"We Are Still Here"~Solidarity with Standing Rock
I don't usually do something like this, but getting the message out there is something very important to me. Nawáh, sšúxu`. KatatAxaáA Gidybaus. Taatačitaá'A káNIt, wiitatshánu na sahnish. Hello, my relatives. My name is Bright Eyes. I come from the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara tribes. I am a Standing Rock activist within the state of Montana and I am originally from North Dakota. I go to Montana State for paleontology and Native American studies. I have been to the Oceti Sakowin and Sacred Stone camps numerous times before this and I am currently sitting in one of my afternoon classes as I write this. Today has been particularly hard for me since the evictions are still taking place at Standing Rock. Innocent people are being arrested and this is all for an oil pipeline. A pipeline. A piece of machinery. I don't know about you, but this is just wrong. Since when have human beings stooped to a level where a man-made structure is more important than people's lives and wellbeing? Where did the love for people of different religion, sex, color, etc. go in this short of time? This pipeline has affected my view on the entire world and it saddens me that law enforcement would rather protect a black snake rather than men, women, children, two spirits, elders, etc. North Dakota has turned from my home state to something I don't even recognize anymore. I don't talk about race here because it's not about that. This is about human decency and we have lost that as a species. Only when we cut down the last tree, killed the last animal, and polluted our last water source will people realize that we cannot eat or drink money. My Indigenous brothers and sisters, along with people of all different colors and genders are standing against the creed of oil companies and state governments. I stand with Standing Rock and I ask you to stand up. Aho! ✊🏽
