Visiting The Descendants of Sitting Bull Protecting The Great Element of Purity; (DAPL)

The Dakota Access Pipeline in the Dakotas hits too close to home, to family. The Lakota Sioux are bretheren to me, given that the holder of the chanupa, the sacred pipe gifted by the White Buffalo Calf Woman 19 generations ago, has shared his home, his food, and his way of life with my family. 

This past weekend, a relative and I visited the state holding numerous rumors of politicians leading for sake of self-interests. A land where those lining up to protect and serve may have prejudicial biases, one's that need to be actualized. Here, near Lake Oahe, lies a large camp of individuals attempting to protect the natural enviroment. These protectors have and are risking zero and below degree temperature, to support an ideal taught by their ancestors, which is to preserve for the coming generations. To our surprise and a few warnings, on December 10th, the roads were blocked in accessing the areas holding the campgrounds. As we were told prior, the North road was blocked to stop supplies from coming into the camp. Hence, we took the South road where to our slight surprise, we were forced to detour where only local residents were permitted.   

It may have been due to what the media will probably call snowy storms, where the roads were actually safe enough to traverse for this Southern California driver, or it could be because of the current atmosphere where the Natives of the land are called "Prairie Niggers". During the morning of our route, a facebook friend had sent a video of "Water Protectors" being run off the road into a ditch by local snow plowers. Let's just say the feelings of going into this camp, as well as the major cities for a motel, was one of having to constantly assess the judgmental enviroment. Needless to say, the purpose of our visit to help document the camp despite the numerous obstacles, was a failure. We could not bring in supplies, or just support, we were left attempting to reassess on how to make our visit the most worthwhile. 

Though the trip progressed more into a vacation than an attempt to support, we had at least managed to spend some time and document Chief Arvol Looking Horse. Uncle Arvol, as we traditionally call him, had texted a relative and hinted at our coming to visit prior to our departure. His text only substantiated our desires raised by numerous family members and friends, that we need to be at Standing Rock despite the numerous obstacles. 

Despite the feeling of failure of being unable to enter the camp, it was only after meditation, in asking the White Buffalo Calf Woman our purpose for this trip that I was able to gain some clarity. It's simple really. When an elder calls, you answer. Especially when that elder is the protector of the sacred chanupa, as part of the traditions meant to preserve for the coming generations. Whatever support may we render, I'm sure will be met with numerous blessings to further this cause. Though we could not access the camp, we entered Uncle Arvol's home and were able to document and perserve a bit of the Lakota traditions and what they mean to the People. That included the traditions of the Dakota 38 and the Bigfoot Ride, where horse riders honorably ride into the country their ancestors nourished in memoriam to their fallen martyrs ending at the location of Wounded Knee.  

It was an honor to support a man I simply call Uncle, whose grandmother hails from Standing Rock, and whose distant-grandfather is one of the most well-known shamans buried in that vicinity, Sitting Bull. It was an honor to meet Natives who considerered us, an ethnically different group, as relatives. To be among ancestrol traditions that match mine, to choose to preseve life for the coming generations as opposed to a quick moment of detrimental material expansion, is enough to appease this wandering soul. 

Our trip was a success. 

Mitakuye Oyasin