Kim_Johnson
I am not one to get up and protest, but this was worth trying for. You see oil has just won out on clean water. A pipeline of crude oil is now in place and delivered its first oil in May 14, 2017. It is called the Dakota Access Pipeline, and carries 570,000 barrels of oil a day. The movement I was part of was a grassroots movement that began in early 2016 in reaction to the approved construction of the pipeline in the northern United States from the Bakken Oil Fields in western North Dakota to southern Illinois, crossing beneath two major waterways of the United States. The Missouri River and the Mississippi Rivers and under Lake Oahe on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, and through a sacred burial ground or cemetery. The pipeline when it breaks and they always do will pollute our water for a big portion of the United States. There has already been one oil leak in the pipeline since it was finished.
The year 2016 will go down in our Native American history as something that has never happened in history.
In April 2016 elder LaDonna Brave Bull Allard established a camp as the center for the cultural preservation and spiritual resistance to the pipeline. Native Americans from all the tribes in the United States and world wide came to camp out here. This has never happened. We all joined together and tried to stop this pipeline. President Obama put a hold on the pipeline which President Trump rushed through since he has money ties to this pipeline. So all in all water lost, oil won.
Below are photos of one of the rallies. These were spiritual rallies, and non violent and were not considered protests, but were met with water canons in blow freezing temperatures, attack dogs were let loose on elders and children, percussion bullets were fired into the friendly water protectors, one of which tore off an arm of young girl. It was a cold shock of what our United States government is capable of still in this day and age…
There are several stories and you tube videos on this if you are interested in more.
A friend of mine holding up a sign I just made. Meika was met by such warm people, I was kind of afraid to take her since she kind of looks like a white version of the attack dogs that were used.
Those of us who couldn’t go to North Dakota held rallies all over the United States like here in San Diego. Notice how many different tribal flags are there?
An elder speaking of the importance of our water with the smoke from a sage smudge stick wafting through the air..
Listening to the elders speak, we all made a huge prayer circle.
More of the circle.
And more.
Some dancers.. Singing a prayer..
Tribes as far away as Hawaii, and Alaska joined in the rally for clean water..Notice the different dresses….
The guy in shorts is one of our local elders from the Kumeyaay Tribe I believe , notice the board shorts. lol Yay, California!
A Native American wounded vet with a purple heart is pictured in the chair. Funny how many forgot how many natives fought in our wars. Seems that a lot of folks thought this movement was against the military, we were against the pipelines, and the pollution, and desecrating burial grounds.. Not the government. 
Our next generation of water protectors. The kids feel strongly about the pollution of our water. You can’t drink oil.
It was a great day, with a lot of good food too!
It is nice to know that so many people care about our earth…We lost this one, but are still fighting even more pipelines…
My professor had our class do speeches on this, which brought more awareness of it for us. I totally wasn’t expecting to see it on Virily. Virily shared it on Facebook, which is how I found it. Thank you for sharing Kim, and I will be sharing this on my social media pages.
Yes, well while my activist days are done, of course I have opinions on this. One was elicited from me, by a mutual friend. I offered this, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/554013191650552734/
What a great piece that is, I saved it. So good, sad and true.
Oh thank heavens! I get miffed at unsolicited links. I had a weak moment, water is important to fish, well each, I guess but, if that were true,..yeesh. Thank you, Kind Kim.
I understand.. Fish ~~~ Water is Life!
I admire people who dare to act on what they believe…
You’re a winner for being brave … at least ur not a keyboard “hero”!!
Thank you, if I could of I would of went to Standing Rock!!
The funny thing is the winners in this are the ones who will never be impacted by failure in the pipeline. No one is offering to dig up their ancestral grounds (New York, Washington DC) to push oil through.
I am saddened by this. Your remarkable story reminded me not of that failure but instead that the fight is not over. It is too late to stop the pipeline but we can fight for safety, for security and for continued improvements of the technology.
You are 100 correct, they will never know or if they do and it does happen in their lifetime they wont care. Could you image if they tried to go through a cemetery in those places. It would’ve never happened. Also there are several more pipelines in the plans, but its not only that its our national parks and oceans. We all need to stand up for what is right.
This is amazing! It is so true that WATER IS LIFE!
It is better to try and fail than not trying or doing nothing at all! Thank you for standing up and take part in this!
We need to stand up for our future generations. I have a stake in this with my grandson. : )
Awesome post. Very nice and Amazing picture.
Thank you Zaki, much appreciated.
Yes, I heard about the pipe line and was disgusted with that. They ignore their own people and put it through anyway. It’s all about money and power. I’ve never met a native American Indian. They deserve respect.
The environment on planet earth is very important, which the current powers that be seem to ignore. Water is one of the most precious things.
Glad you protested! Keep it up and don’t put up or shut up.
It was so hard to see. An eye opener for sure.
A lot of us are mixed races now, and there are no Nez Perce tribes in my area or I would be more involved.
It saddens me to see so much destroy. I certainly do not want to see Flint happening here, but if we are not careful. You tried Kim, and that is more than many, so in that way you were successful!
Exactly, those poor people of Flint Michigan. Yeah the pipelines are not the only problems..
Just remember you tried, and that is more than sone, you are bringing much needed attention so I’d call that successful!
The money is dirty, they are also leading the dirty business. Where much money is involved, democracy goes to rubbish. I was pleasantly surprised to see Indian tribes. I like a lot of movies about them. At the cause of clean water I wish success.
Very true Elenka, dirty money. Never have all the tribes joined in together.
Aww Nice Wonderful Kim always Amazing Posts.
Thank you Hamza, much appreciated.
My Pleasure Kim Johnson!
All you can do is all you can do Kim. Looks like you all tried… and then some.
They are still fighting in courts now. A lot of injustices happened during all of this.
You fought the good fight Kim, and I’m sure its far from over. These are dark timed with an administration in Washington hellbent on desecrating and raping mother earth. I am confident that more nonviolent warriors will rise up to take a stand against this reckless corporate behavior.
I am too Paul, its sad that money wins.. You can’t drink money..
Makes me think of a line from a Bob Dylan song …”money doesn’t talk it swears”
Hum, good one Paul. I wonder how many songs have been sung about this subject. Ah Dylan… Much love ~~
It is an absolute tragedy how big money can defeat the needs of real people – even in what purports to be a democracy.
It sure is a tragedy. I hope things change…