The protests at Standing Rock. Ruth Hopkins has a good column about watching the feds, and why they are so distrusted. If you hadn’t read it before, catch it now. Revos.2040 breaks the news that the Army Corp of Engineers do not have a written easement for Dakota Access. Mike Myers has a wonderful column up on the Ties That Bind, about the Haudenosaunee Confederation’s longstanding treaty with the Sioux Nations.
Black Lives Matter in solidarity with Standing Rock protectors. This makes me so happy. #NoDAPL #RezpectOurWater pic.twitter.com/M0nf53xRkT
— #NoDAPL (@N8VChey) August 29, 2016
Josue Rivas is doing incredible work, documenting the protectors and life at the camp.
A young warrior at the opposition to Dakota Access Pipeline.
School has started for the children at the camps. The 2016 Tribal Summit will take place as planned, and there will be discussion about the pipeline. Pow Wow is on, and Sacred Stone Camp will have information and education booths up. We still need help. Holler, shout, spread the word, signal boost, please! Join us, stand with us. Come to camps. If you can’t, please signal boost, send or drop off supplies, or donate. Sign the petitions, whatever you are able to do!
Support Sacred Stone Camp. Legal Fund Help. Support Native Youth. Sign the Petition. Sign urgent petition.
Flood it with calls! #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/9OQT9TI1vO
— Matt Remle (@wakiyan7) August 30, 2016
#BlackLivesMatter arriving at #NoDAPL camp pic.twitter.com/9hgi6ctGMM
— Ruth Hopkins (@RuthHHopkins) August 28, 2016
Me waiting for all those Cherokee princesses & NA culture "appreciators" to offer solidarity or amplify #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/2iCUnHu7cO
— #RezpectOurWater (@morniiiingstar) August 29, 2016
About this ^ last, because I’m sure someone somewhere will be offended. If you look at Etsy, or any other site where people sell stuff, you will always find a fucktonne of people happily appropriating all things Indigenous. Non-Indigenous people run around wearing Plains headdresses with abandon, people dress up as “Pocahotties” and all kinds of other thoughtless, bigoted isht. If you’re one of those people, this last applies. If you know one of those people, this last applies. If you’re busy making money and taking advantage of appropriating Indigenous culture, the very least you could do is to support those you rip off.
Caine, I promise you that I am not nor have ever been a Pocahottie.
Raucous Indignation:
Good. Thank you for that. Now, I wish all the asses would get the memo. And not just them, but artists making “peace pipes” and thinking that’s all cool, and so on. The list of people who indulge in appropriation and make money off it is damn near endless. As that’s the case, they could actually do some fucking good for once.
Oh yes. I’m so over having to explain to the kids why no, this is not OK and they won’t get a Indian costume for carnival, no I don’t care about their friends and no, it’s not OK to paint yourself in “war colours” or stick some dyed feathers to a piece of paper and call it a headdress. Because everybody else is OK with this, why is mum making such a fuss?
Full disclosure: I own several pieces of indigenous jewellery. But they were all made and sold by indigenous people who ended up with the actual money.
Giliell:
You have no idea how deeply grateful I am you do this, too. You should be hearing at least one thank you every day. Nothing wrong with indigenous jewelry! I have a fair amount myself, and I’m hoping to acquire more at pow wow. :D
That video of Tokata Iron Eyes gave me all the feels. What a brave young woman, I know she’s not the only one. It’s wonderful to see all the young people standing up. I don’t want to hear about apathetic millenials!
I keep talking to people. I wish I could send money. Even more I wish I could be there, I can feel the compassion and love from here so it must be amazing in the camps. It’s a bit woo-ish to say, but my heart is with Standing Rock.
Stellatree:
Not in the least. That’s the power of love, the strength of compassion, the unity which blossoms when we stand together. I wish I was in the camp myself. If I could abandon my animals without thought, I would be, but they need care too. Talking to people is good, that’s great. Money’s not the only thing, and people with lots of it have been generous. I don’t have lots of it, so that’s what I’m doing -- talking.
Caine
No, I shouldn’t. Just like nobody thanks me for not stepping on their toes.
Remember when I said I was a sucker for feathers? Yeah, I love them, but it’s really the easiest thing in the world NOT to put them in a hairband and play Pocahontas. Because it’s just NOT DOING something. Doesn’t hurt, doesn’t cost me anything and there’s a bazillion things to do with feathers that are not shitty behaviour.
Giliell:
I wish everyone else thought that way.