Standing Rock





Standing up for Indigenous Sovereignty & Land



Standing Rock






In April of 2016, a grassroots movement was born in North

Dakota in peaceful resistance to Energy Transfer Partners' Dakota Access Pipeline. The pipeline was to run through disputed Treaty Land of the Sioux Nation, through sacred burial and ceremonial sites, and under Lake Oahe a mile upstream from the Standing Rock Sioux reservations' source of water


Over the months that followed, many thousands of people came to stand alongside the Sioux as allies determined to uphold Indigenous sovereignty and their right to protect their land


,After watching Indigenous peoples attacked by guard dogs under the control of a private security firm hired by the Dakota Access Pipeline, Nicole Schafenacker and I felt deeply called to join the Water Protectors uniting to stand in solidarity in peaceful

resistance with the Standing Rock Sioux Nation


On October 27th 2016, we were both arrested, along with over 140 others, while standing in silent prayer with the Elders




Standing Rock Collections





Radio Interview
93.9 CICK



,After returning from Standing Rock and while awaiting my trial, I was invited to give a two part interview about our experiences on the front lines


Part One

Reimagining a Sacred Landscape:
Decolonization, Healing and Restorying Land Relations with North America’s Indigenous Nations.



In March of 2017, I was scheduled to present at the Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Due to travelling concerns, as a result of my participation at Standing Rock, I had to give my presention long distance. I chose to utilize this audience to bring light to the events and our experiences at Standing Rock


Video

Radio Interview
93.9 CICK



,After returning from Standing Rock and while awaiting my trial, I was invited to give a two part interview about our experiences on the front lines


Part Two

Chase Iron Eyes
Interview



Chase Iron Eyes gives a powerful short interview on Standing Rock


Video

Declarations of
Tim Mentz Sr.
Court Documents



Court records documenting the importance of the sacred land and burial sites in line of the DAPL construction


Documents

The Sound of Silence



After being arrested, witnessing bulldozers plow through Sioux Sacred land and seeing Indigenous youth galloping through herds of Buffalo being shot at with rubber bullets by police, we were were placed on a bus to be taken to the Mandan Jail. I sat at the back of the bus with a young warrior who shared how he had been pulled out of an Inipi Ceremony (Sweat Lodge) when he was arrested. After sharing his story, they turned the music up in the bus and this song started to play. Everyone went silent as we listened to the words and how the wong spoke so strongly to what were experiencing at the time. It was I very powerful moment that we all shared


Photo from the Disturbed video


Video

The Play



What we experienced at Standing Rock was so powerful and so important that we hope to also share the experience through theater under the direction of Indigenous leaders


Coming Soon



Standing Rock Article



A reprieve for Dakota land defenders, a warning for Canada

by

Jeremy Appel


Article



STANDING ROCK:
The Cleanup Story That Never Made the News



:Directors

James Kambeitz

Karen Van Fossan


Video



Awake:
A Dream from Standing Rock



:Directors

Myron Dewey

Josh Fox


Website




Black Snake Killaz:
A NoDAPL Story



by

Unicorn Riot


Video

White Wolf Pack



Defend The Sacred: A Standing Rock Movie Produced by Native Actor Adam Beach


Website

Photography Collection No. One





The following photos were taken during our drive to Standing Rock


There was a surreal feeling in the air during our trip to North Dakota. The roads leading us where lined with road signs adorned with Arrowheads and 'Indian head' profiles, giving the impression that the peoples governing the United States remain in more honourable relations with the First Peoples of the country than what we would soon come to experience during our time at Standing Rock


We moved through a land filled with desolate motels, abandoned vehicles and religion. A fervent piety whispered across lips in gas stations and dominating the local radio stations of the towns we moved through. Much of what we heard was not a religiosity based in love and acceptance. Instead the voices speaking to us over the radio waves and in overheard conversations often spoke of fear and exclusion leaving us to feel penetrated by an uncomfortable feeling seeped in racism and distrust


Hope was found though, in the fields of sunflowers we passed on our journey. The were were miles of them, all bowing their heads in the direction of Standing Rock


I've driven through the United States many times, but this time

something felt different. I didn't feel comfortable. I didn't feel safe. It felt like we were being pulled through a world operated by a different set of rules


However, the call to Standing Rock came strong and fierce and there was no denying it. It was as if we were a river being pulled to the ocean at a most crucial moment in time


There was nothing to do but

ride the tumultuous waters and answer the call​








Sunflowers behind barbed wire






The Call





TWIRLING
TWISTING
AROUND AND AROUND
CIRCLES UPON CIRCLES
SPINNING BEYOND THE PERCEPTION OF WHAT IS UP OR DOWN


NORTH EAST WEST SOUTH
REDBLACKWHITEYELLOW


TASTE THE COLOURS CALLING - CAWING
PIERCING LIKE ARROWS
HARPOONING THIS BODY BACK TO HER
WITH THE RHYTHMIC TOUCH OF A BEATING DRUM


C A L L I N G


FROM A PLACE SO DEEP IT RESIDES BEYOND THE
CONFINES OF THIS BODY
WE SPIN


I AM YOU
YOU ARE ME
WE ARE THE WATER
THE WATER IS WE


A THIRST SO GREAT
LEADING


P L E A D I N G


LIKE MISTS OF WING LADEN WATERS LIFTED FROM THE SALTY SEA
FALLING BACK TO RAGGED ROCKY PEAKS OF MOUNTAIN
SLIPPING FROM THE TIPS OF
LONG
DROOPING
PINE
NEEDLES


CASCADING OFF THE BLUE BACKS OF RAVEN
CARRYING THE MEDICINE OF STORIES
ABSORBED ALONG THE WAY


QUENCHING THE THIRST OF
MOTHER’S CALL


CONVERGED AT THE COLURE OF OUTSTRETCHED LUPINE LEAVES
ROOTS NOURISHED WITH this WET PUNGENCY OF LIFE



SLOWLY
METHODICALLY
SEEPING BACK INTO THE BLOODLINES


THE WATERWAYS
LIKE VEINS DISPERSING LIFE
SLIVERS OF GENTLE GLISTENING CRYSTAL RIBBONS
SLIPPING
SILENTLY
[ALMOST]
UNNOTICED
INTO
COURAGEOUS RIVERS OF H O P E
DETERMINATION
ESPRIT DE CORPS



Water is life


S L O W L Y AT FIRST
BUT GATHERING IN CRESCIVE UNDULATING WAVES
DRIFTING DOWN AND AROUND
SPINNING WILDLY
THROUGH PROPHESIZED CURRENTS OF TIME


TWISTING
BEWITCHINGLY
IN THE EDDIES
OF HIDDEN OVERLOOKED CORNERS OF
BOTTOMLESS MOONLIT RIVERS
WE GATHER




TIME STANDS STILL here
THERE IS NO DECISION TO MAKE
W A T E R D O E S N ’ T L O O K B A C K
[SHE WHISPERS]
THIS CURRENT WAS SET LONG BEFORE THE JOURNEY BEGAN
OUR QUIET WET MOSSY SHADE COVERED LIVES

HIDDEN IN THE SOUND OF

DRIPPING

LEAVES



WE GATHER
L E A D I N G


WITH GROWING MOMENTUM
SHAPING THE STORYLINES OF THE P E B B L E S
BENEATH US
AROUND US
I N U S


WE GATHER
P L E A D I N G


ONE BY ONE
SLIPPING OVER THE SMOOTHNESS OF STONE
FALLING THROUGH CANYONS
BORING T H R O U G H CRATERS


MAKING OUR WAy back
TO THE BRINY DEEP SEA OF



STANDING ROCK

​


~ K. s. Auerbach ~




Photography Collection No. Two





Oceti Sakowin Camp and North Camp at Standing Rock, North Dakota


It was dark when we first arrived at Standing Rock. The lights of Oceti Sakowin Camp skipped across the grasslands before us. The people welcomed us. They gave us a teepee to sleep in for the night so we could set our camp up the next morning in the light. They sang songs. They laughed joyfully and fed us Indian tacos made with Buffalo


Although we had been given press passes to enable us to take photographs around camp to document the events and help spread the word, it seemed many people remained distrustful of the camera even when I wasn't taking pictures. I found that just having the camera with me shifted my experience with the people of Standing Rock so I decided to put it away


The few photographs shown below where either taken during our first day at Oceti Sakowin Camp, before I put my camera away, or later on the day we moved to the North Treaty Camp


All photographs were taken with carefully sought out permission




Moving to North Camp



North Camp



The Water Truck



Liana, Me, Sylvia & Grandma Pearl



Oceti Sakowin



Grandma Pearls Journal



Katriona Siloen Auerbach



Buffalo at North Camp



Flags at Oceti Sakowin



My Press Pass for Photography



Nicole Schafenacker



Nicole S., Katriona S. A. & Antonia Mills



Katriona Siloen Auerbach



Nicole Schafenacker



Photography Collection No. Three





Before leaving to go to Standing Rock, Nicole & I purchased and collected (with the help of additional donors) a car load of supplies to donate to the people at Standing Rock. Supplies included sleeping bags, winter jackets, hats (ball caps & toques), balaclavas, scarves, neck warmers, gloves, blankets, prayer tie cloth, lighters & Tobacco


I have included pictures of some of the supplies we purchased to show those

who donated funds what their donations contributed to


Thank You to everyone who donated

for helping to support the people

on the front lines



Website Design & Creation by K.S.Auerbach
All Photography & Videography unless otherwise noted, by K.S.Auerbach