Hundreds attend rally in support of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
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POCATELLO — Hundreds gathered under the undulating red, white and blue of the giant American flag hoisted high above the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal dancers during the Standing Strong with Standing Rock rally on Saturday.
The appearance of multitudinous creeds and colors filled the parking lot at the Stephens Performing Arts Center as those in attendance locked hands, formed a large circle and allowed the tribal chants to inundate them while round dancing in unison.
Some cried, some danced and many more smiled as the feeling of support, unity and solidarity spread like wildfire.
Though he isn’t necessarily against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, Dr. Fahim Rahim, who organized the event, believes uniting to fight a common goal is our truest defining asset.
“Being an American is not just a noun or a word, it’s an action,” Rahim said. “Just being born in this country does not give you a birthright to call yourself American. You have to believe in something, do the right thing and stand for truth and justice.”
Rahim added he believes it’s important to raise awareness of this national issue at the grassroots level because for too long the media ignored North Dakota entirely.
“We all need to raise awareness as individuals,” he said. “When we do this, that is how we show ourselves as true Americans.”
Though Energy Transfer Partners, the corporation behind the pipeline’s development and construction, says the pipeline would exceed safety standards, the tribe maintains the pipeline would disturb essential drinking water sources. The tribe also says the construction of the pipeline would disturb sacred burial sites and artifacts.
Rose Abrahamson of the Lemhi Shoshoni-Bannock tribe is the great-great-great-niece of Sacajawea, the Lemhi Shoshone woman who helped the Lewis and Clark Expedition achieve each of its chartered mission objectives exploring the Louisiana Purchase.
According to Abrahamson, Sacajawea was buried in one of those scared burial sites included in the Standing Rock reservation.
“Sacajawea is buried along the Missouri River near Fort Manuel Lisa,” she said. “And that’s the foundation of the whole thing.”
Abrahamson said the native indigenous people are always concerned about the seventh generation — which happens to be the millennial generation today.
“We are looking forward 175 years and our people believe we need to conserve together,” she said. “We support Standing Rock and their efforts to save water from the Missouri River, not only for them but for all of us whether you’re black, brown, red, white or yellow.”
Abrahamson’s daughter, Willow Abrahamson was the last Lemhi Shoshoni born on her homeland and said this protest is not specific to the Native American people.
“It’s not a native issue at all,” Willow said. “It just happened to be that the whistleblowers were natives and that’s why other people are getting involved. There are 85-year-old grandmas in Iowa getting arrested because they are protesting the same exact pipeline.”
The decisions that we make as human beings today will impact future generations forever, Rose said, adding that if we continue to destroy the earth our youth will never enjoy the same water, air and land that we once called home.
Many indigenous tribes of America, including the Lemhi Shoshone-Bannock tribe, believe there were holy beings that helped create the earth.
“These holy beings committed themselves and the water spirit stood up and said, ‘on behalf of my people I will nourish your children but we ask for these three things in return: respect, protection, and ceremony,’” Rose said. “It’s like a person who believes something religiously. Well we believe in this just as religiously because it’s our epistemology.”
The rally didn’t feature protestors, but rather protectors. Another person dedicated to the cause was Chasen Coby, a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal singing warriors.
“Everybody needs to recognize what’s going on around us,” he said. “Water is the only way we live. We are a part of water and it’s a part of us.”
This article was originally published in the Idaho State Journal. It is used here with permission.