I met Ashley and her friend, both were still suffering from the night before, and we presented the Sioux elders with the banner. They really loved the blue color and how large it was with all of the students’ signatures. We were told to hang it on the front fence of Oceti Sakowin Camp. So, with another water protector, off we went to look for a spot. Class, know that your banner is hanging on the front fence to Oceti Sakowin, making history, supporting the water protectors here.

It is not allowed to take photos and videos in the camp, but I think you can see that there are thousands here. As the day wore on and we came back later, there were even more people coming and beginning to set up camp.

This item was found by the banner in the tall grass, they said it was a coyote jaw bone.

On the way to Bismarck to pick up supplies, we stopped at a pizza restaurant in Mandan, because Ashley’s friend was wanting pizza for days. It kind of broke the tension from the attack the night before. Both said their throats hurt from the mace and pepper spray, both complained of their skin still burning, and Ashley’s friend was very sore from the rubber bullets he took.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1G8I6XXFHuF8EV3u04v_bmwLt86OAHtDtAQ

We could still find something to laugh about, which is our strength.

When we reached the Walmart in Bismarck, I met Vince again. He was happy to see me! We also saw some fellow water protectors in the store shopping for supplies. All of the people in the store were looking at us like we were from another planet. I made friends with another employee, he was from Liberia, Africa. He said he had only been in North Dakota for a few months. We bought first aid items like saline solution, beef, bacon, a large turkey, paper, pens, and markers, . Also, greens, lemons, honey, apple cider vinegar, coffee, coconut oil, scarves, and toilet paper. Basically, items for the three major units of the camp; the kitchen, the first aid tent, and the banner/poster group. In addition, we bought tobacco for gifts to the elders. The tradition is, if you want to speak to an elder you give them a gift. Natural tobacco and sage is considered appropriate. The total came to over $300.00. I also cash advanced $60.00 for gas and purchased lens wipes, extra batteries, and the all useful backscratcher.

Then there was the long drive back to the Oceti Sakowin Camp. I got turned around in Mandan, used the opportunity to get gas, then found my way again. It is truly dark, the clouds kept the stars covered and I could only see as far as the headlights on parts of the road. I dropped Ashley, her friend, and the supplies off, then I drove the very long way back to Bismarck. I got home at 12.45 a.m. It had been a very long day.

Monday, November 21, 2016   It was a cold somber day. I had been up all night watching the horrible actions of the Morton County Sheriff’s Department and DAPL mercenaries, and National Guard?(really, our National Guard) firing on innocent civilians. I felt very worried about my new friend and how she was since she had just arrived at the camp that evening. I decided to drive out after making some calls, my personal finance stuff, and deliver the banner my school had signed. I left the hotel around 12:30 p.m. and it was a very long drive. North Dakota is a very vast landscape. There was a little blue sky peeking out from mostly a cloudy sky as I drove the roundabout way to the camp. This issue of roads will come up again. The main road 1806 is closed by DAPL and Morton County. Why? In order to protect the drill site and maintain an access route for delivering their equipment. What this means is that the bridge is barricaded and the route 1806 is closed. No emergency equipment can go straight through from Standing Rock to Bismarck which puts lives in jeopardy when and if there is a medical or natural emergency.  I had to take 94 north and go through Mandan, then take 6 south to 21 through Solen, then take 1806 north from the south to Sacred Stone main camp near Cannonball. The Oceti Sakowin camp is just a mile north of the main camp. What might be a 30 -40 minute trip is a little over an hour now.

from: Google Maps

I arrived at the Sacred Stone main camp. I was met at the gate and a young woman gave me an orientation about the camp. It is very beautiful there, overlooking the Missouri River. While we spoke a police helicopter flew overhead. I was told where I could drop off the clothing I had brought. I drove on down the hill through the camp. Everyone was fixing their shelters, I saw very many vehicles from many states of the country, Wisconsin, Florida, Nevada, to name a few. There are no weapons allowed in the camp – that is stated on a sign right at the entrance. Everyone entering is greeted and asked what they are there for. You are encouraged to be self-sufficient and bring something to share. However, if you have nothing, others will share with you and you will not be turned away. I saw two women at the clothing drop off and spoke to them as I gave them the clothes I donated. They said there would be a ceremony on Sunday and that they would be at the concert at the Prairie Knights Casino http://prairieknights.com/ in Standing Rock.

I was given directions to get to the Oceti Sakowin camp and was driving when I got a call from Ashley. She said she would meet me at the gate with her friend.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1bSUk_5hCwcchIDkTX61Ax5IHagzvEMN_Ig