“… The shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not just water, but the blood of our ancestors. … The water’s murmur is the voice of my father’s father. The rivers are our brothers. They quench our thirst. They carry our canoes and feed our children. So you must give the rivers the kindness that you would give any brother. … All things are connected, like the blood that runs in your family.” ~ Chief Seattle

Vogue, November 22, 2016 : “Snow still covered the plains when the first tepees and tents were staked in the ground near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation by a confluence of the Missouri and Cannonball rivers. It was April 1, 2016, a Friday. This small encampment would grow into an unprecedented gathering of native North American tribes and nations united in an effort to protect water and land. Together they would build a resistance movement rooted in nonviolence and community that, nearly eight months later, shows no signs of backing down, even in the face of mounting violence against it.

The Dakota Access pipeline, funded by the Energy Transfer Partners corporation … would cut through grounds sacred to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. It would travel twice underneath the Missouri River, which the Lakota and Dakota people of the Standing Rock Sioux reservation depend on for drinking water, along with 17 million other people throughout the country …”

Newsweek, Nov 28, 2016 :“… Some news reports claimed that activists had set fires and that the police were simply trying to extinguish them. But my social media feed, full of updates from firsthand observers, told a different story: It said police in riot gear were firing water cannons, along with tear gas, rubber bullets and concussion grenades, to keep activists from crossing the bridge. These reports were later confirmed by The Washington Post.

A few people in the crowd might have been burning sage, which has ceremonial value to the Sioux and is thought to promote healing. Other accounts indicated that some protectors, trapped on the bridge by police vehicles, started small fires to protect their drenched companions from hypothermia. Police reportedly extinguished those fires as well …”

Since April 2016, people from all over America, and other parts of the world, have gathered at Standing Rock – in solidarity – to stop the Dakota Access pipeline thereby protecting the water and their sacred land … it now “houses” several thousand water protectors from all walks of life …

So, why is Stillness Speaks writing about Standing Rock? …

Well, His Holiness The Dalai Lama provides an eloquent and simple answer: “It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act. There are two aspects to action. One is to overcome the distortions and afflictions of your own mind, that is, in terms of calming and eventually dispelling anger. This is action out of compassion. The other is more social, more public. When something needs to be done in the world to rectify the wrongs, if one is really concerned with benefiting others, one needs to be engaged, involved.”

And, one of the results of awakening can be the discovery of … love and compassion, manifesting as sensitivity to the suffering of others. As the attachment to separation dissolves, the desire to peacefully become socially engaged increases … to do whatever we can … to be of service to humanity and the planet.

To this end, since August of this year, Cherie has been monitoring the situation at Standing Rock and gradually sharing about it on her personal facebook, with increased sharings in the last couple weeks … then recently, we also started sharing on Stillness Speaks’ social channels (facebook, twitter, google+) plus Chris’ facebook.

And, last week, Chris decided to express his solidarity in person – by going to the Oceti Sakowin camp over the Thanksgiving holiday period … we include his words, below, from that short trip.

Also, we will dedicate our next newsletter to supporting this most important matter by providing it’s history, the impact of the Dakota Pipeline, current happenings at the Standing Rock community, how to keep up with the ongoing developments, how to participate, especially ALL the various ways to help and contribute (e.g., to Oceti Sakowin camp, or to Stand with Standing Rock or to petition President Obama) … so stay tuned!

UPDATE: Nov 30, 2016: Here’s the newsletter.

“Mni Wiconi … Water is Life” ~ Standing Rock’s Call to Solidarity

With gratitude,
Cherie & Sanjiv & Chris

— —- —
I have just returned from the Oceti Sakowin Camp at Standing Rock. Early last week, as I felt into the ongoing Standing Rock matter, I just could not think of a better place to be on Thanksgiving … to support and serve those in need there.

What I experienced there was both deeply moving and troubling.

Even in the midst of real and potential threat to personal safety and rapidly growing group activities, the Dakota Pipeline water protectors are, and remain, anchored in prayer and spiritual principles. It is something I have never ever witnessed before. It is such an honor to be here .. such a deep feeling of gratitude.

More than 500 protectors have been arrested. More than 100 have been injured and many have been hospitalized. 

Consider what the Protectors are going through: the weather, blocked public access roads, eviction notices, militarized police, caring for each other, deploying hundreds of volunteers to build shelter, collecting warm clothing, feeding thousands of visitors, nursing their wounds … and much more.

The weather is cold and snow is now covering the camp.

While I was at Standing Rock, the Army Corp of Engineers officially announced an eviction deadline of December 5th of the largest gathering of Native American tribes and thousands of Water Protectors from as far as Afghanistan.  

It has been reported that there are now 500 native American tribes at the Oceti Sakowin Camp at Standing Rock. That would make it the largest tribal gathering in history.

I am deeply concerned that December 5th could become a day that lives in infamy.

It was quiet yesterday and many were busy building new, wooden structures to accommodate and shelter the continuing stream of new arrivals.

There is no indication that anyone is leaving or preparing to dismantle the camp.

Today, Nov 28th, the Army Corps Of Engineers has said it does not intend to force protectors to leave on December 5th – yet, the “clarification” goes on to state that those who do not leave do so at the risk of arrest.

I shot a video during my short visit … I really had to think about posting this video from the camp. This has been a very emotionally difficult experience for me and some of my comments may seem controversial. But, I am posting it hoping that, by sharing what is really happening, right now, right here at Standing Rock, we will keep our focus and continue to show our support.

Your attention helps hugely. The main stream media have finally taken notice as evidenced at the Press Conference today.

Please know that you really make the difference as you are the conscience of the country and the world.

This is not about me … it is about everyone.   

==>> It is about water.

==>> It is about the use of private militarized forces in conjunction with the local, state and federal law enforcement authorities.

==>> It is about mass surveillance of the citizenry. 

==>> It is about fear and intimidation and lawless behavior.

==>> It is about our planet and our children.

==>> It is about my Deep Gratitude for everyone who gives attention to this and helps to get the facts out.

I recognize that life is busy … the holidays are here … but please don’t forget that thousands are living in sub-freezing conditions on behalf of all people who care about our planet, our children, our love in the face of the tightening grip of a growing private military determined to place commerce before human life.

It seems sort of redundant as events unfold here – may seem that it’s just more conflict, more injury. But, it’s not !

Standing Rock is actually a very bright spot – a gathering of the peaceful to offer support and awakening.

Your attention is our best defense and offense.

Thank you all for not allowing this issue to get lost in the ongoing flood of news we get daily. It makes a big difference.

And Thank you also for allowing me the privilege of using our community’s lists to help garner attention.

Standing Rock needs your help. Badly.

December 5th is less than 7 days away.

In Love and with Respect,
Chris
— — —

Opening Quote: Excerpts from Chief Seattle’s Letter to All THE PEOPLE. This version is not considered to be historically accurate but is a popular form – steeped with wisdom – so is included here … this source provides additional links that “… give better historical accuracy and proper context.”

H.H. The Dalai Lama Quote from ecodharmacentre.

Images:  1) Sunset at Standing Rock Rising, 2) A No DAPL Map from Huffington Post, 3) Waterways at Standing Rock Rising, 4) Night at Standing Rock Rising – 1), 3), & 4) by Redhawk, 5) Snow at Sacred Stone Camp (different from Oceti Sakowin camp) and 6) Snow at Oceti Sakowin Camp by Joel Martin.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download