Idle No More stands in solidarity with Standing Rock
Last week in North Dakota, the world watched as militarized police forces descended on people opposed to the Dakota Access pipeline.
The Standing Rock Sioux, alongside water protectors from across North America, have camped out since April. The groups say they are collectively standing up for the Missouri River which is being threatened by the construction of the pipeline.
Sylvia McAdam Saysewahum, a land protector and one of four Idle No More founders, took leave from her traditional lands near Big River to travel to Cannon Ball, N.D. roughly 1,000 km south of Prince Albert. She called the experience powerful.
“For me, to be there, I don’t feel like I have to explain myself. We bypass that whole (process) of explaining why you’re there and why you’re making a stand,” Saysewahum said. “There’s people who weep for the water. You absolutely understand where they’re coming from.”