SOURCE IN A NEW TAB.

Reminding people not everything is bad; stories of truth, of connecting with old friends and making new ones, learning new skills, showing respect and integrity, love, laughter, fun and working together as a community. PLEASE share these stories with you friends and acquaintances; the world needs to know, not only about the atrocities being committed but of the good which has come from the enormity of this stance against evil. Sincerely, Kristeen Irigoyen-Hernandez

PLEASE LIKE AND SHARE THIS PAGE

This is Angry Bird. He has protected Water Protectors at camps since Sacred Stone Camp was founded. He’s been singled out by Morton County for months and is being wrongfully accused with trumped up charges. Here’s a clip of an interview we did with him. Share and get to know James White aka Angry Bird a little more. Petition to drop charges and another interview coming soon.
http://tinyurl.com/gpqnqel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSemy17p3sQ
1-14-17 ~ The Water Protectors Who Stayed At Standing Rock – teleSUR English

1-14-17 ~ Indigenous leader and celebrated author Arthur Manuel has passed away suddenly at the age of 66 years old.

His lifetime of fighting for Indigenous rights began when he first became president of the Native Youth Association in the 1970’s.

He then became chief of the Neskonlith Indian Band, chair of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and leader and Spokesperson for the Interior Alliance.

He often travelled, meeting Indigenous peoples from all over the world and spoke at numerous rallies and events. He strongly believed in the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People and supported numerous environmental causes.

Funeral arrangements are currently underway and will take place in Adams Lake, BC.

1-14-17 ~ Live From Standing Rock With #NoDAPL Warrior Brandon Green (1/14/2017) Camp Life

1-14-17 ~ ‎Brandon Phinazee‎… Any pilots in the air that need a friendly place to land and rest for today’s peaceful protest are more than welcome to land, at your own risk, on our grass runway at Kitty Hawk Estates Airpark. If you need to rest or drive to the site, we have a safe field that you can taxi your plane to. There is a lot of State Trooper activity around the area, everyone please be safe and contact me if needed. This is owner’s permission. Good luck out there today, fighting the good fight!

1-13-17 ~ Johnny Dangers… Police mobilizing the Water Cannon, Humvees, Snowmobiles, Side by Sides and multiple vehicles for a peaceful Prayer Walk towards the Drillpad and Cannonball River! Share!!! We are Peaceful! We Stand for the Earth, Water and Children!

1-13-17 ~ These are powerful words from Chase IronEyes today.

He points out that the incoming administration has indicated it will pursue a policy that accelerates extraction, big financial interests, and the rights of the corporatocracy. It will advance the longstanding program to absorb and eradicate native peoples, their lands and their cultures. IronEyes advocates continuing the unarmed opposition to these forces at Standing Rock. “We are the ghost dancers of our time. Only this time we have a world of allies.”

Chase IronEyes: “This may be the only opportunity that we have while the world is not only watching us–but the world is waiting on us. The world needs us to lead. We may be the only people–the only natural human beings–who still maintain that spiritual connection to the Universe, to the sacred sites, to water, to all the elements of Creation from which we derive our identity and our civilization.Those are our gifts. We may be the last real ones–the people who could provide that moral and spiritual authority to liberate from those forces which seek to oppress that in us, which have been at work in a very effective manner for a thousand years…. What we are saying is we are committed to this stand.”

“There was a concerted effort to turn us into a nation of beggars, to dehumanize us, to make us hate ourselves, to steal our dignity. But fortunately, our people are strong, our people are survivors, and we are here standing.”

1-13-17 ~ Strawbale School at Standing Rock – Miguel Cobalot

1-12-17 ~ Chief Dan George (July 24, 1899–September 23, 1981) was a chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, a Coast Salish band located on Burrard Inlet in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was also an author, poet, and an Academy Award-nominated actor.

Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, a Coast Salish band whose Indian reserve is located on Burrard Inlet in the southeast area of the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was also an actor, poet and author; his best-known written work was “My Heart Soars”.As an actor, he is best remembered for portraying Old Lodge Skins opposite Dustin Hoffman in Little Big Man (1970), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Born as Geswanouth Slahoot in North Vancouver, his English name was originally Dan Slaholt. The surname was changed to George when he entered a residential school at age 5. He worked at a number of different jobs, including as a longshoreman, construction worker, and school bus driver, and was band chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation from 1951 to 1963 (then called the Burrard Indian Band).

In 1960, when he was already 60 years old, he landed his first acting job in a CBC Television series, Cariboo Country, as the character Ol’ Antoine (pron. “Antwine”). He performed the same role in a Walt Disney Studios movie Smith! (1969), adapted from an episode in this series (based on Breaking Smith’s Quarter Horse, a novella by Paul St. Pierre). At age 71, he received several honors for his role in the film Little Big Man (1970), including a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He continued to act in other films, such as Cancel My Reservation (1972), Alien Thunder (1974), The Bears and I (1974), Harry and Tonto (1974), The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), Shadow of the Hawk (1976), Americathon (1979), Spirit of the Wind (1979) and Nothing Personal (1980), and on television, including a role in the 1978 miniseries Centennial, based on the book by James A. Michener, as well as appearing in a 1973 episode of the original Kung Fu series and in several episodes of The Beachcombers.

He played the role of Rita Joe’s father in George Ryga’s stage play, The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, in performances at Vancouver, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and Washington, D.C..

During his acting career, he worked to promote better understanding by non-aboriginals of the First Nations people. His soliloquy, Lament for Confederation, an indictment of the appropriation of native territory by white colonialism, was performed at the City of Vancouver’s celebration of the Canadian centennial in 1967.This speech is credited with escalating native political activism in Canada and touching off widespread pro-native sentiment among non-natives.

In 1971, George was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2008 Canada Post issued a postage stamp in its “Canadians in Hollywood” series featuring Chief Dan George.
He died in Vancouver in 1981 at the age of 82. He was interred at Burrard Cemetery.

1-12-17 ~ THE GATHERING by Chief Sitting Bull
The Turning of The Tide

It is very important that as many people as possible, in different places, should take part in the Gathering. Decide where and when and how to gather, your participation is needed. This is the beginning of the break we are all waiting for. This is the beginning of the turnaround. We have waited so long for the change. It is time. This is the beginning of the end of the old ways, the turning of the tide. State what you believe is true. Exchange the information and hopes you have. Always in the world, a change starts with a few people. These few speak the feelings and thoughts of a multitude. They speak the heart of humanity’s soul. The people who are coming together will ring in a return, a turnaround. There will come a flow on Earth which will burst the dark energies surrounding you and your planet. Let your self-belief be your guide, and follow your heart. Realise the greatness you have within yourself, and go ahead. This is the time so many have waited so long for. That which you believe is true must be stated.

Spirit message from Chief Sitting Bull

1-13-17 ~ Heart of Standing Rock… Photo by Emma Hall
A strong woman
is one who feels deeply
and loves fiercely.
Her tears flow
just as abundantly
as her laughter.

A strong woman
is both soft and powerful.
She is both
practical and spiritual.

A strong woman
in her essence
is a gift to all the world.

1-12-17 ~ Jim Graywolf Petruzzi‎… Someone posted this today as I was beginning to write about attacks and slander and divisive actions being taken. I will post what I am writing later – but think about this. It is easy to stay seated and takes courage to stand and be a target. Remember our children’s children are watching.

1-12-17 ~ Wicapi Otto‎ … Army Corp of Engineers needs to understand just how many people are affected by not only this pipeline, but many pipelines across the world. This is for everyone, there is absolutely no exclusion of nation, country, background…etc.

This is going to be given to the tribe and Army Corp of Engineers. I have never understood how things go viral, but I guess for a first time attempt, let’s see how this goes, because I need viral on this. A petition is one thing, it makes a statement, and this is to reflect the effect on human activity. Our connectivity as a human race is a human activity and a simple one to show them how many people object to not only DAPL, but as our voice to oppose all. Trolls are welcome as well, your number will be added to the count of people that matter and are affected to human activity as well. I only ask those in support not to respond to them and waste precious time and energy with negativity. This is very important.

I only need you to state “I am affected” and your location. It does not need to be specific, just please keep it simple as I have to convert this to a document after and wasted data only wastes time.

Thank you everyone everywhere for helping with this. Pilamiya!

PS. If every now and then, someone can tag my name for check in, I have a couple of these going around of this exact same post and it will help me locate and check. Thank you!

1-12-17 ~ Daphne Singingtree… Camp Update. We need people on site more than ever. A recent meeting between the Standing Rock Tribal Council and Camp Leaders from Oceti Sakowin, Sacred Stone and Rosebud showed the need for increased communication. Sacred Stone is located on higher ground and is building a permanent, sustainable, culture camp. This is an extraordinary outcome from the protest that will serve provide a space for people in the area to come and learn skills from permaculture, to green energy & building, as well as be a base for the movement to protect the water and the Earth. The Oceti & Rosebud camps will need to move to higher ground. Land has been set aside by the Standing Rock Tribe for a camp that can house many people, plans include solar/wind power, yurt and tipi villages, greenhouses and gardens, and a long term sustainable community. It is unclear to me at this point how many folks will be moving to the new tribe site, or the higher ground on the current Oceti site (Facebook Hill), or some of the other protest camps such as Texas. Moving the tipis, yurts and other structures will be a lot of work, especially to accomplish before snow melt.

Everyone shares concerns about the amount of trash, abandoned tents, and other items that are located in the floodplain. Without timely removal, there is a risk of contaminating the very river we are protecting. No one expected thousands, at one point ten thousand people to show up at camp. Then the severe weather came, most people left, leaving behind a lot of stuff and not enough people to process the donations, and then clean up afterwards.

We need able bodied people who are able to work in the cold, please plan on coming to help, even for a week or two, anytime over the next month or two. The burden is falling on people who work incredibly hard, they are getting sick, burned out, and it is easy to get discouraged when faced with such a monumental task. We particularly need people with 4×4 trucks and trailers. Let’s not forget our Water Protectors and Water Warriors. Let’s not leave a giant mess on people who can ill afford to clean it up.

Some of the resources donated will be relocated to other camps. Other supplies need to be protected from the elements until spring or distributed in the local community. All of this takes work, and the medics are busy keeping people safe and healthy. We need help to recycle and remove trash, as well as helping move the yurts and tipis to the new site. So many people have left that there are sleeping spaces available, if you don’t have a contact with someone in camp and want to help Zaniyan at Rosebud, I can get you connected.

The fight is not over, the movement has just began, we have much hard labor ahead of us, and still need the help and support of all. #nodapl #waterislife

1-12-17 ~ Trystan Foundation… Our friend Bobbie invited us to her outdoor kitchen and taught us the proper way to make Diné fry bread. Cooking video will be posted in the future!⠀ ⠀ -Heather

1-11-17 ~ Canadian Native Youth Arrive at Standing Rock After Walking for Almost a Month – Buffalo greeted the youth as they arrived at the #NoDAPL camp site.

Three youth from the Woodland Cree First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada, arrived to the Oceti Sakowin Camp at Standing Rock in North Dakota yesterday (January 10) after walking since November 26, 2016. This journey symbolized their solidarity with the #NoDAPL movement against the 1,172-mile long Dakota Access Pipeline set to cut through sacred territories of the Sioux people. Contine Reading http://tinyurl.com/gmvz45n

1-11-17 ~ Luta Wi Red Fawn… Hello all my friends, family and support. As you know I had a hearing yesterday and I was formally charged, and the charges carry sentences that add up to 25 years to life in federal prison.

I’ve been getting messages about a lot of you being concerned and worried. So I wanted to let you know that I stand strong, I stay in prayer, and I never falter from my beliefs as a protector of all things sacred.

I’m doing good, I’m clear headed, I appreciate my strong support system. I appreciate the 20+ letters and cards I get everyday. As they remind me to believe in all good things .

“When will they open their eyes and heart and listen to our cries and please and prayers to protect our dying Mother Earth. I believe this is the time when we as protectors of this land . We need to stand up, stand strong, and never give up. We are obligated to the protection of this earth, we have been taught this from child hood. Our ancestors made sure we would know our creation stories, our histories and our instructions to continue the care taking, the protection and the spiritual obligations to this land for our next seven generations and to our ancestors. My heart, my prayers and my strength are with you all.

Mitakuye Oyate”
If you want to talk or get ahold of me, inbox me your phone number . I love you all.
Lililililililililili

1-11-17 ~ Standing Rock Update With #NoDAPL Warrior Lorna R Knowshisgun (1/11/2017) First Nation Walkers – Mystic Dave

1-10-17 ~ Paul Schmidtlein… O ci yo, A Lesson from Standing Rock; Border towns are still oppressive. Not much has changed since the reservation system was set up. People from around the world saw images and video of what Natives have been going through for generations in towns next to reservations.

The gathering of Indigenous Nations in Standing Rock showed unity between each other because of a common shared belief, Water is Life. Another shared belief might bring them together again to organize Indigenous Nations Peace Keepers to act like a shield when indigenous peoples try to exercise their treaty rights and Constitutional rights.

1-10-17 ~ The youth have made it…they walked 1200 miles to get to Standing Rock from Saskatchewan, Canada…The buffalo came to welcome them, the horse nations came to guide them in…..History was made today!!!…..I am one proud Canadian in Alberta, Canada who is crying with joyful tears witnessings this event

1-10-17 ~ More than a pipeline – trailer
The official TRAILER of the documentary film MORE THAN A PIPELINE. A film about Standing Rock, about the effects of the destruction by large corporations and banks to our environment and our planet. About the people of the Great Sioux Nation and their helpers who are standing up to them in compassion and prayer. About the earth we leave for the next seven generations…

Here is how you can all help ensure Red Fawn is given the best possible chance to get be granted her freedom.
http://tinyurl.com/zoxt26o
1) Keep her in your prayers and thoughts
2) Support the offical legal fund posted on http://tinyurl.com/za5lkkp
3) Share and like this post
4) If you wish to donate a larger sum to the fund, offer free legal support, or help with t-shirts, social media support.
Please email freeredfawn@gmail.com and cc letyoursoulplay@gmail.com
5)To contact Red Fawn Fallis go to http://tinyurl.com/h3kjl6y
She is in North Dakota, Stutsman County
6) To get Red Fawn Fallis phone cards please visit http://tinyurl.com/zbcel74
http://tinyurl.com/jcpodpy

1-10-17 ~ Heart of Standing Rock… Dignity is a sculpture on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River near Chamberlain, South Dakota. The 50-foot high stainless steel statue, by South Dakota artist laureate Dale Lamphere, depicts an Indigenous woman in Plains-style dress receiving a star quilt. According to Lamphere, the sculpture honors the culture of the Lakota and Dakota peoples who are indigenous to South Dakota.

“My intent for this is to have the sculpture stand as an enduring symbol of our shared belief that we are in a sacred place and that we are all sacred,” Lamphere said. “I’m humbled and so grateful to have this chance to contribute to the future landscape of South Dakota and the Great Plains.”

“One’s dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but cannot be taken away unless it is surrendered.” – Michael J. Fox

1-10-17~ The new head chef at Standing Rock! This sneaky husky managed to steal some meat while everyone was distracted by the snow storm.
-Heather

1-1-2017 ~ Waniya Locke, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
“I came to help. I came home to help, because I want to protect the future. And part of protecting our future is learning our language. So Lakota language is the essence of who we are; it’s the spirit of who we are. You can strip a person of food and clothing, and even their spirituality and they’ll be okay. But once you strip a person of their language, they lose everything. They lose all their identity. They lose their connection to their land, to their ancestors, and to their own relatives. So Lakota Revitalization was a path that was found for me. It wasn’t something I went out seeking. I fell into language, and I ended up being really good at it, and all these doors unlocked for me to become a language teacher.

I teach 140 students a day. They come through my classroom forty minutes a day, every day, Monday through Friday. So I teach five classes a day, Monday through Friday to 140 students. And we revitalize the language. We actually speak in our language. But language is the foundation of everything. So that entails our stories, entails our history, that entails our spirituality, our songs and our dance. Lakota language is really vital to who we are. A lot of people don’t realize this; there’s four prongs that make the people sovereign. You have to have people. You have to have land base. You have to have culture. And you have to have a language. And that’s according to the United Nations, in order for people to be sovereign. If one of those prongs is missing, like language, then we can lose our sovereignty rights. And that’s really vital to who we are.”

Heart of Standing Rock… Patty Porter, Colville Confederate Tribes – Paddled 250 miles down the head waters of the Missouri river to the Oceti Sakowin Camp.

“We started our paddle from Bismarck, and we came down about 23 – 24 miles. Then the storm hit. We had a massive storm. It was a life altering storm. Some (fellow paddlers) were on the left side of the river that had to get out. Some were way behind that got left and jumped into a cabin. There were like 30 people out of the dug outs in one cabin, and my partner and I were stuck in the middle. And he goes, “Should we turn back?”, and I say, “No, we can’t turn back or we’ll die.”

I told him all we could do is go to the lights. They’re flashing the lights, and our brothers were on the shore flashing lights, and we’re just going. The hail just had to been massive big. We had lightning and thunder all the way around us just hitting. The water was so unbelievable. we couldn’t even see the end of our kayak. We had a massive white out, and I got hit in the eye with a hail and I could hardly see. And we tipped over a couple times, and I was told kayak can’t tip over. Well, we were real close a couple times.

I froze, and all I could hear was my dad, “Holler. Holler!” So I did. To me, it was close. It was real close, and I thought to myself when I froze, “Nobody’s going to come out and save you. You gotta dig, woman.” So I started digging and I could hear my dad, “Holler.” So I did, “Whooooooooo!” I hollered as loud as I could, and I don’t know how many times and we couldn’t even see the lights. That’s how my brothers on shore could know where we were.
The storm of my life.”
Interviewed by Toni Cervantes Photo by Autumn Fire

One does not sell the Earth the people walk upon Crazy Horse Poem by the – J Grady
This short digital film features a historic moment that happened on the front line against the Dakota access pipeline. On November 5th, 2016 representatives of the Seven Council fires of the Oceti Sakowin gathered to reignite the sacred fire of the resistance camp and establish the “horn” of the nation, a camp layout where 7 lodges are placed in a circle formation.

This moment was marked by the entrance of over 200 horseback Riders and the arrival of 50 runners who traveled over 1,200 miles to Standing Rock from Arizona.

The last time such an event occurred was in the late 1800s! That’s The Power of this movement. That’s The Power of our prayer.
“Crazy Horse” Poem by the legendary John Trudell

Film by Indigenous Rising Media, a project by the Indigenous Environmental Network.
Shot by Dr0ne2bwild Photography & Video
Edited by Josué Rivas Fotographer

Think Twice About Wasting Water

Stories From the Frontline Jan. 9, 2017

Kristeen Hernandez aka Lady2Soothe Follow @OurVoicesEcho

HIGHLIGHTS IN BLUE ARE EMBEDDED LINKS TO NEWS SOURCES. CLICKING OPENS THE SOURCE IN A NEW TAB.

Reminding people not everything is bad; stories of truth, of connecting with old friends and making new ones, learning new skills, showing respect and integrity, love, laughter, fun and working together as a community. PLEASE share these stories with you friends and acquaintances; the world needs to know, not only about the atrocities being committed but of the good which has come from the enormity of this stance against evil. Sincerely, Kristeen Irigoyen-Hernandez

PLEASE LIKE AND SHARE THIS PAGE

1-8-17 Standing Rock Update With #NoDAPL Warrior Michael Markus (1/8/2017) Fun Time- Mystic Dave

1-8-17 ~ From Serra to Syrah: The Bloody Roots of California’s Vineyards
When Pope Francis made Father Junipero Serra a saint at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. on September 23, 2015, it cast light on the brutal history and treatment of Native Americans during the Mission period. But Californians shouldn’t sit back smugly and think that violence against Indians was just a problem of the Franciscans. Serra, a citizen of Spain, may have started the trend of forcing Indians to work against their will, but the Mexicans and Americans who assumed control over California at different points in the 19th Century were worse in many ways.
Continue Reading http://tinyurl.com/j7wqn2q

1-8-17 ~ Wicapi Otto‎… So apparently, they surveyed a 400 ft wide segment but expanded their study area corridor (the normal 400 ft) a mile on either side of centerline.

What that means is that out one mile on each side of the middle of the pipeline they surveyed.

However they are within .55 miles of the reservation. If this is true, then they would have had to go to the tribe to assure passage (as this would have crossed into LaDonna’s property as the Cannonball River is located just shy of .75 miles from the drill site). With the location of Sacred Stone, they would have been up on the Rez.

I believe we all know DAPL is lying. They didn’t and are holding onto the fact that they did and want to deny that they affect any cultural sites for the tribe, but in a prior section admit there is high probability that there is cultural considerations.

So which is it? They did or didn’t? This would be a good reason to contact Army Corp again and demand the EIS knowing this. Conflict deems a requirement for EIS.

Taken from Environmental Assessment, Dakota Access Pipeline Project, Page 76, July 2016.

1-8-17 ~ Live From Standing Rock (1/8/2017) Updates With #NoDAPL Warrior Brandon Green – Mystic Dave

1-7-17 ~ Olowaan Plain… THE WATER WARRIORS WILL STILL BE STANDING FOR THE WATER ACROSS THE WORLD AND ON THE CANNON BALL AND MISSOURI RIVER! WE WILL BE THERE WATCHING AND STANDING UP IN PRAYER FOR THE WATER. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE SPRING THE OECTI CAMP WILL FLOOD BUT WE ARE PLANNING TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS SAFE AND TO MAKE SURE THE AREA IS CLEANED UP AND PUT BACK IN THE NATURAL STATE. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE VETERANS WHO WILL COME TO HELP. WE WILL FIND PLACES FOR THE PEOPLE TO MOVE SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO STAND FOR THE WATER. WE ARE THE WATER WE WILL STAND FOR THE WATER.

1-7-17 ~ Isaac Ames… This is Brenda White Bull… Today, just after this recording that I MADE MYSELF, a black truck slowed down and the gentleman sitting shotgun yelled out of the window for her to ‘Go home!’

I can only note the conundrum in this statement because she’s a retired Marine and was a drill instructor at Paris Island from 98′-00′. An honorably discharged MARINE on a walk through America was told to ‘Go home’.

I want everyone to let this sink in for a moment, just mull it over and let it marinate in your head.

Not to put to fine a point on it but I’ve got some questions:

Where are the other Marines that would walk with her? Where are the Marines that have her back? Where are the Marines that would stand beside her? Where are all the other Marines?

Lastly, where exactly is the home she is to go to as an honorably discharged MARINE?!

I thought it was this country but it seems others believe otherwise.

Would any Marines I know care to answer any of these questions?

Perhaps share this post so I can get some answers?

I’ll wait.

Supplemental edit: I spoke with the other walkers and they were all harassed in one form or another by this same vehicle as it traveled down the road. However for the one or two individuals behaving in such a manner there were dozens that showed us a great deal of generosity and support.

I want everyone to know that the McLean County Sheriffs have been very courteous, considerate, and supportive of the Youth Unity Journey for Sacred Waters. If anyone would like to contact them and express their appreciation or gratitude they can be reached day or night at 701-462-8103.

1-7-17 ~ Idle No More Washington… “Hoeven — a former North Dakota governor and vocal supporter of both the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines — was elected to lead the committee on Tuesday… The Indian Affairs committee is tasked with proposing legislation that addresses the concerns of “American Indian, Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native peoples,” including land management and economic development… Sen. Hoeven’s new job is ironic because he has repeatedly opposed causes that Native Americans support. The Dakota Access Pipeline is the most recent example. As thousands of (peaceful protectors) from across Indian Country converged on Cannon Ball, North Dakota, over the latter half of 2016 to block the (destructive) pipeline’s completion, Hoeven (erroneously) called the (protection actions) ‘violent’ and asked President Barack Obama to deploy federal law enforcement to quell them…”

Guess it just didn’t occur to them to get an actual American Indian to head the committee on Indian Affairs. Hello? How long are we going to remain the most backward industrialized country on earth? Forever? Is that the plan?

1-6-17 ~ “Some day the earth will weep, she will beg for her life, she will cry her tears of blood. You will make a choice, if you will help her or let her die, and when she dies, you will die too.”
John Hollow Horn

1-6-17 ~ Just a few of the happy dogs here at Standing Rock. They have become great friends.
-Heather

1-5-17~ Jay Caspian Kang… A cheery spirit of industry runs through the Oceti Sakowin camp at Standing Rock. You can hardly walk 50 feet without coming across someone sawing wood or pounding in tent stakes or lugging a crate of canned tomatoes to the kitchen. A small army of independent documentarians-turned-butlers scurry from tent to tipi carrying thermoses of coffee and bowls of powdered soup to tribal leaders. Continue Reading http://tinyurl.com/j9ezaje

1-5-17 ~ Wiyaka Zi Wicasa‎… Yes, there’s a lot of social media misrepresentation. I know there is. From being in the camp and coming back out. For example, the way Dallas and Chase are always on Facebook, acting like they have the authority to speak on or represent us. We are the Traditional Leadership and the Legitimate 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty Representatives. We never gave them permission to speak on our Treaties or on our behalf at Oceti Sakowin. They also talk about donations that we’ve never seen. I’m speaking about the Cheyenne River North Encampment. You might want to know that when you send money to a personal PayPal or Gofundme account then it’s their money to do with as they please. They have done what they please with it and continue to do so. Dallas dipped out with his accounts months ago. It’s my understanding that he had solicited a very sizable sum too. Chase doesn’t even live in the camp. I’m sure he has a Gofundme or PayPal account as well. He had a room as of the 30th, at the casino, and didn’t even invite people from the camps to take showers in his room. No, definitely not Lakota leadership. Our Traditional Leadership is in our camps with us.

1-5-17 ~ Mitra Singh… I understand the problems are far greater than even I can fathom! My hands are tied, I am powerless to do anything as a non-native everything must be native led and solved or it will never work. I do not even deserve to be in any of the camps period!! Back in 1988 I went home with my BFF to the Rez near Riodoso for Thanksgiving and it took my friend’s father an act of congress to even let me come for that weekend. Picked up the axe and started chopping wood… I was not allowed to be there end of story but they let me come, so humbling for me- opposite of humiliation- humility is something totally different!! I come with my own skills, funding and resources willing to share and leave… show me where the axe is and I will start chopping YOU show me where the axe is laid and I will serve. My best friend was afraid I would not appreciate her people but that adobe home with dirt floors would change my life forever. (her later heroin addiction would separate our affections for one another but I still love her and pray she can get clean)

1-4-16 ~ Aho kolas… To live is to survive. Don’t put up a fence if you have more than what your family needs to survive. Make your table bigger. And invite those that have less to nothing. To survive in this world, is to live amongst others in peace and sharing. Not to be humble, but for the race of human beings. Aho kolas

1-2-17 ~ Denying food to people is deplorable even the threat is intimidation and wrong – Paul Schmidtlein

1-2-17 ~ Water Is Life – Vern DeLaronde

1-2-17 Mitra Singh… The story about when the HQ Vet Tent was coming down at Standing Rock December 6th 2016.

Almost all my facebook friends know I have issues around fire. I even have a fire evacuation plan at home the dogs and I drill for. Almost all my devotee friends from the temple also know I had huge issues during my harinama initiation cause of the fire sacrifice that went along with it. Almost all my cannabis buds know because of extra electrical requirements in growing plants I am crazy about the location of the balasts. 2004 I was in an apartment fire so I know everything there is to know about fire dangers and fire safety.

Another veteran, an older officer Vietnam/Korean era stately gentleman voiced his concern to me as I was passing out cold medicine. The large Army tent was not doing well in the wind, 75 mph winds against the canvas was nerve wracking. I know. Puma was panting even though it was cold, the wind was causing Puma distress/fear.

I survey our tent… all I can see are the 3 wood burning stoves keeping everybody warm. I see that canvas coming down onto the stoves, I see these poles coming down and trapping people. I memorize every seem of this structure. Only one way out thru the front door. How long would it take for a fire to spread if only one pole comes down? We are over crowded to begin with well over 40 people in a tent that should only have 20.

I don’t care what President Elect Trump says about “Max occupany limits” there is a reason for this and it has nothing to do with Trumps happiness or distress. There are 3 of these such tents all pitched within a few feet of each other, the speed of the wind should one tent come down in less than 60 seconds seconds a fire would break out and in less than 30 seconds a fire would jump to the next tent (another 40 veterans packed in staying warm on wood or propane stoves). This is a death trap.

I reach into my pocket and feel for my gerber, check. I take full authority to control this situation. Believe me I got a lot of eye rolls… Singh go to sleep…. Hell no! I drill every vet in my tent, where is the closest seem to where they were? do they have a gerber or knife to cut themselves out of the canvas? Count off… how many are in this tent? (the numbers kept changing cause visitors would come in since we were the Headquarters to get warm and leave) We had to have a count.

I drilled into every eye rolling veteran where is our rally point? The old chow hall converted to an aide station about 25 feet away. The tents are fine they say…. they are strong Army tents, state of the art technology we are fine… NO… listen to me. I raise my voice as I have never done before.

I go to the vet tent next door and the tent master stopped me… Oh Singh STHU… these are strong Army tents state of the art technology. At parade rest I stood, “With all due respect Sir”… I tell their tent captain “We have 75 mph winds, the chances of these tents coming down is extremely high, if the tents come down we are over occupied, we will all die. One veteran in the tent next door asked me under what authority was I speaking? my answer to him was very simple. I lived thru an apartment fire where I was the first first responder on the scene, all the jumpers lived. now I am saying…. where is our rally point? know your seems, know now to cut yourselves out if needed. I got frustrated and left that tent, the tent captain said he was in charge and would make sure his tent was safe. FINE.

I go to the next vet tent with the same song and dance. Puma by my side we cut thru the blizzard, complete white out with the snow and not enough light to find my way to the last tent.

My neighborhood is all aware. They know where the seems are like it or not….. and the rally point was the old chow how.

Finally snuggled Puma in my aratic sleeping bag for the night.
about 4 hours later…….
Down comes our HQ Tent.

Everybody, I mean everybody jump to action. As men were holding up the poles the first most important thing we were all doing was putting out the stoves. The men would hold up the tent until ALL fire was out. I saw the next day our stoves were thrown outside the tent! to prevent the whole camp from going up in flames.
Two by two vets were evacuating in a calm and precise manner reporting to the rally point we planned ahead.

So eye roll at me again…… That’s okay, I take no offense cause you do know…. these were the best Army tents around, state of the art technology.

ALL Veterans in our corner of the camp were safe, frozen it seemed but safe.

As a result of everybody’s cooperation and quick thinking this could have turned into a living nightmare putting 120 Veterans lives in danger. I don’t even want to know what could have happend if that canvas came down on our stoves in 75 mph winds.

1-1-17 ~ New Years Update at Standing Rock (1/1/2017) Chase Iron Eyes-Wounded Knee Survivor Runners – Mystic Dave

1-1-17 ~ Mitra Singh… You know what? just give the people back their damn canoes. Okay… a canoe is in no way a threat to National Security, and nobody has ever harmed you from a canoe. Canoes are a very slow means of water transportation, they do not even have a motor. Unless your worried about people paddling upstream in the middle of the winter which is not illegal by the way…. Why, what is the whole point in the confiscation of the canoes? They do not belong to you now GIVE THEM BACK. Are you using these canoes as your trophy? You don’t need any trophy’s for a job not done so well in the first place.

1-1-17 ~ PNN-TV-Decolonized Medicine at Standing Rock

1-1-17 ~ Standing Rock Update (1/3/2017) Couple Arrested During New Years Eve Prayer Walk – 411 TRUTH

1-1-17 ~ ‎Robert Ferguson… The outlook for Standing Rock 2017. Right now Dapl is poised to drill under the river and complete the pipeline. The only thing holding Dapl up is the Army Corps of Engineers refusal to issue Dapl a permit to drill through the Federally owned Land under Lake Oahe. The President has the final say on the permit. Right now the president is a friend of Standing Rock, the next one doesn’t appear to be so friendly……. According to law, the Corps can call for an EIS – Environmental Impact Statement, and it has promised to do so very soon. An EIS would entail a thorough study of the impacts of the pipeline under the lake, from the first drilling, all the way thru to the expected end of the lifespan of the pipe, and what may happen were the pipe to break spilling crude oil into the lake’s waters….. So what can we expect? We can expect that any day now the Corps will officially begin the EIS process. An EIS could take as long as or more than a year. Only after the EIS is complete and signed off on could the Corps issue said permit. So, we can expect to have the camps in place for another year, at least.

What if there is no EIS and the next president tells the Corps to issue the permit? We can expect to see the water protectors raise hell. We can expect to see thousands more arrests. We can expect to see hundreds of protests in US cities which could become problematic for the PTB – Powers That Be. …. If you agree, now is the time to make your voice heard and maybe we can make the government aware that we will settle for only an EIS, and not given an EIS there will be problems galore for the president, the corps, the state and the county for who knows how long. If we are given the EIS peace will reign for at least a year. The choice is yours government: give the people what they want or the people are going to give you something you don’t want – TROUBLE.

I Failed Crossfit….Again

Kristeen Irigoyen-Hernandez aka Lady2Soothe Follow @OurVoicesEcho

Thank you Dr. Julie TwoMoon

I joined and quit Crossfit (for the second time in my life) last month. My previous stint was two plus years, this one: 3.5 weeks. Now, before I get hate mail from Crossfit lovers, please know this, I appreciate Crossfit, I understand its premise, and I do believe it can work for many, just not for me. I suppose the bigger issue is why I joined; because I thought somehow, if I just pushed harder, I could conquer my body once and for all.

I grew up chubby, I solved that problem by finding anorexia in my teens, not surprisingly adding a few more problems along the way like loss of cycle and malnutrition. Over time, I trended away from the restrictive eating of my teens, into more logical patterns like veganism (not done well) and vegetarianism back to omnivorous consumption and around again. I vacillated between being obsessive and totally lax. As per the custom of American women, I somehow effortlessly lost about 40 pounds before getting married, marveling at how the seamstress had to keep taking in my wedding dress up to the day of the ceremony. Of course, I got pregnant with my first child about 1 month later and started gaining.

I have had 3 children, and after each, the “battle” to lose weight became more and more and more. I have through the years continued to have the same conversation with myself: If I eat so clean why do I struggle so much? Followed by maybe it is time to stop struggling and let what will be, be, followed by screw that, I want to be one of those really hot mom’s at the pool, I just need the perfect exercise, more supplements/herbs/vitamins and a really strict diet and it will be all right.

When I went back to Crossfit this time, it was for a boot camp: less weights, few complicated movements and lots of cardio. I got drawn back in, into calorie counting, diet evaluation: “maybe zone would be better for me, perhaps I should try paleo again”never mind the two years I didn’t eat carbs and never slept, was up all night peeing, was angry often and also didn’t lose weight. I was drawn back into a headspace of just work harder, push harder, forget the fatigue, muscle soreness, the way running in the dark around an industrial building makes you feel unsafe and as if you were going to trip any moment. Forget the swelling in your knees, ankles, the fact your Chiropractor can’t even adjust you because your spine is so locked down, forget that you are seeking massage not for pleasure but for pain management, forget that for the first time in years, you just took a Tylenol.

Then, my back went out, and I was stuck on the couch in pain, not moving, and feeling the familiar sensations of injury creeping back once again. It was like a rewind of all the times I had pushed myself to move not because movement was medicine, but because the little voice in the background was saying: you just aren’t dedicated enough, you just haven’t tried hard enough, you are too focused on the pain.

I started to ask myself: Why did I really go back? The real answer wasn’t weight loss, it wasn’t fitting into skinny jeans, it was feeling young in movement, body and muscle, it was feeling physically responsive and agile and nourished. Nothing I had been doing in the previous 3 weeks had made me feel this way, if anything, I felt rigid, off balance, and stuck. So, I stopped, and then I began to heal.

It took a month to unwind what had been wound up again: a month where I still cajoled myself to move because if I didn’t I was going to be fat forever, a month where I wondered if not that, then what? But I noticed a few weeks ago, an urging to move because with movement by body felt free flowing and open, an urge to move because movement spurred clean energy, an urge to move out of love for my physical self, my cells, my muscle and my organs.

This story has been playing so long in my life, when I started with my first DNA Activation, one of the things on my priority list of what it would mean to heal was restoration to my metabolism such that maintaining a good weight would be an effortless process. I think back to the me that wrote that and I hug her, for despite needing to heal from anger, and sadness, from a sense of fear, from needing to heal my relationships, to be more present as a mother, I was looking at my outside and telling my beautiful miracle of a body it was not enough.

Healing often isn’t what we thought it was going to be, I am reminded of that daily in the people I sit with, in the stories I hear, in the life I live. That place where we change our perspective from an outside-in model to an inside-out one is precious and profound. Funny thing is, we won’t just do it once, we will do it repeatedly, tiny shifts in perception, barely noticeable to the outside world at first, a subtle return of compassion and joy, tolerance, flexibility, ease, movement, acceptance and truth.

I am grateful for the me that walked into the Crossfit gym in October, and for the one who listened to my body when it said ENOUGH! Perhaps this is the year, when more of us find our inside voices, and traverse the chasms separating us from the truth speaking always, and find inside a resilient resonance unlike any we have heard before, and allow that to propel us to a more beautiful life than we ever believed possible.
Happy New Year!
Dr. Julie

Stories From the Frontline Jan. 2, 2017

Kristeen Irigoyen-Hernandez aka Lady2Soothe Follow @OurVoicesEcho

PLEASE LIKE AND SHARE THIS PAGE

An 86-year old Sioux elder arriving at the Sacred Stone Camp

1-1-17 ~ Jim Graywolf Petruzzi… If Not a War, What is It?

I had a good friend ask me last night why I use the word ‘war’ when I speak of the events going on around us and the actions we take as we seek a better, healthier place to live. This is someone I know and respect, so I reflected on the question. It is a good question – a valid one. ‘War’ can be a charged word – a word with negative connotations. We chatted a while over this question and then I went to smudge and send my prayers and wishes to Great Spirit.

This morning the question is still with me. I realized 2 days ago I wrote a poem – I Am A Warrior. I post it here since it relates to this discussion. No coincidences my friends. So, I am going to capture my views on this – at least those I currently see – and I invite yours.
I Am A Warrior

I stand up for what I see needs to be changed,
But I do not hate those who disagree.
I speak with conviction about the healing we need,
But I listen to others speak in contrary ways.

For years I have fought for peace and equality,
But I no longer throw rocks – I send prayers.
Those who disagree with me sometimes hate me,
I will not hate back.

Those wishing to silence me will do whatever they can to still my voice.
But I will not be silent – I will speak peacefully, without stop.
When those destroying our planet attack my friends.
I will stand beside them and will not move.

There is a war being waged now for our planet and our lives.
They fight with bullets and hoses and corrupt laws.
I fight with words and love and trust.
So that we will reach our true potential as humans.

They are haters.
I am a warrior.
A spiritual warrior. A peaceful warrior.
I fight in peace with those ready to stand with me.

We are warriors.
~ Jim Graywolf Petruzzi

Here is some of what I responded to the question:
It is a war – a peaceful revolution. But I don’t want people thinking we can just pray and all will be good. Creator wants to see actions, which he/she can then put energy towards. Likewise the ancestors – angels, prophets, whatever name – do nothing until we pray, act and ask for help and guidance.

I was taught this by many different cultures and have seen it hold true. War does not have to be negative nor have only negative connotations. This definition for example – “a struggle or competition between opposing forces or for a particular end”

What other word will stir people awake? The conflict within self of the light and dark wolf is also called the war of the self.

We have envisioned the world of good – the light wolf. Still we need to feed that wolf so the dark wolf, who has been dominant for so long, becomes the lesser part of us.

Thanks for bringing back these teachings to me and reminding me of those who shared them with me long ago.

When I do ceremonies, teachings, sound healing, spiritual work I exist in a place of light – all light. When I am in a spiritual activist role I am helping move us to the light. Part is by recognizing the dark and the struggle we now have.

Standing Rock is a great example. Many of the elders and leaders speak of this battle in a larger war. The war is Water is Life. Then they go on to speak as I am – this is a new war and we are peaceful warriors.

When I work with and speak to children my whole energy and word use shifts. Not younger or less mature – more light. They do not need to be awakened and motivated. They are.

Some images need to be before us so we can make the changes needed.
Here are two others that give me pause:
* Cutting the head off of the black snake
* Letting the Phoenix die so she can rise

Based on the wishes of the elders and leaders at Standing Rock and elsewhere for peaceful protests I think we should discuss the use of our words as well as our actions. If there is a better word to guide us – let’s find it.

Thanks for hearing me.
~ Jim Graywolf Petruzzi
Standing Rock Protestors support
Water is Life Movement

1-1-17 Chase IronEyes… Wounded knee Survivor Runners are set to arrive at Oceti Oyate, Oceti Sakowin, All Nations camp at 7pm central today! Come run with us

1-1-17~ Robert Ferguson... Paid Water Protectors. Did you know in almost every town there are people paid to protect your drinking water? They work at the places that draw water from either the ground or a surface source and then filter the water to make sure it is drinkable. Then there are a multitude of other government employees who work as environmentalists to ensure the surface and groundwaters do not become too polluted. In most cases these employees do a good job. Not so much in Flint or Corpus Christi. … Anyway, for most of the time these water protectors are left alone to do their jobs without much fanfare. But on occasion they find problems that lead back to some industry saving money by allowing pollution to enter the environment, and then their bosses can get real ugly. It pays to learn who in your area is a paid water protector and let them know you appreciate their efforts and are willing to Stand with them when they feel the need to expose pollution or even potential pollution. They will thank you and the water you save together might be your own.

12-31-16 ~ Penny Fruth…. I leave my basement door open as shelter for animals who might need it. This morning, before sunrise, I heard a hen sing out her death cry and ran downstairs. I saw the hen, still squatted down, waiting for the next blow. I looked and saw a large owl. I spoke calmly to the owl and tried to herd it toward the open door where there was only darkness. The owl wanted to go toward the light and kept crashing into walls. Finally, after much reassurance, the owl flew into the darkness and found the wind that lifted him up.

The owl is a powerful symbol that relates to the Water Protectors and the Seventh Generation. It is a strong symbol of transformation that often comes through darkness, not light. Just as the owl preferred the light, but finally realized he needed to go to the dark; the Water Protectors’ bravery and endurance have led them to go into the dark, with no assurance of success. Through their courage and perseverance, they are bringing light to the darkness and I am grateful. Thank you.

12-31-16 ~ Crystal Houser… Today has been a tough one. Will likely be a tough night. Trying to center. Trying to have some semblance of celebratory spirit on this holiday.

When it all boils down to it, I am where I need to be. I love you all, family, old friends, new friends, new family. Happy new years from Standing Rock.

It’s a happy new year here. Boy, I love it here with all these great people,” said Lee Sprague ~ Pottawaomi/Ottawa

12-31-16 ~ Youth Unity Journey for Sacred Waters… Journey continues to Standing Rock, Our Walker’s Marge Roberts Mckenzie, Charrjalz N Mikeroberts have the determination, Resilience, and Perseverance to reach there destination (y) Awesome to be helping out and extremely proud of them to be Walking this far in North Dakota, USA

12-31-16 ~ Daphne Singingtree… Long post about the current controversy about Standing Rock funding including the tribe’s decision to use some of the donated funds to address deficits from impact of the legal and logistical issues around the protest.

How we share resources is our biggest challenge today. The cause of most wars, our fight for clean water, protection of the earth, is all about those who wish a bigger piece of pie for themselves, sometimes the whole pie. In traditional indigenous cultures a core value is taking care of those in need. Those who have more, share, and it lifts everyone. Simple concept, but one we have gotten away from as modern life and the culture of self has supplanted the idea of care of others. The future is endangered by the 1% who use their wealth as power to produce more wealth at the expense of water and the earth and those who live upon her. It is the heart of colonialism. Money is power, and as the NoDAPL movement grows economic pressures are going to be essential to long term victory.

Standing Rock donations have come in from around the world providing vital support we would not be able to function without. However, as a movement, we are still in a gestational stage, working without traditional leadership, developing organically, and a source of pain as we labor right now revolves about money, donations, and how resources are allocated. We are trying to figure out a way to do things differently, that is more inclusive, less hierarchical, less based on colonial models.

At Standing Rock we are a microcosm of society as a whole, and as such are facing avarice, selfishness, egos, and competing agendas. There has been misuse of donated funds, I know people who raised money specifically for the Wellness space at Rosebud and not one dime reached us. There has been theft and resources not used or ruined because of a lack of organization and proper stewardship. But there also has been tremendous generosity, not only from those donating money or supplies, but those giving their time to do fundraisers and organize political events at home, and those who work so incredibly hard at camp. I have seen so many people give up well-paying jobs, put school and their lives on hold, all for Standing Rock. It gets into your soul and becomes the only thing that matters. I get it, I have a small business before Standing Rock making and selling herbal products. After I was gone months, had to lay off my part time staff, and no longer have the time to make products, and truthfully making and selling stuff is not how I want to spend my time, as my work with Standing Rock is so much more important to my grandchildren’s future.

I was a part of the Occupy Movement and see so many similarities with the early support and enthusiasm, then personalities, egos, lack of leadership and focus, the movement crumbled as much from within as from without. I was a midwife for 30 years, my role was support the natural birth process, yet be aware in case intervention was needed. Sometime intervention is simple sometimes complicated, but if not done in time, consequences can be devastating. As one of the many midwives helping birth this movement that started with Standing Rock, I am listening to the heartbeat with concern. While I am concerned about the misuse or theft of funds, I believe a greater threat is the infighting about it. The finger pointing, the accusations, the negativity, the divisiveness can sweep up good people as well as the bad. I have seen from personal experience how unfounded accusations, haters and Internet trolls can destroy someone’s life and important work. Transparency and accountability is important. We can make a full accounting with receipts for all the funds donated to either my Gofundme page or to Zaniyan.org, and will continue to do that. The Medic and Healer Council is in the process of organizing a separate nonprofit which will do the same.

While people are still braving the weather and a protest camp will remain at Standing Rock until the pipeline is gone for good, longer term sustainable community projects, including an integrative health clinic, a birth center, are all in the planning stages, and can result from some of the positive energy generated for this cause. We still need support and help from the global community to fight the black snake and protect the water for all of us. The Standing Rock tribe has incurred a lot of expenses and losses from this protest, monies donated will not go to any one person or family, and that is more than I can say for a lot of other fundraising efforts.

I see one of the biggest needs right now in terms of funding is paying the fines and legal fees of arrested water protectors. While there are specific camp needs such as firewood and propane we are still working on, we are now looking other protest camps in Texas, Cheyenne River, British Columbia, & Florida. At both the Medic Healer Council and Zaniyan, we are looking at how to allocate resources to best serve the most people.

Standing Rock needs continued support as well as a healthy discussion of donated funds and how best to use them. What we don’t need is people from outside, who do not know all the facts or whole picture making judgments or accusations that can result in funding being pulled entirely. Facebook is powerful weapon, use it responsibly. Let’s focus on what is needed, where, how it is best used, and how to have transparency. #nodapl#waterislife #divestbank

12-31-16… Red Fawn is a Lakota from Denver, Colorado, who had been one of the water protectors. The 37 year old was known by many of the younger protectors as mom. She was always checking on people to make sure they had everything they needed. Her mother had been at the Wounded Knee occupation in the seventies, and sadly just recently passed away. One day a young girls hand was broken by a Morton County cop, and Red Fawn was right there to get her out of harm’s way. Later the cops grabbed Red Fawn who was walking away from the front line and threw her to the ground on her face. Three cops had their knees in her back and on her legs. Suddenly shots were fired. They claimed Red Fawn had a gun hidden behind her back, pulling it out and fired shots. But there is video that clearly shows they had her face down on the ground, not on her back so the cops were lying. They tried to charge her with attempted murder. Now how could a small woman with three cops on top of her pull out this mysterious gun and get off three shot ? After being held in jail without bail, Monday a Judge stated that the murder charges were dropped, but now she’s charged with concealing a weapon. Those lying cops knew that these false charges would never hold up in court. If she had really done it there is no way in hell they would drop those charges. They also never did a test to prove she had fired a weapon, because they already knew she hadn’t. So now the cops are going to ruin her life with a lie about a concealed handgun. Prayers for you Red Fawn, you are a true warrior and hero, unlike those lying cops in the Morton County Sheriff’s department. PEACE & BLESSINGS DOC

12-30-16 ~ Jim Graywolf Petruzzi… Thanks for an Amazing Year of Support and Action.
It is time to share energy and give thanks. So I am saying thanks for all the support you have each given Standing Rock and all Water is Life movement protests everywhere. The heroes of Standing Rock have done amazing things and spiritually and morally led us all. Their place in history as energizing movements to save our planet is set. We all thank and honor them – and continue to support what they are still doing.

That said, each of you now look in a mirror, smile and say wopila – many thanks – to the one you see there. To yourself. Early on we were asked to spread the word about the efforts at Standing Rock and we answered that call. As we still are. Without the virtual effort to bring Standing Rock to the masses, I fear they would have been stopped long ago. This effort takes us all – those at Standing Rock and those virtually around the world.

So many have taken the Standing Rock example to heart and begun their own protests around the U.S. and the world. To them I also say thank you. I am working with a group we created here in Colorado to stand against fracking and save our water. I hope many more of you find local groups as well.

As is the way on my spiritual path as taught to me by Two Bears and my other elders, I also thank those at Standing Rock and those in these virtual communities for all they will be doing in 2017. I see it already – and it is beautiful to behold. Watching the four colors of prophecy come together. I have no words. I thank you for taking this movement to the next level. I thank you for your continued peaceful revolution. And I thank you for the seven generations who cannot yet speak – but are watching us all.

2017 is the year we must work even harder to connect ALL the Water is Life efforts. Even if we are swamped with our local protests, we must allow some time for the council of protests to form. To truly win this war I know this is so. I ask those at Standing Rock to also play a leadership role in this. I look forward to returning to Standing Rock to embrace my friends and relatives there with my thanks again. And I also thank you, here, for your leadership. Mni Waconi – water IS life… the Movement.

This thank you comes from deep in my heart and spirit. It is an honor to walk with you all. And I know the other admins feel the same way. I invite them to comment here if they wish.

I tap into my Mayan relatives teachings with a reminder as I end this: In Lak’ech Ala K’in – I am you and you are me. This has never been so true.

~ Jim Graywolf Petruzzi
Standing Rock Protectors Support Group

12-30-16 ~ Jim Petoskey‎… I was in the Marines for 9 years. I was stationed at Camp Lejuene, NC for 8 years and every Marine since 1959 has been drinking benzine, TCE, PCB and other chemicals from the contaminated wells. I was also at Fort McClellan, AL where we were exposed to nuclear particles in the air and Agent Orange in the water that was dumped by the Monsanto plant next to the fort. I have lost many friends I served with who died from diseases related to those chemicals. I feel like I am on borrowed time. I have 4 young children ages 8,9,9 and 11. So what ever time I have left I have vowed to fight for clean water for them and , as we say in my culture, the 7 generations to come. Stand strong.

12-30-16 ~ With all the talk going on I just wanted to focus on a positive right now, this is Randy…He has been one of the consistent roles here this winter at camp. His program and bill is fitted by the tribe, regardless of any misconception. He has been out in all conditions to help people stay warm and safe here at camp and across the reservation. He shared a story about seeing and helping a guy who rolled his vehicle recently, breaking glass to get this guy out and into a safe position eventually getting him into an ambulance. These silent heroes are the foundation of what’s going on here in #StandingRock #NoDAPL

12-30-16 ~ Johnny Dangers

12-30-16 ~ Anthony Liccione… This I would wish, that there was no time or sleep. No more past, or future, and everything we did was good the first time, for the day. Without the need of looking back to learn from the past, and no future to hope for the better. No more tiredness, or having a need to dream, and no nightmares to fear. If there was a second time, this is how I would like to start over. Nor pipelines ever ever ever

12-30-16 ~ Mikeroberts N Charrjalz… Today was a good day I’m so thankful we made it to cross the border walking 😁that’s such a big achievement I struggled today before crossing. I was so worried thinking and overwhelming myself just about to have an anxiety attack didn’t know what to expect in United States, our first time going there. But I prayed and gave it to the creator and just let go of everything and smudged and walked, I felt good about myself and our group that we were gonna pass the border. And now were here but our journey is not over were determined to keep walking to standing rock Standing Rock were coming WATER IS LIFE MINI WICONI

12-29-16 ~ To better comprehend Standing Rock, throughout the past century, prime Indian land has been seized or “bought” by the Federal government or corporations with no regard for Native rights or needs. This Associated Press photo from 1948 shows the Secretary of the Interior “buying” 155,000 acres of Indian land in North Dakota for a government reservoir. The weeping face of the Fort Berthold Tribal councilman says it all.

At a certain point, people have to say “ENOUGH.” Which is what the Standing Rock resistance is all about.
Read the original http://tinyurl.com/zkmaga7

12-29-2016 ~ A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY TO THINK ABOUT.…… December 29, 2016 marks the 126th Anniversary of the murder of 297 Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee Creek on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. These 297 people, in their winter camp, were murdered by federal agents and members of the 7th Cavalry who had come to confiscate their firearms “for their own safety and protection”. The slaughter began after the majority of the Sioux had peacefully turned in their firearms. The Calvary began shooting, and managed to wipe out the entire camp. 200 of the 297 victims were women and children. About 40 members of the 7th Cavalry were killed, but over half of them were victims of fratricide from the Hotchkiss guns of their overzealous comrades-in-arms.

TWENTY members of the 7th Cavalry’s death squad, were deemed “National Heroes” and were awarded the Medal of Honor for their acts of [cowardice] heroism.

We hear very little of Wounded Knee today. It is usually not mentioned in our history classes or books. What little that does exist about Wounded Knee is normally a sanitized “Official Government Explanation”. And there are several historically inaccurate depictions of the events leading up to the massacre, which appear in movie scripts and are not the least bit representative of the actual events that took place that day.

Wounded Knee was among the first federally backed gun confiscation attempts in United States history. It ended in the senseless murder of 297 people.

Before you jump on the emotionally charged bandwagon for gun-control, take a moment to reflect on the real purpose of the Second Amendment, the right of the people to take up arms in defense of themselves, their families, and property in the face of invading armies or an oppressive government. The argument that the Second Amendment only applies to hunting and target shooting is asinine. When the United States Constitution was drafted, “hunting” was an everyday chore carried out by men and women to put meat on the table each night, and “target shooting” was an unheard of concept. Musket balls were a precious commodity and were certainly not wasted on “target shooting”. The Second Amendment was written by people who fled oppressive and tyrannical regimes in Europe, and it refers to the right of American citizens to be armed for defensive purposes, should such tyranny arise in the United States.

As time goes forward, the average citizen in the United States continually loses little chunks of personal freedom or “liberty”. Far too many times, unjust gun control bills were passed and signed into law under the guise of “for your safety” or “for protection”. The Patriot Act signed into law by G.W. Bush, was expanded and continues under Barack Obama. It is just one of many examples of American citizens being stripped of their rights and privacy for “safety”. Now, the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is on the table, and will, most likely be attacked to facilitate the path for the removal of our firearms, all in the name of “our safety”.

Before any American citizen blindly accepts whatever new firearms legislation that is about to be doled out, they should stop and think about something for just one minute-

Evil does exist in our world. It always has and always will. Throughout history evil people have committed evil acts. In the Bible one of the first stories is that of Cain killing Abel. We can not legislate “evil” into extinction. Good people will abide by the law, and the criminal element will always find a way around it.

Evil exists all around us, but looking back at the historical record of the past 200 years, across the globe, where is “evil” and “malevolence” most often found? In the hands of those with the power, the governments. That greatest human tragedies on record and the largest loss of innocent human life can be attributed to governments. Who do the governments always target? “Scapegoats” and “enemies” within their own borders…but only after they have been disarmed to the point where they are no longer a threat. Ask any Native American, and they will tell you it was inferior technology and lack of arms that contributed to their demise. Ask any Armenian why it was so easy for the Turks to exterminate millions of them, and they will answer “We were disarmed before it happened”. Ask any Jew what Hitler’s first step prior to the mass murders of the Holocaust was- confiscation of firearms from the people.

Wounded Knee is the prime example of why the Second Amendment exists, and why we should vehemently resist any attempts to infringe on our Rights to Bear Arms. Without the Second Amendment we will be totally stripped of any ability to defend ourselves and our families.

12-29-16 ~ Chris Turley… I visited Wounded Knee once. Theres some powerful emotions and energy there. Times may have changed, however we will never forget.

Remember Wounded Knee Massacre December 29, 1890
300 Men, Women and Children. May our relatives rest in peace, for they are not forgotten.

12-29-16 ~ Remembering the Fallen on this 29th day of December while praying for our future.

12-28-16 ~ DAPL Hero Charged With Felony Terrorizing For Saving Lives by De-escalating Deadly AR15 Standoff
In return for heroically de-escalating a situation in which an employee of the Dakota Access Pipeline pointed a loaded AR-15 at bystanders, Brennon Nastacio is being charged with a felony — and has been placed on the Morton County Sheriff’s most wanted list. Read More http://tinyurl.com/z4tl6h8

12-28-16 ~ Wicapi Otto… or those of you needing facts. Here is a fact that I can undeniably refute. DAPL has the media purporting that Standing Rock never objected. Well they never counted on someone like me that actually reads stuff like their boring reports.

An article was passed recently that had an audio recording from 2014 of the tribes objection. However this report was taken directly from the Army Corp of Engineers website and is the public report submitted by DAPL and the ACE. It was published in 2015 and updated in 2016. If anyone says the tribe did not do due diligence proof is here. You can click the link and see the publishing dates and click the PDF to read. Um…it is 1261 pages long though…good thing to do if at Oceti Oyate and learn about what we are fighting.
http://tinyurl.com/j7t2q44

12-28-6 ~ Magpie Waters… O ci yo I thought it was a sign of hope when the United States Veterans announced that they were organizing and heading to the freezing North Dakota plains at Standing Rock, to stand with and stand in front of the water protectors to get them out of harms way. Nobody new what kind of effect that it would have on the situation. It was monumental (remember that word) in this unprecedented gathering of Indigenous people.

Never in the time of Indigenous people has a gathering like this taken place and pow-wows don’t count. What was monumental was not just former military members coming to protect Water Protectors, but the healing that took place, between the two groups and the tribes. Water is Life unified all people gathering to fight the Black Snake. Veterans prayed with the Water Protectors and, asked for forgiveness for past atrocities that the United States military had committed in the genocide of our ancestors. They then acted as mediators to bring peace were none had been for so long.

Here is Magpie Waters video number four, for the year. At the time this video was produced with a misspelled cavalry(where Jesus died) in the title instead of the kind that are part of the military. I thought it was a sign of hope when the United States Veterans announced that they were organizing and heading to the freezing North Dakota plains to stand with and stand in front of the water protectors to get them out of harms way. Nobody new what kind of effect that it would have on the situation. It was monumental (remember that word) in this unprecedented gathering of Indigenous people.

Like many people around the world the night of November 20 sparked not only outrage but activity in writing the President, the North Dakota governor and many others I would have never guessed that veterans would be the answer in solving the violence against Water Protectors.

I shouldn’t have been surprised by the healing either. Anyone, who has been around our elders, Sun Dancers, Pipe Carriers and Medicine People understand their genuine love for our earth and all who walk, slither, swim, fly and crawl on it. They have the power of peace. This peace allows healing to take place in times when no one else can.

The veterans stood tall at Standing Rock and are true American heros. Wado and blessings to them all and to all the Water Protectors on the front lines of battle and everywhere in between. All my Relations, Magpie Waters

12-28-16 ~ Jason L.George… I need to speak, and I wish to be heard. I am Jason L.George, a proud and patriotic son of our nation (Colville confederated tribes). I am in standing rock North Dakota and am resident of oceti ohyahteh ,the northern most and front line camp. I’ve come here to represent our 12 tribes with nothing in my pockets, but with good will, and honor in my heart. I have become known and well thought of as High hat a person to seek out if you need help of any kind. A warrior who will hold shield position and not abandon those behind him.Even after being wounded, gassed and frozen I have kept my shield high and strong. I wish to represent and honor my nation as best and as long as I’ve the strength and life to do so. I am not a person who readily requests help from another. But I am here now to beseech any who may be inclined to, and in a position to help. I have repeatedly requested that flag of our tribe to be sent to me, so that I might fly our colors high and proud above my lodges. So that all who seek my assistance or counsel might have our beautiful star to guide them to my lodge flap, and any of our tribal relation who may travel to this distant land may find a piece of home to welcome them in. I’ve been informed by our counsel that as an individual I cannot represent us in such a fashion. I am not requesting financial backing,nor am I not asking for a counsel seat. I just want the world to see that we are here to be counted among those who choose life over wealth for us and our loved ones living and yet to be born.If anyone of you has access to our (Colville) flag and can find it in your heart to give,loan or sell said article to me. I would truly be appreciative to you and yours eternally. The postal workers in cannonball have been forthright and honorable in making sure supplies sent to them for us be delivered without incident or circumstance barring their path. So an acceptable address for me would be. Jason George (High hat) c/o Oceti ohyahteh camp,general delivery,Cannonball ND 58528
Thank you (Lim lint) ….

12-28-16 ~ Youth walking over 400 miles from Saskatchewan to the #NoDAPL frontline camps!

12-28-16 Casey Eugene Leydon… (i am very tired but I have to give you this message to listen too and to share.)
My coughing never really went away…though it has been growing since the Night of November 20 that I was struck by a rocket on the Hwy I806 backwater bridge …

I returned to Florida December 4 but my cough stayed with me…and grew.

Tuesday I began having an asthma attack that I had been building for days… feeling was building into a death for me…. It became so intense it took my breath and nearly my life… My roommate and dear friend Carol R. Brown Lmt saved my life.
She called the ambulance..she coached the EMTS on the medical procedure I had to have to save my life…She held my hand the entire time…she looked into my eyes and kept me calm…kept me from panicking and pushing my life over the edge of no return…I made the long ride from the woods to Florida memorial hospital in Flagler…because EMT named Roy held my hand and looked me in the eyes and talked me thru each painful inhale and exhale….I have been here a few days …totally exhausted from the pushing air in and out…breathing is exhausting….the STERIODS lines are fighting the fluids in my lungs… Medications fight the side effects of the STERIODS and fight my panic and anxiety attacks from struggling to breath..other medications are fighting the pneumonia…and hourly breathing machine with meds to fight asthma…it seems the tear gas rocket that hit my chest on the bridge emptied a lot of acid powder in to the air I breathed and I got a lot of powder deep in my lungs…I still smell the acid when I cough…the result is That i will stay here under extra care and medicine while my body finishes coughing and removing all the tear gas powder.

I am hurting and tired but I am in a loving hospital..the group of caregiver’s all know about #NoDAPL and the Water Protectors and the Lakota and the treaty rights and the bridge on November 20th…they knew before I got here…they send there love to all on the frontline…they treat me with honor and respect and love because of you.
The Water Protectors…

They say they promise to heal me …to tell the frontline that they will heal this warrior….because they love the Frontline…
How beautiful is that.

Here in Florida a group of healthcare givers are all knowing and supporting the frontline…
Creator sometimes shouts ….but sometimes also will whisper us to us in our hospital bed a thousand miles a from the backwater bridge on Hwy 1806….”get up my faithful healing warrior…you are winning…do not lay down for long…you are winning.. Get up …rise up…

Can you hear your sisters and brothers?
the Liberators are calling your name.”
I will not lay down for long.
I have heard my brothers and sisters.
I will return.
We will let the world hear us.
Get up.
Rise Up.
The liberators are calling you name.

12-27-16 ~ Olowaan Plain… 15-20 with shields, 6-8 armored vehicles, bunch of vans, sound cannon and water cannons rolled out AGAIN this time around Turtle Island sacred site and Heyoka Camp. Nothing has changed. We are still here protecting ourselves against imperialism and ecocide.

Earlier we went to the bridge and prayed, took a few pictures. Concrete barriers and razor wire are still up, vehicles were moved days ago, bridge inspection will take “thirty days”…A gun was pulled on us by DAPL mercenaries stated that if we touched the barbed wire we would be shot. People tried speaking to them reasonably. When I told them the pollution from these oil spills invades my womb and breast milk for the next seven thousand generations they walked back to their cars…we will post video later. We went up on the bridge again later praying with the drum, got on our knees and prayed. Some people, unarmed as always, walked off into the field not far from the bridge and were shot with rubber bullets by cops.

Unfortunately 4 scouting from Sacred Stone were arrested, but this was unrelated to our group.

I didn’t go on Turtle Island. Prayers have been laid there. I told the feds to get off the gravesites and sacred site.

12-27-16 ~ North Dakota law enforcement stalked a group of people who were praying along the Cannonball River and began arresting them. Not sure what the charges are at this point or if police can legally arrest people simply for gathering near the river on Army Corps land. This seems more like an infringement on religious rights than anything else.

Find out how much water you should be drinking per day
http://tinyurl.com/zmva868

12-27-16 ~ Native Blood… One of the earliest photos showing a Native American with a wolf – unlike the myths created about wolves by settlers, Native Americans maintained a close and respectful relationship with wolves.

12-27-16 ~ Jon Eagle Sr… Dakota 38 Wokiksuye Riders completed their commitments today. A 330 mile prayer on horseback that brought healing and reconciliation across the land as they came. Today we remembered the 38 Dakota who were sentenced to be hung by President Abraham Lincoln in what came to be known as the largest mass execution in US history.

Yesterday it rained as they rode into Land of Memories Park. We knew it was a blessing when the Wakinyan showed themselves. Today when the ceremony was done many of the riders and people in the crowd remembered Standing Rock and the Water Protectors and yelled,”Mni Wiconi!”

12-27-16 ~ This is an image of history made just today. These burnt trucks were removed from the now famous Highway 1806 blockade. This life-threatening war crime by Morton County is finally being stopped and dismantled. It is a war crime against all people of this region of North Dakota, including the Protectors, according to Article 24 of the Geneva Convention. This war crime is ending just now, after two months, and it is the People who are ending it. That is why this picture means so much.

“Please keep the Protectors in your prayers tonight. The action taken today on Highway 1806 was by the People. That means that Morton County may act in retaliation soon (illegally). The Protectors are talking about DAPL security moving certain equipment in this live video from earlier this evening (https://www.facebook.com/julie.kurylowicz/videos/10212407964180816/?hc_location=ufi). We still need confirmation that the entire blockade on Highway 1806 will be cleared, but at least the contentious burnt trucks do seem to have been cleared. But again, they were cleared by the People, and Morton County is scary in its disrespect and brutalization of the People. The giant concrete blocks still need to go, and that is a lot to do in a blizzard with Morton County against you. It may take days to finish removing all of the blockade, and I am not sure of the

12-27-16 ~ HolyElk Lafferty… The Sami were teaching how to make shoes today.

12-26-16 ~ Digital Smoke Signals… If DAPL cannot ask for forgiveness for the desecration of “Sacred Lands”, if the Governor & Morton County police department of North Dakota cannot humble themselves and ask for forgiveness for human rights and civil rights violations of unarmed peaceful water protectors……then we will have to demonstrate and role model the power of unity and good teachings,

“We will have to pray for them”
Myron Dewey
Paiute/Shoshone
Digital Smoke Signals

12-26-16 ~ Luca Majno… The Day After Christmas ~ 1862 ~ THEN and TODAY ~

12-26-16 ~ Beautiful things can happen when we stand firm in our faith, keep love and compassion in our hearts and see everyone as our sisters and brothers, and speak the truth openly. Here is an inspiring story from water protector Salix Roots, who broke the ice with some National Guardsmen at a hotel in Bismarck when they were socked in together by the blizzard.

I had breakfast downstairs this morning in a hotel in Bismarck, ND, where I await for the next possible flight back to Santa Fe. A blizzard rolled in, cancelling all potential flights I was booked for. I’ll be heading to the airport as soon as the roads are clear enough so I can be on standby for the next available flight. In the meantime, find me snowed in at the Expressway Suites and processing the experience that I’ve had this past week at Standing Rock. I can’t quite articulate just what it means yet, but soon I will take a gander.

In the meantime, at breakfast today, I sat next to three National Guard Military members who have been going back and forth between Standing Rock and Bismarck. We are all stuck here in this hotel together.

There they were, those mysterious people stationed up on that hill with those bright, blinding lights casting down on the peaceful Water Protectors 24/7. I wanted to engage. I had seen them wandering around the hotel and wanted to interview them and hear their story but naturally, they were guarded and didn’t even want to tell me their names. So, I told them mine, and I shared my story with them.

I told them about my experience at Standing Rock, and how we’ve been praying for them to listen to what we are trying to say. Praying for them to come around. Praying in Sweat Lodges, praying in meetings, praying quietly to ourselves as we drift off to sleep each night. I quickly started to cry, tears dripping like jewels from the reservoir of anguish that I’ve been carrying. They looked at me when I spoke. They nodded in empathy. They listened. I did not feel any slither of judgment from these militarized men who are just doing their best to live their lives the way that they know how.

I told them how badly we want reconciliation, constructive dialogue, environmental protection for future generations, indigenous sovereignty, and the honoring of treaties. They didn’t argue with any of it. They just heard me and held that space.

They’re guard dissolved right before my very eyes. I felt their humanity. I maintained my vulnerability. Soon we were laughing together. I sensed they understood the futility of perpetuating continued violence towards native peoples and all who are out there, doing their best to protect what matters most to them. We are all just doing our best, after all.

We have been indoctrinated into a system that none of us is to blame for, but each of us is responsible for transforming when injustice is present and we become aware and compassionate enough to do something about it. Sometimes that can be a simple, honest dialogue with the perceived enemy where you can transmute the illusory differences that keep you separate. Sometimes it’s realizing that the enemy is really just another reflection of you.

If there’s anything that I learned from my week at Standing Rock, its that help will come because people are desiring a new way to listen. Some new kind of energy is moving through our bloodstreams, we are dropping our guards, realizing the enormous task of healing that is underway and how we each have a part to play in this, no matter which tribe you belong to or which hill you stand on. We have what it takes to do so much better. We have what it takes to respect one another, and listen to more stories then the ones that we keep telling ourselves.

Photo taken by Macon Verteskjall at Standing Rock. I’m sitting in the snow here with The National Guard // DAPL lights off in the distance. I wish I could have walked right up that hill and said to them what I said to the men I had breakfast with today, but for now…baby steps, baby steps, baby steps…may we learn how to crawl, stand, and walk together, united, all in due time.

12-26-16 ~ LRInspire… Dakota 38 + 2 wokiksuye, remembering the 38 Dakotas who were hung on this day in Mankato, Minnesota the largest mass execution in US colonial history. painting by Patrick Campbell

On December 26th 1862, the United States Army hanged 38 Dakota warriors in Makato, Minnesota. It was, and remains, the largest mass execution in American colonial history. Two Dakota warriors who had escaped into Canada were eventually captured, returned to the United States, and hanged at Fort Snelling in 1865. #NeverForget

12-25-16 ~ Olowaan Plain… I have never experienced thunder snow until today…

PLEASE LIKE AND SHARE THIS PAGE

HIGHLIGHTED LINKS UNDERLINED IN BLUE ARE EMBEDDED LINKS TO NEWS SOURCES. CLICKING OPENS THE FULL ARTICLE IN A NEW TAB.
 
 

  INDEX
 
 
 
News Articles and Updates ~ Oceto Sakowin
http://wp.me/P6lD99-17T
Nov. 2016 You Tube Video’s ~ Standing Rock
http://wp.me/P6lD99-1cM
2016 You Tube Video Archive ~ Standing Rock
http://wp.me/P6lD99-1fI
How You Can Help Standing Rock? #NODAPL
http://wp.me/P6lD99-VG
Standing Rock history
http://standingrock.org/history/
Without Water We Can Not Exist
http://wp.me/P6lD99-N4
Stories from the Frontlines ~ Standing Rock
http://wp.me/P6lD99-1dE
Atrocities at Standing Rock and Police Weaponry
http://wp.me/P6lD99-1ac
Trusted News Sources ~ Standing Rock
http://wp.me/P6lD99-1i6
Standing Rock Camps #Water Is Life
http://wp.me/P6lD99-1hR