My Outlook on #NODAPL MOVEMENT!

The 8^th 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!