Standing Rock Resources/How to Work Alongside Indigenous Communities with Humility and Respect

Richie:

honor and thank!
be incredibly aware of the land; mother earth is mother to all of us, but these lands are the sacred physical to the Lakota people (don’t place your feet places they may not belong)
ask questions before just engaging: don’t offer prayers or gifts (tobacco, etc.) to the Sacred Fire unless it’s a welcome time to do so
whatever you’re there to do, make sure it’s not for your own ego: be there for the WATER

remember humility; remember respect
do NOT bring ANY substances; RESPECT the potential presence of depression/suicide/substance abuse

you are going to visit with a people who are on their land that is perpetually under threat of being reduced

ask to be part of Inipi/sweat ceremonies; they are beautiful and in ways prepare you to struggle through the overwhelm you may experience within the camps and front line
attend sun ceremonies at sunrise
- for the Lakota people, basking in the rays of the sun is as important and sacred as taking in food and water
in our culture here, we do what we want and apologize later
- there, apologize for not knowing first and then ASK
you represent your entire community when you’re there

this movement was started by leaders that had the courage to stand up: respect native leaders!
don’t try to come in and be a leader
- come in and ask what you can do/how you can help
if you’re dividing the people, if you’re not there to help, if you can’t follow the elders’ lead: don’t come
stop and listen; take heed of the leadership
moving forward with your actions, remember that even when you move on with your lives or travel back home, these people will still be at Standing Rock
how will your actions today continue to impact members of the community and relationships within that community for years to come?
when you leave, the tribe will still be there
you will see homophobia, racism, and other discrimination that are a taught/learned part of the people many places with Standing Rock being no exception — try to look at these things as scars: they’re not pretty, but they’re painful things that have been inflicted upon the people that will take a much longer time than you're allotted to heal
be your BEST self!

plug in with Ohlone people: in the Bay or at Standing Rock
listen more than you speak
attempt to direct non-native questions to non-native allies that are aware of the facts; don’t over burden the camp
challenge all of the ways we perpetuate settler colonization, here and there; we can only help if we’re helping to dismantle settler colonialism
to be encountered/challenged:
- Entitlement
- Defensiveness
- avatar/white warrior syndrome
- rainbow warrior vision
we have to change how we’re getting in touch with the Standing Rock community by asking where the direction is coming from
encourage learning
Question why you’re going!
- (If you live in the Bay Area, check in with Berkeley Shellmound!! Ohlone burial ground set to be dug up for an underground parking structure)