“At the Oceti Sakowin camp there
were celebrations into the night when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’
decision was announced. Fireworks lit up the sky, which is normally dominated
by police searchlights, and there were songs, prayers, and dance. And tears.
The decision to halt work on the Dakota Access pipeline may be the victory that
the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and thousands of water protectors were looking
for.
“On the heels of the announcement,
Energy Transfer Partners issued a statement insisting that they will go ahead
with the project. What that means is not yet clear, but whatever happens the
events at Standing Rock have been transformative, and these victories are not
ones that Energy Transfer Partners or even President-elect Trump can take away.
“Here are just a few things that
have shifted in our world because of the extraordinary Native-led uprising at
Standing Rock.
“Decolonizing:
It was a scene I didn’t think I’d ever witness. Veterans at
Standing Rock, led by Wesley Clark Jr., spoke of the many ways the U.S.
military had brutalized Native people, through killings, through taking their
lands and even their children. And then they knelt down and apologized in front
of the elders. These nonviolent warriors, sworn to uphold the Constitution,
came to North Dakota to protect the water protectors, but they did something
even more important by acknowledging historic harms and showing remorse.
“Clergy too came with humility and
apologies. At a gathering in early November, one Christian denomination after
the next burned the Doctrine
of Discovery, a centuries-old religious doctrine that made its way into law
and condones taking the lands of non-Christians. If it is possible to heal from
the long U.S. history of genocide, these moves by clergy and veterans were
powerful steps in that direction.
“The work of decolonizing is much
bigger though, and it is Native-led. Within the camps, Lakota culture is at the
foundation of everything, from the early morning prayers at the sacred fire to
the food line, where elders are served first. Newcomers are reminded to respect
these ways. Native people have led this movement from the beginning, and they
are reclaiming their power. This time, non-Natives in large numbers stood with
them and learned from them ways to live that are inclusive and collective. And
as people return home from the camp, the effects will ripple out into
communities across North America for years to come.
“Respect
for Mother Earth and our own bodies: Walk to
the edge of the Cannonball River at Standing Rock, or to the banks of the
Missouri River, which provides water to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and
Cheyenne River tribes, and to millions of others farther downstream. And then
consider what it would mean if DAPL ruptured, spewing toxins into this precious
shared water.
“The core idea that “water is life”
is self-evident, as our bodies are nearly two-thirds water. Yet the
implications are radical. What would it mean to actually protect water
and, therefore, to also protect our health? Even more radical is the idea
that we would sacrifice the comforts of fossil fuel-based consumerism for the
quality of that water, giving a gift of well-being to our children and future
generations. Water is important everywhere, but the Sioux people, by protecting
the water of their place on Earth, have shown what moral authority looks like.
Their commitment attracted support from around the world, and showed people
everywhere what it means to protect your home.
“Finding
our power: The American people want to switch
to renewable energy—not invest more in fossil fuel infrastructure. Many are
closing accounts with big banks and moving their funds into credit unions and
community banks, thus helping to rebuild the economy to support communities and
life. And at Standing Rock, people found many ways to exert power. In the face
of pepper spray, rubber bullets, dogs, concussion grenades, and water cannons,
the water protectors remained nonviolent. They were arrested by the hundreds,
strip-searched, and placed in fenced enclosures resembling dog kennels. But
their responses were prayerful and sometimes even loving. This display of
courage moved the hearts of millions. As law enforcement escalated the
violence, water protectors increased their presence.
“And because of independent
reporting and social media, the story got out in real time even when other
media weren’t paying attention. Amy Goodman’s Democracy Now coverage of dogs
attacking water protectors was the first reporting to alert the world to the
brutality of pipeline security. The beautiful short films featuring the people
at the camp, the posters and art, the water protectors’ drones, the tweets and
live feeds from Standing Rock—all have kept the story alive for months.
“People power in all these forms
works. Thousands came to the remote plains of North Dakota. Hundreds of
thousands took action through donations and demonstrations. The sense of power
and hope that goes with this decentralized movement, and the accumulating
know-how, will make the next action easier to pull off, and the next one after
that.
“What’s
next? The work, prayers, hardship, and
collaborations are not over. There may be new rounds at Standing Rock, and more
water protectors may be injured and traumatized there or at other locations.
There may even be loss of life. And there are other pipelines that need to be
confronted by water protectors. Just last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau gave the green light to the Kinder Morgan pipeline, and the presidency
of Donald Trump could threaten everything we hold dear.
“Nonetheless, this is a time to
celebrate. The water protectors won a huge victory with the Corps of Engineers
decision—a victory that benefits not only the Sioux tribes, not only those
along the Missouri River, but everyone. We all drink water and need a stable
climate. As we navigate what may be the most dangerous time in human history,
the lessons from Standing Rock can guide us. As we create a post-fossil fuel
society, we can take the lessons of respect and nonviolence, of valuing life
over money, of learning from the indigenous peoples as cornerstones. A
revolution in values and culture is rippling out across the country and the
world, and it started at Standing Rock.”
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