The 8th generation will have much fire to keep a flame
for prayers of our ancestors. The world united for the protection of not only
the rights of indigenous people, but wellness of the future generations. Many times,
during this experience I realized this movement is far larger than right now.
It’s a spiritual movement during this larger spiritual war and none like any of
our lifetimes has this been experienced. It’s a blessing to be able play a role
in this movement. Being a witness to POWER OF PRAYER of people of different
backgrounds and beliefs not only makes one a believer but someone who can help
spread the word to help others become believers. There is power in numbers
especially when it comes to prayer.
When I returned to the Oceti Sakowin Camp in the beginning of
October with all intentions of helping to winterize the camps for the serve
North Dakota winter—the Ihanktowan Warriors camp more specifically. I must say
it has been one unimaginable experience.
Each day begins with a sunrise prayer
along with words and songs from an elder that echoes through solar powered
speakers and microphone waking everyone in camp up to begin the day. We have
been blessed during the fall and early winter days to have beautiful weather,
which permitted us with a great amount of time to build winter camps.
The days
are filled with much work to be done. From chopping wood, attending
winterizing meetings, to putting up military tents, prayer walks, and
ceremonies. Not to mention the day to day breaking news from the United States Army Corp of Engineers, Morton County Sheriff’s Department, Governor of North
Dakota while developing strategy to stand our ground for over 5,000 people.
Several times I was asked to lead prayers and sing on the
front lines. The feeling of the experience with thousands of people praying at
one time over the desecrated land, dug up remains, and protection over the
water is so powerful. We all have come spiritually connected to one another.
The other feeling of seeing the eyes and body language of the enemy be it DAPL
Security, Law Enforcement, US Military is a painful and sad feeling. The number
of planes helicopters that flew over us during the past several weeks 24 hours
a day has been sickening to know there hasn’t been a stop to this.
Many types of strategy meetings for various types of organizations
and camps; from veterans, to security for the entire encampment, treaty council,
youth council, historical preservation, and 7 council fires meetings. However;
we are all to move at one speed in one direction and that is to work to stop progression
of the Dakota Access Pipeline. There are various actions throughout the week in
which we all come untied to stand on the front lines. BECAUSE WE ARE ALL HERE
WITH ONE GOAL! How we go about it may differ because we all sit in different
roles that work together.
Without too much access to electronics I have not been too
involved in shaping media from the camp. With that said I find most of the
media focus has been on what’s been happening on the front lines. What happens
in media leaks back into the camps and has a way of shaping the ideology of
those in camp. Historically we as indigenous people have a way of allowing the
enemy to seep into our minds and change our beliefs. Many of our ancestors
changed their belief in religion because they began to doubt their own beliefs
and practices because of the enemy pour their belief systems into our communities.
There has been much fear violence, terror and doubt going viral on media having
loved ones at home. Don’t get me wrong there has been much force used against
us but we have remained in CONSTANT and PERSISTENT PRAYER. With this blog post
I hope I can help to shape the media to reach people to realize PRAYER is the
FOCUS of this BATTLE!
The fact that millions of indigenous and non-indigenous people
from all over the world are uniting over the past several months is far greater
than any dollar that can push this pipeline to go through. Media has a hard
time focusing on the strength of the unity happening in camp. Many
organizations from all over the world have come to stand in solidarity. From
over 600 preachers and ministers of many different faiths, During the most
controversial presidency of all times.
The prophecy that was told 7 generations ago is now uniting the
tribes of that generation. I am blessed and truly humbled to be a witness to
the7 council fire council tribes come together and bring back the traditional
laws and ways of living. The Missouri River flows through all 7 council fires
and as tribes coming to protect this river that will affect waters throughout
the world we must acknowledge the traditional protocol of the 7 Council Fires.
As an indigenous woman of the Northeastern seaboard I know in my lifetime my
tribe and sister tribes have grown stronger in alliance BEYOND a political
level. When we can take our minds off media and politics we can strengthen our
traditional and spiritual bond.
About 10 minutes after Dave Archambault made Official Announcement was made about the victory about the easement to the permit and environmental
impact study, I stood in ceremony with the headsmen of all 7 Council Fires
several diplomats from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and a few respected
medicine people from the Great Plains area and the emotion that came over me
touched my spirit to prove that no matter what the division the corrupted governmental
system has tried to put is in since 1492, we can break the division and united
as our ancestors once did but using traditional laws and spiritual laws. I
watched tribes who have “SO CALLED BEEN AT WAR” make amends to the differences
that have caused them to separate. By breaking this curse, we can move forward
together now in a healthy way.
There are many pipelines being constructed throughout this
country, however this movement has sparked the conscious mind of indigenous
grassroots people to wake up and unite. I believe that is truly the overall
victory! The unity that has happened throughout the grassroots communities of
what we call Indian Country. I pray that this doesn’t just become a moment in
history, but the future can be shaped based upon the powerful things that have
been taking place here in this #NODAPL fight!
