#Truth
Active Pipeline
Personally, my trip to Standing Rock has committed me to change my life. I have spent the past months selling and giving away most of my personal belongings. I am leaving the country to adopt a different lifestyle. I will fight the fight from outside this corrupt system because as long as I live here, buy things here, drive my car here, shop here, I am contributing to the mess here. I encourage everyone to come up with their own personal plan of action. Every action you take is political. This cannot keep going on without the total destruction of our environment. As people have pointed out – it is not a matter of “if” but “when” this pipeline leaks. I really do not want to be the one to say “I told you so” when it so does. We ALL lose when it does. The point to be made is to shut it down before it leaks. Too bad it was built in the first place.
Only the Beginning
February 22, 2017
The School Banner
I had messaged Ashley about locating the school banner and making sure it was safely sent to the tribe. I was worried that it would get destroyed by the Morton County officials or DAPL as the camp is cleaned up for spring. Ashley was so kind to have it retrieved for safe keeping. My students were very excited and happy to see this! I really appreciate the effort because the water protectors are extremely busy trying to clean up everything at camp before the end of the month. My prayers go out to them. #WaterisLife 
Tar Sands: A Primer
An ecological disaster.
I had students research where we get our oil. I am so tired of the misleading news that gets repeated how Saudi Arabia is our source of oil. Please educate yourself by looking at the record. It is easy to research. I think that we are told Saudi Arabia is the largest supplier of our oil so that people will accept our meddling and wars in the middle east. Our largest suppliers have been Canada and Mexico. Hello everyone – educate yourself.
https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_epc0_im0_mbblpd_a.htm
Last Child Camp
There is a constant narrative coming from North Dakota that these people who are against the pipeline are inciting riots and are trespassing on private land. The land in question is part of treaty land, territory that is in dispute. I encourage everyone to research this and spread the truth. I believe this is the exact reason WHY the pipeline was routed where it is.
Land Ownership
LaDonna Brave Bull Allard explains the land ownership issue and how her rights were violated. The Young Turks (TYT) has been a valuable news resource in reporting on Standing Rock. LaDonna Brave Bull Allard was the woman who founded the Sacred Stone Camp when she saw that construction of this oil pipeline was going to cross on sacred land.
Standing Rock
There was a lot of drama in camp between water protectors that played out over social media. Ultimately, everyone stands solidly against the pipeline. Trump has signed an executive memo saying that he gives the go ahead for not only the Dakota Access pipeline, but the Keystone XL pipeline also. Look back at the post about how these two pipelines are related.
The camp must be moved to higher ground and the land cleaned up before the snow thaws and flooding. It is being done by wonderful volunteers who are going there even in the freezing cold. The governor just announced that all law enforcement must pull back, open the barricaded bridge and stop using weapons against the water protectors. Could it be because of the presence of mainstream media and the United Nations hearings that are going on in Standing Rock? However, it has been reported by water protectors trying to clean camp that the Morton County Sheriffs are harassing drivers who are on the long road to Bismark for supplies and medicine.
Meanwhile, everyone is awake to police militarization and brutality. There are marches and actions every week against other pipelines. There have also been several pipeline leaks since December. Research: shale tar sands. It is highly corrosive to metal pipe.
The Veterans: A Positive Impact
So many came, there were logistical problems getting enough shelter for them. Everyone was helped and fed, but the numbers were just not expected and it strained resources of the Lakota. The weather did not help – there was a very bad blizzard. The positive outcome was that the mainstream media had to take notice, the Army Corps had to decline the pending permit to drill under the river. There was too much pressure and the presence of our military veterans was not going to help public opinion in favor of the Morton County Sheriff’s Department or the North Dakota governor.
Relighting the Fire
A recording of a live announcement from Oceti Sakowin Camp today 12/11/2016
Move to higher ground, for safety. Attack the corporation on every legal front. Get control of the narrative by having press conferences. Daily reports are essential to keep people informed, that way rumors do not spread and everyone is constantly reminded of how this issue is not over.
Primary Source Material about The IRA of 1830
https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Indian.html
https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Indian.html
A message from young warriors: We who are not leaving. 12/10/2016
Clearly, Energy Transfer Partners are still working: drone footage from 12/9/2016
When you are in camp, you can hear the construction going on. I heard it when I was there and they were told by The Army Corps of Engineers months ago to stop construction. Just scroll back to previous posts in October.
Water is Life 