Standing Rock: Water is Life

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“What’s happening at Standing Rock, and the efforts of the Oceti Sakowin and others, is about many things; stopping the desecration of sacred, cultural and burial sites, honoring treaty rights, defending Ina Maka (Mother Earth) and protecting water. It is also about a clash of value systems, one that values material profit and greed, and one that values its connection in understanding that we are but a part of creation, instructed with certain responsibilities towards the health and welfare of all life and future generations.” ~ Wakíƞyaƞ Waánataƞ (2016)

In Lakota, we call Water “Mni Wiconi”, which means “It Gives Me Life.”

Remember that Water, Mni, is Every Beings First Medicine.

Mni Wiconi. Water is Life.

Know Water, Know Life. No Water, No Life.

"The Lakota people put out the call; we're all here. There's over 400 — probably more — tribes represented. It's a coming together that not even the Native folks of North America have ever seen. And it's wonderful timing because Native folks around the world — we're all finally, we're just done. We've played the game, we let you think that it worked, we got to where we are. Now we're all sick, now the planet is dying, now we're running out of natural resources. Now I think it's time to listen.” ~ Jeanne Dorado, at Standing Rock (2016)

“Standing Rock has marked the beginning of an international movement that will continue to work peacefully, purposefully, and tirelessly for the protection of water along all areas of poisonous oil pipelines and across all of Mother Earth.” ~ Chief Arvol Looking Horse

We Stand with Standing Rock.

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