OPINION: Standing Rock Standoff… A Personal Perspective, Part Five
My favorite song at the Stand with Standing Rock Benefit Concert was “I am a Patriot” by Steven Van Zandt. All the musicians were on stage, and the audience joined in. The first line is, “And the river opens for the righteous, someday”. Here’s that performance…
More about the concert later.
There are many stories from Standing Rock water protectors in Cannon Ball, N.D. And many photos…
A helicopter regularly circled the camp. Intimidation, or data gathering?
The gate man at Rosebud Camp.
The bridge over Cannonball River, that connected Rosebud Camp (on reservation land) with Oceti Sakowin Camp.
Distant view of press conference on Media Hill.
Standing on a table, a young woman has a better view of the press conference. But we could not hear it.
Camp view from Media Hill, also called Facebook Hill.
Tino Abaca, from Chicago, is holding the Chicago flag in support of the water protectors. A group of twelve came from Chicago. The names of the people that donated to their trip are on the flag. The images they saw on the internet of human rights violations is what drove their trip. He said that mainstream media is not accurately reporting the situation.
This couple, who thought they were leaving the next day, just found out their ride was leaving in three hours. They’re discussing their options as they dine on fine cuisine.
Joye Braun, Front Line Community Organizer with Indigenous Environmental Network. She graciously summarized the press conference that I couldn’t hear.
Three SoCal guys, who said they had no choice, they had to come to Standing Rock to support the water protectors.
Elizabeth Vonderahe and Andrea Pritchett, both of Berkeley, CA, had arrived the day before, and planned to stay through February. They were compelled to be there, and to take the spirit at Standing Rock back to Berkeley.
A Sunday, November 27 Women’s walk to a prayer vigil action to be held at the Backwater Bridge. It was blustery and bitterly cold, and the clouds were gathering for the blizzard that would begin later that evening.
The Women’s walk continues towards the bridge for peaceful prayer. The militant police were waiting on the other side of the bridge.
Part of the scenery on the way to the bridge….
Burnt truck due to previous militant police action on Backwater Bridge, and as seen in many photos and videos.
The Women’s prayer vigil crosses the bridge. The police await them.
You can read a first hand account of the Women’s Walk, written by a participant. It provides further insight into the indigenous culture. Someone said, while I was at Camp Oceti Sakowin, that “the women are the backbone, the men are the jaw”. That’s worth contemplating.
Last, there was the “Standing With Standing Rock” benefit concert – Sunday evening with Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Jason Mraz, Joel Rafael, and the John Trudell Tribute Band. Hats off to these artists who traveled to the Northern Plains in wintry weather to support and bring awareness to the water protectors, on a holiday weekend. There offered 800 free tickets to those water protectors.
An interesting side note is that many of the water protectors I talked to were only vaguely aware of the concert. Some thought the free tickets were for indigenous people only. Not true. And others were reluctant to leave their duties at the camp. Some didn’t have a ride. So there was a bit a communication disconnect in that regard, which led to a few empty seats.
There was no press conference. No cameras allowed. They asked that we enjoy the concert and not video it. (They removed a couple of professional photographer/videographers in front of me.)
There was absolutely no self-promotion of the artists. It was, in a way, a solemn occasion, at least at first. The artists were honored to be there. They were the lucky ones to be in the presence of the water protectors.
The concert opened at 6:30 with a tribal group. Soon, introduced as Jason M-Raz, Jason Mraz walked onto stage and played guitar and sang. If you don’t know Jason Mraz (I’ve seen him both in concert and coffee houses in San Diego) he is a humble human being, and an incredibly talented vocalist and lyricist. He and Joel Rafael wrote a song, “Strong” for Standing Rock. Jason explains his need to perform at the benefit concert. You can listen to that song here.
Then Jackson Browne strolled on stage with no introduction. It was his band that was backing up the other performers, so they had to learn new songs for this show that was put together very quickly and without fanfare. They did it seamlessly. He sang, among other songs, “Before the Deluge.
Thought the concert, there were intermittent shouts of “Mni Wiconi!” and “Water is Life” from the audience.
Bonnie Rait joined Jackson Browne. She’s a petite pistol that wields an electric guitar with the best of them. Her “Angel from Montgomery” incredible.
And just for me, I’m sure, Browne and Raitt teamed with “Take it Easy”, which Browne co-wrote with the Eagles’ late Glenn Frey. He gave a different rendition of who wrote what for that song. “Take it Easy turned into a sing along, and people rushed the stage, politely.
“I am a Patriot” followed, and the house was rocking.
Then it was over. The musicians accomplished what they intended: it was an evening of incredible music, bonding, empowerment, and outpouring of love from the musicians to the water protectors. The Standing Rock leaders joined the performers on stage. We took photos.
Jackson Browne, left, and Bonnie Raitt, center, with tribal leaders at end of concert
Back in my room, I opened my curtains, and saw it was snowing. The blizzard was on its way.
I left Cannon Ball the next morning, with the blizzard under way. It wasn’t the smartest thing to do – some of the state highways were unplowed – but my warrior Yukon got me safely out of the blizzard, only to encounter incredible crosswinds that actually gave me motion sickness. My Yukon and I survived that as well.
Back in Colorado, I can’t stop thinking about Standing Rock. And I worry. So I research. I write. I will not forget.
Note: If you are on Facebook, and are interested in following the unfolding story at Standing Rock, you may follow Dallas Goldtooth. That’s what I have done. He did a Facebook live broadcast last night that revealed the dire circumstances the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and Casino found themselves in last weekend. He also offers ways to support the NODAPL cause. You can view the broadcast here.
