{"id":72,"date":"2017-06-21T18:49:25","date_gmt":"2017-06-21T18:49:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nativeamericanacademy.com\/?page_id=72"},"modified":"2025-10-29T08:47:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T07:47:20","slug":"standing-rock","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.nativeamericanacademy.com\/?page_id=72","title":{"rendered":"Standing Rock DAPL"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

october 27, 2025<\/strong>
Today is an excruciatingly tough day and I\u2019m thinking of all the Water Protectors. \u2764\ufe0f
October 27th is the 9 year anniversary of the brutally violent raid of the Treaty Camp at Standing Rock.
The emotions of that day are still close to indescribable and fresh.
The sounds sirens, screams and prayers.
The smell of tires burning on a barricade mixed with marching footsteps of endless DAPL soldiers led by tanks.
Water Protectors armed with their voices and bodies praying on the frontline met by indiscriminate violence and hate. A native man flying an upside down flag feet from a battle line of police dressed for an oil war.
Bodies chained down to vehicles to stop the destruction of sacred ground we could see being torn up in front of our eyes. Red, Blue, Green, Yellow and White prayer ties on a fence that would soon be torn down. Billows of black smoke in the air mixed with prayers of Water Protectors and promises from police not to hurt people. The hum of Bulldozers tearing up the sacred ground. Warriors to the frontline kneeling in prayer and going out to face the destroyers of Mother Earth.
I remember those who were beaten and chased.
I remember those who sat in a huge circle quietly as chaos encircled them and were arrested. I remember people making food as teepees were torn down. Protectors on horses demanding police leave their land. ATVs and vehicles later chasing them. Buffalos cresting a ridge and the looks of fear on police faces if even for just a few minutes.
The bulldozers on fire. Ceremonial Teepees being built in the road and later torn down. Protectors locked down in cars. Young people chanting Black Snake Killaz on a truck. People being torn out of sweat lodges.
The endless arrests.
The singing.
I will also never forget Dan Nanamkin\u2019s face on the frontline as he slowly moved in front of those tanks. The bravery. In my photo you can see his look of pain and anguish seeing all that was happening around him but he stood firm as he always did.
I\u2019ll never forget the fear of that night as the troops kept marching closer and closer to thousands of people living in camp until a final battle on the Backwater Bridge halted them. The next day seeing two giant dump trucks literally burned into the highway. Fires still burning. Behind that a line of 8 tanks behind barricades blocking the highway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The camp was built on treaty land directly in the path of the Dakota Access Pipeline between the highway and the Missouri River where the last part of the pipeline had to be built to be completed.
I could say so much more. A lifetime in a week.
A day forever scarred into my soul and so many others. I could write a book with all that happened that heartbreaking day but instead I\u2019ll just say stay in the struggle to protect our sacred Mother Earth and always and forever\u2026
Mni Wiconi<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water is Life!
\"\"
We all remember October 27, 2016
Of all the days, if you weren\u2019t there – we could feel you with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We remember in our own ways, elder women shared advice with me guiding me from so far away. I did what I could to follow.
Our elders and spiritual leaders gathered us together. We sang, prayed as they encouraged us.
Dallas asked me \u201cwhat are the people going to do\u201d
The elders responded \u201cwe are going to stand\u201d
Our memories . . . Individually and collectively
We will always have that bond, we will walk with what happened there for generations-
Ohinniyan – Forever
And we will always be one.
I miss so many of my fellow water protectors – I will see you again I feel it in my heart
One heart ~ one mind ~ one prayer ~ Min Wiconi
\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n

july 15, 2022<\/strong><\/h3>\n

First, thank you for being a true friend of Standing Rock! As you know,
\nsix years ago my tribal nation took center stage globally in the fight against
\nclimate catastrophe and water pollution. Our struggle for Indigenous sovereignty and
\nenvironmental sanity continues today, and you can learn more about it by watching our new video,
\nproduced in partnership with the Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance,
\nthe Oceti \u015cakowi\u014b, and the Lakota People\u2019s Law Project.<\/p>\n

watch the video link is here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

march 1, 2022<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Chairwoman Janet Alkire Discusses the Importance of Tribal Input on DA<\/strong><\/p>\n

watch the video and read the report<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

march 13, 2021<\/strong><\/h3>\n