Episode 1: Standing Rock Women Speak | Prayers
The first episode of the video series “Standing Rock Women Speak” shares interview from Melaine and her sister, Jacinda Begay, speaking about how prayers have always been part of their practice to create a change in people’s mind and the world.
“Mni Wiconi (pronounces: mini we-choh-nee)!” The sound of the collective voice of 108 women went straight up to the women’s teepee, out to the sky, to the Big dipper. It means “water is life” or “water is sacred” in Lakota language. When a silence returned, Melaine Stoneman, a Lakota woman leader and facilitator of the women’s gathering said, “The power of the breath, the power of prayers of 108 women under one thought is powerful. You just made a movement.”
This Thanksgiving, Eiko and I joined Standing Rock Sioux nation at Cannon Ball in North Dakota to stand with their effort to protect their ancestral land and water from Dakota Access Pipeline. It would cut across their sacred and burial sites and pass under the Missouri River just a half a mile upstream of the tribe’s reservation boundary. Not only the pipeline would violate the treaty and the rights of indigenous people but also any spill would be culturally, economically and environmentally catastrophic for anyone who rely on this river.
On the first morning at Standing Rock, we went to the Oceti Sakowin camp or Seven Council Fires camp for the orientation and learned about seven Lakota values. They are prayer, respect, compassion, honesty, generosity, humility and wisdom. The first value is prayer. They reminded us that this is an indigenous-centered movement at a ceremonial camp that is in prayers at all time.
At the women’s gathering at Rosebud camp, Melaine said, ” The power of prayers will change the mind of people who bring us harm. When you go home, keep praying because it reaches here and it’s very important.”
Before going to Standing Rock, praying wasn’t part of my everyday practice to change the world. But since I have returned to my home, praying has become a ritual in my life. I saw the power of prayers and how that has been a core of indigenous-led movement. I understand that praying and giving thanks to the creator is what sustain the indigenous resistance to the colonization and where their resilience comes from. I pray for the safety of Standing Rock Sioux nation, their allies and for the miracle that would stop the Dakota Access pipeline.
On Sunday, December 4th, my friends and I went up to a hill in our community at sunrise to pray. The Army Corps of Engineers has declared protestors at Oceti Sakowin camp must leave by Dec. 5th. I knew that people would reject the order. I was concerned about another militarized police attack to remove people at the camp on December 5th. So I left home in the dark, watched the beautiful sunrise with friends, shared stories from Standing Rock while I kept them in my thoughts.
That afternoon, a miracle happened. A historic moment of victory for Standing Rock and indigenous people around the world emerged. Obama administration halted the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline and ordered the Army Corps of Engineers to complete a full environmental assessment that includes public input.
This indigenous-centered movement was supported by millions of people around the globe. Some went to Standing Rock to participate in direct action and behind the scene work at the camp. Some made phone calls to Obama, asking him to stop the DAPL. Some called other government authorities such as the Army Corps of Engineers to reject the permit and conduct full environmental assessment. Some called and marched in front of Wells Fargo, Citi Bank and other financial institutions to divest from the DAPL. Millions of dollars were raised to bail water protectors out of jail and to support the movement. Tens of thousands of clothing and sleeping bags, and thousands of pound of firewood and food were delivered to the camps. Last week, up to 2,000 veterans showed up to create a human shield at a frontline to protect the water protectors from police. These people are ordinary people showing extraordinary support. And of course, millions prayed and prayed in solidarity.
The power of the breath of millions, the power of prayers of million people’s thought is indeed powerful. We just made a movement – a movement that changed the narrative of history with Native Americans. We now have a greater responsibility to transform the world that respects all indigenous communities and communities that suffer from systematic oppression around the world.
So let’s keep praying.
Let’s keep moving.
