Archives for November 2016

November 5, 2016 - No Comments!

Standing Rock

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Standing Rock is a movement and occupation taking place in North Dakota. It is opposing the construction of a pipeline that proposes to transport 450,000 barrels per day from North Dakota to Patoka, Illinois. DAPL route goes under the Missouri river which threatens to contaminate the river which is the water source of the reservation and multiple states. It would also disturbed sacred and burial sites that according to the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 is Sioux Territory.

 The first camp, Sacred Stone was founded in prayer by the youth of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. In late July the Standing Rock tribe invited the Oceti Sakowin, this was followed by remarkable sign of solidarity from other first peoples from Turtle Island and Land of Fire such as the Sarayakus from the Amazon and the Maoris in New Zealand. It became the largest gathering of Indigenous People since contact and the biggest gathering ever with allies. At the end of the summer of 2016 the camp reached its high with 7000 people, including elders, warriors and children standing together in order to protect life and the sovereignty of Indian Nations. 

Standing Rock is a movement rooted in spirituality which chore values celebrate life and the interconnectedness with nature. It is in direct conflict with Judeo-Christian philosophy that have shaped the Western world which places humans as stewards and grants them dominion over nature. Standing Rock stands against the ongoing exploitation of the land for the sake of monetary gain and the perpetuation of an already shameful history of colonization.

By Vanessa Terán