Notes from AFSC Standing Rock Call for Spirited Action
https://www.afsc.org/story/afsc-stands- ... nding-rockReport from Jaime
Healing Justice New England
Healing and Transformative Justice
Board of AFSC Brown-AFSC Healing Justice
Reparation of damage from shootings?
Important to go back in time to understand situation
Genocide on this continent - largest in world
Late 1800's 1862 & 1868 Ft Laramie Treaties signed
Huge block of land for "Great Sioux Nation"
Unceded territory
Pipeline good portion goes through Unceded territory
Cowboy and Indian Alliance
Most of pipeline goes through private land
except where it crosses rivers
Cannonball River crosses Missouri River
Bad Man Provision
if a bad man comes into Indian Territory will be reported to US Government
Corporations named as people
Bad Man Provision of Treaty to ETP
Rerouted from Bismarck
Ladonna Allard?
Realized pipeline ran through family graves
Grandmother said you will not build this pipeline
Children supported her
SD to NB to deliver her message to ACE (Army Corp of Engineers)
then to WA, DC
Did Bore Testing
planned in graveyards
unable to stop bore tests
pile of dirt by graves
bone shards
This was before Dept of Interior/Obama/ACE stalled process
to do Environmental Impact Study
Declaration identifying sacred sites and graves
Then ETP dug under graves plowing graves
Dogs turned loose on women
One prayed; men on horseback came up behind her
This resulted in Construction being moved back 20 miles
Ceremonies and camps ensued
direct action strategies based on M Luther King, Ghandi
Population has grown 10,000 in 4 camps where rivers come together
Veterans 2100 veterans self-deployed to act as human shields between militarized police
bridge closed emergency vehicles had to drive miles out of way
Decided bridge had to re-open
Police brought out hoses For 7-1/2 hrs stood and refused to leave
rubber bullets, grenades,
No weakening of will
Why? Been very very hard
nothing left to negotiate
no choice but to stand up
Only 100 yrs of clean water on this planet
Decided they're going to stand up and face this
Community that's built is decolonized indigenous community
with no way to spend money
food and clothing is shared
human beings coming together to do good thing
Layers in this
Things done by police and law enforcement include many
Human and Civil Rights violations
Law enforcement labels detainees with Permanent markers on arms, they are kept in kennel cages and left until later!
AFSC & tribes asked Dept of Justice to do investigation
Laws changed so phone call or voicemail now counted as a consultation
Obama trying to do education about this
If you visit:
Two things happen when you come into camp:
orientation
no drugs alcohol weapons
behavior during ceremonies that constitutes civil disobedience
coffee and tea over here please sit by fire there are elders who you can consult with
opportunities to work and contribute - and everyone does
It's cold now. Crucial month.
If you go be very very prepared
those there have a lot to take care of
Dress warm and make sure you're healthy enough to survive
If you can't go there are still many ways to conribute and support
Elders: Please pray and be in the same space.
Several website links will be on AFSC website:
sacred
stone.orgstandingrock.orgachedi chacan
medical healing council
Needed:
Doctor or nurse or trained medical person way to apply
for a week or two do bkgd check etc
Need Attys barred in ND
National Lawyers Guild right on site
Help with Winterization and to get fresh food
There are 60 people on this call
Deborah NC
Law enforcement agencies closing road so veterans couldn't get through
A: a number of vets are already there
there is a blizzard going on (last night)
Liz Minn
Grateful to hear so much offered
May be some voluntary evacuations by elders and families
A: hovering around 15 F now 60 mph winds
anticipated aggression by police
ongoing issue
before Governor gave executive order it was possible to live in prayer
Pipeline is 1/4 mile from large camp
not too much space btwn where people living
Jan 1st is a deadline for the company
Contracts expire Jan 1st to put pipeline through
How does weather impact construction work?
A: Human beings don't do so well, but those drills four football fields
can go through about anything
Weather might make it hard for people who do the work
Need to put attention on ACE and Obama
If ACE won't issue permit
Obama says they can't
Laura, Princeton, NJ
FB loaded with posts about SR
Where's Obama? Why isn't he stopping this?
A: No answer. He doesn't talk to me.
I'm sure they're trying to figure out how to make this stick after power gets transferred in January.
After that, probably not going to find any hope.
Cape Cod:
Wasn't ACE ordered to stop until new study completed
Since Sept 9th no permit granted
won't be granted until Environmental Impact Study completed
Competing lawsuits
ETP lawsuits
They haven't drilled. They excavate 1-2 feet down for path of pipeline
dig deeper when putting pipeline underground
built drill pad and parts of drill have been delivered
Divestment as resistance, Financial backers for DAPL:
Bank of Norway divested from project after protests
After them, Wells Fargo is No 1 funder
and BOA
Removing our accounts
Ask them to divest
Albuquerque:
FB sacred stone camp
Letter from WF that they're offering dialogue
Group went to national headquarters and did ceremony there
Bank of Norway did their own study and then divested
Carla SW Utah:
Yes Magazine.org
2nd article lists all financial organizations and contact info
Orientation when they arrive: will it find us?
Follow flags
Man:
Just got back
community meetings 9am in big white dome
Lucy Q: Decolonized community being practiced there - what does that look like?
A: _______? is a way of being in the camp
(decolonization?)
leadership based on service
Premise of welcome, expectation of how you'll handle yourself
how resources will be accessed
Welcome to take as you need
Deliberateness of doing this within Lakota Culture
going as a Wobenaki woman
Sense of "going home" very emotional very healing
The way we're intended to live with each other and serve each other
There's a little school there
Language immersion and cultural teaching
Lucy: Jaime, thank you so soo much for this testimony
feel more connected
thanks all who joined us
Will follow up with any who registered for call
Next call Jan 12
Thu 8:30-9:30
Sanctuary Everywhere
tools for undocumented immigrants
for intervening on street
ready when new administration begins