Mni Wichoni / Ten Year Reunion of Standing Rock
1o years later
Standing Rock Reunion
In 2016 a global movement was born out of Indigenous resistance to an oil pipeline to protect the water. Standing Rock saw tens of thousands of people flow through the space with around 14,000 people encamped at its height. Over 200 native tribes were represented within the camp.
Indigenous people were leading to protect the land, water, and people there at Standing Rock and have been doing it ever since and many for decades before. It was a huge honor sharing space with such powerful humans who have been doing that work to protect the land, water, and people for the last decade.
Many of the people at the reunion weekend endured so much at Standing Rock and in the years since. They are incredible, resilient, and world changers. They faced insane weather, brutalization from police and private security, some were physically harmed, bodies maimed, others were arrested and put in prison for years and so much more. Yet, they persist.
They know the deep importance of the Earth and the direct connection we must have with Her if we are to move forward in a good way. For me, my journey started at Standing Rock, but they had been resisting long before I showed up there, and they continue to move in profound ways.
It was humbling to share space with these people, to hear stories, and learn about much I never saw or experienced during and since the No DAPL movement. I definitely felt unworthy to be in this space at times this past weekend.
I truly hope that the series of portraits and images I took during the reunion can help honor those that have put everything on the line for clean water and a more equitable and just world for all of us.
*Will be writing more soon. In the meantime, I wanted to create a space to share the images from the reunion.
Marcus Mitchell, was shot in the face with a bean bag and a pellet from the round entered his eye socket in Jan 2017.
Maria Ramos, a Indigenous Doula and part of Campesina Womb Justice
Phyllis Young (Standing Rock Lakota), Tribal Leader and Co-founder of Women of All Red Nations. a primary leader of the No Dapl movement and Standing Rock resistance. Her land was used for the reunion.
Raymond Kingfisher, Water Protector, Earth Defender, Northern Cheyenne Tribe.
Joan Candy-Fire
Michelle Cook, one of the organizers of the reunion.
Sarah Poe, Poes for Peace
Oscar HighElk, 2KCmedia
RedFawn LutaWin Janis, Water Protector
Honoring those who were targeted, harmed, charged, or jailed during the Standing Rock movement.
Horse Nation Enters camp on the final closing day.
Chief Arvol Lookinghorse,
Spiritual leader and keeper of the White Buffalo pipe and bundle.
Mni Wichoni
Water IS LIFE
If you want to see my photos from 10 years ago at Standing Rock and read about how this moment changed everything for me, launching me into this work of Humanizing Through Story, go to my Patreon post