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

Camille:

• 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

Hartman:

• 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!

Dixie:

• 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)

Notes and Handouts

• If You're Thinking About Going to Standing Rock (PDF)
• Joining Camp Culture {PDF)
• Oceti Sakowin Camp Protocol and Lakota Values (PDF)
• When You Return Home (PDF)