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From the Ground Up: Voices with Standing Rock

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 03:13:24 +0000

10 Minute Documentary By Rachel Jones: https://youtu.be/85XUKgJm_TU

Insight from the veterans, natives, mothers, historians, sustainable energy advocates and others who came to support the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and protect the water. Each person was filmed on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, a significant day in Standing Rock history.

Victory March to Backwater Bridge

admin — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 04:56:06 +0000

Amber Cross, 30, sat atop a run-down military truck facing the barricade erected by Dakota Access Pipeline Security that cut off Backwater Bridge, which was too enshrouded by falling snow to see on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. Drums beat and 24 mile per hour winds howled as veterans and water protectors marched in victory of the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to decline the easement, deferring and rerouting construction of the Dakota Access pipeline until further investigation for an Environmental Impact Statement.

Drums beat and 24 miles per hour winds howled as veterans and water protectors marched in victory of the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to decline the easement, deferring and rerouting construction of the Dakota Access pipeline until further investigation for an Environmental Impact Statement, Monday, December 5, 2016 (Photos by Rachel Jones)

Cross, from Oglala, S.D., and a member of the Pine Ridge Sioux Tribe has been at Oceti Sakowin Camp for more than a month. She is overwhelmed by the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision, but feels the government needs to do more to protect the people and water. She isn’t leaving until the police kick her out, she said. Cross chanted, “Mni Waconi” and other water protectors all around chanted back, “Water is life!”

Amber Cross, 30, sat atop a run-down military truck facing the barricade erected by Dakota Access pipeline security that cut off Backwater bridge, which was too enshrouded by falling snow to see, on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. (Photo by Rachel Jones)

“The vets might have been the tipping point,” said Gray Harrison, 62, an army veteran from Fort Collins, Colo., regarding the Army Corps of Engineers decision to decline the easement. With veterans arriving by the thousands, Harrison said, “They knew the water protectors were not going to back down.” Jim Berg, 62, and his son, Mniluzahe Berg, 36, both Navy veterans, heard the call and came out to support. Mniluzahe served three tours in Iraq. ”Its an amazing appalling thing to see congress and the federal government inactive for so long on issues of national importance,” Berg said.

Water protector prays at Backwater Bridge amid celebration of Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to decline the easement for the continued construction of the Dakota Access pipeline, on Monday, December 5, 2016. (Photo by Rachel Jones)

The Army Corps of Engineers’ decision is welcome, but very late, Berg said, referring to the injuries caused to water protectors by Morton County Sheriff’s department from rubber bullets, concussion grenades and water canons in the interim of the decision. Berg can’t believe the reaction of law enforcement officers and the government to the right to protest. As a Native American who has worked in “Indian country” all his life, to propose a pipeline for profit, Berg said, “That makes me furious. Most Indian country doesn’t even have pipelines for water,” Berg said.

Veterans and water protectors celebrate the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to decline the easement to continue DAPL construction. This follows the Victory March from Oceti Sakowin camp to Backwater Bridge on Monday, December 5, 2016, the date water protectors were ordered to evacuate. (Photo by Rachel Jones)

Veterans arrive at Standing Rock to protect the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave

admin — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 16:00:21 +0000

Veterans fly their colors on State Hwy. 1806 as they return to Oceti Sakowin Camp south of the barricade across Cannonball River on Sunday, December 4, 2016.

Veterans head north on State Hwy. 1806 in formation, as more amass in thousands to Oceti Sakowin Camp in support of water protectors, on Sunday, December 4, 2016.

Water protectors had encircled the Oceti Sakowin Camp in prayer when word spread from Sacred Fire that the Army Corps of Engineers denied a permit for the continued construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline on Sunday, December 4, 2016.

Rosebud Camp – Dec 3, 2016

admin — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 16:47:18 +0000

Women Walk In Prayer

admin — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 05:58:54 +0000

Hundreds of women walk in silent prayer from Sacred Stone to the barricade on the bridge crossing Cannonball River on Sunday, November 27, 2016.

Six elders stood singing and praying with sage and cedar across barbed wire from armed security.

Global Synchronized Prayer and Meditation with Standing Rock

admin — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 01:28:30 +0000

Uqualla from the Habasuppai tribe in the Grand Canyon in Arizona, speaks to those gathered across the river from Turtle Island prior to the silent prayer on Saturday, November 26, 2016, as part of a global meditation with people participating in more than 400 locations.

November 26, 2016 – Tara Tippett, 39, offers tobacco to the Cannonball River for “for their healing and ours because they’re intertwined.”