A year ago today I went to the Standing Rock reservation in North Dakota to stand in solidarity and protest the Dakota Access Pipeline. It was a protest I had been big into since August of that year when the youth of the reservation ran over 1,800 miles to DC to give a petition to the Army Corps of Engineers and then did a protest outside of the White House. At that time I didn’t know anything about this protest or what was happening to the tribe so after finding about them coming to DC thanks to Shailene Woodley on Facebook I went down and protested with them. After that I got pulled full into this protest and it changed my life forever.
This is the story of Standing Rock through my eyes in the form of a poem. I hope this poem makes since and is well written as I am not really a poet but I tired. I want to give something a little bit different as I have written countless post about Standing Rock.
Also shout-out all these beautiful water protectors and more who were first there in the beginning and who made the call out to the world to start the movement.
LaDonna Allard
Bobbi Jean Three Legs
Danny Grassrope
Jasilyn Charger
Lauren Howland
Eryn Wise
Thomas Lopez
and all of the members of the International Indigenous Youth Council
—
Standing Rock
it all started with a prophecy 7 generations ago
that the youth would take over and become our new heroes
they didn’t know how and they didn’t know when
but when it happens they will do it with a grin
so when the black snake came they were ready to fight with prayer
when LaDonna put out the call the youth where there
they tried to do it alone but learned they were bigger in numbers
—
so they ran 1,800 miles from North Dakota to DC to bring the fight to more eyes
once on the road they were met with much hospitality and support
some even followed them to DC where they set up their fort
one petition and a round dance in the rain later the movement grew
and when they went back home they had a crew
—
indigenous and not they stood and they fought
they fought till the cops came with a plot
they arrested those who protested with smiles on their faces
but they didn’t know the youth had some aces up their sleeves
when the youth felt they were at a loss they knew at all cost they must fight till the end
so they called on the youth for who they can depend to come stand together to use their voices for change
youth heard the cries and came in droves from all over the world to support
in a van, train, plane they came in big cohorts
as the months went on the battle got bigger but the spirits grew
protest popped off at banks world-wide divesting money and chanting “no DAPL” too
—
from August to September the numbers got larger
the fighting got harder but the message grew farther
but on September 5th they brought the dogs
turned them on the people as if they were hogs
they became blood thirsty for all the wrong reasons
what a way to end the summer season
—
while dogs came to bite
the protectors started to fight
and the police arrested one after another
in jail they were treated with disrespect
thrown in dog kennels and given no reprieve
once the temperatures started to chill Sacred Stone Camp became full to the brim
the second camp kept people coming named Oceti Sakowin the seventh council fire
—
September turned to October turned to November
and your girl did some important work in the DMV
her and her mama donated grates full of clothes and food
attended protest & raised money to send with the dudes from Charm City Farms
then in the middle of the night of November 20th, 2016 panic struck
water protectors were sprayed with ice-cold water as they tried to duck
bear gas was sprayed in the faces of many
while Morton County was around in plenty
—
we then heard some family were going to camp
and we jumped on board to go spread our light
so November 24th, 2016 we traveled to Standing Rock
and spent thanksgiving weekend on lock
while there we visited the camp and saw first hand the unification
tribes and non-natives from all over together fighting for water
mothers, fathers, daughters and sons, grandmas, grandpa’s, aunties and uncles
all together they stood and they prayed
laid tobacco down on sacred land
—
I visited Sitting Bull’s grave and saw buffalo for days
then saw artist of all backgrounds lay down some tracks of resilience for the movement
I took a walk with the women in honor of White Buffalo Caf Women
we walked to the front lines and prayed for the police
tears were left and chants shared
the women are resilient, raw and bare
soon time passed and it was time to go home
but the energy shared will always be known
—
white snow fell on tents, yurts and teepees
they warned the protectors to get out-of-town all creepy
once we got home more protest were had
till the easement was not passed in a last-minute turn
but our new 45 is Mr. Donald Trump
Chairman Archambault then told the protectors to leave
but the youth said stay if you can but go if you want
so we fought and we fought some more
till Mr. Trump came knocking on their door
—
come February 2017 the easement got passed
the water protectors where furious all though it wouldn’t last
once the snow became too much it was time to pack up
so the protectors started to move everything
—
before we knew it the last of the pipeline would be built
and the police came through camp with absolutely no guilt
they pushed them and made them leave immediately
putting fire and distinction to everything in sight
the protectors fought till the end of the night
they then all went home to fight on their turf
—
so as the world watched the camps go up in flames that day
the spirit still remanded on the land & in the people
even though we know this ended unequal
and as the physical part is over
there is still so much to do
—
all over the country pipeline after pipeline
spill after spill
through bonds to our Mother we have all become kin
and where resilient we will win
so 1 year later I reflect
on a battle not yet won but the prospects are high
that we will fly and sore to the stars
to make sure Mother Earth goes far
so girls and boys, men and women and all those in-between
we must learn from those who have fought before us
plus keep fighting everyday until we gain our goals
because we all must play our rolls
for the water and the Earth for our family and our community
we take our bonds and go forward to protect the Earth for years to come
Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ
—
Other Blog Post On Standing Rock:
A Few Pictures from My Standing Rock Journey:
A Few Videos from My Standing Rock Journey:
The Life & Times of Ice 