Thus without verification and legal enforcement of the Pentagon's order, I call on our water protectors on the scene to do what they can to get photographic evidence to prove whether or not the mandate to halt forward progress is being violated. Meanwhile, the rest of us can picket Sunoco and Phillips 66 gas stations; boycott or protest at financial institutions investing in ETP and its affiliates; and continue heartfelt prayers and support for all of the Indigenous People and their allies around the world fighting similar battles for Mother Earth. I would also like us to encourage higher education to play a bigger role. Although my own faculty at FGU were among the few in the U.S. to take a stand in solidarity with SR, higher education in general remains stifled by an assumption most university presidents maintain that regards students as "customers." Henry Giroux points this out in his text, University in Chains , and adds:
The political and economic forces fueling such crimes against humanity -- whether they are unlawful wars, systemic torture, practiced indifference to chronic starvation and disease or genocidal acts -- are always mediated by educational forces," Giroux said. "Resistance to such acts cannot take place without a degree of knowledge and self-reflection. We have to name these acts and transform moral outrage into concrete attempts to prevent such human violations from taking place in the first place.
Whatever efforts we make to increase support for water protectors, a major purpose is to get our brothers and sisters "on the other side" to join us in putting a priority on Earth's life systems and social/ecological justice for all. I saw this happen when a Morton Country policemen refused to use his pepper spray and gave it to someone else. Another example is a former employee of ETP who recently blogged with the opener, "Just couldn't look at myself in the mirror anymore" and wrote:
Pros: Go home with a paycheck
Cons: Knowing ETP is hiring police to brutalize Native Americans and that the pipeline we are trying to build might contaminate their water supply.
Advice to Management: Start investing in renewable resources and stop pursuing old fossil fuel technologies.
Question #3: What's with the rumors regarding conflicts in leadership before and during the arrival of the Veterans Standing for Standing Rock last weekend? A difficult and sensitive question to answer, I offer that it is important to note that many of the Native water protectors, if not most, come from extremely challenging environments. For many living at the camp is a significant improvement in spite its unique "anti-Indianism" from surrounding communities, the government/corporate sponsored terrorism in behalf of DAPL, and the harsh living conditions at camp. Many, whether veterans or not, suffer from post-trauma stress and historical trauma. Most have witnessed how tribal leadership under the non-traditional systems of government forced upon Indian communities after the Indian Reorganization Act reflect the problems of cronyism, mismanagement and corruption that plague most Western governments. (The IRA also destroyed tribal sovereignty.)
Add to all of this the effort of the Standing Rock leadership to return to the traditional non-hierarchal decision-making while sharing collaborative leadership for the first time with all nine bands of the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota (as well as trying to honor the many other visiting Indian nation representatives) and it is not only inevitable that there would be some chaos and that rumors about mismanagement of funds and disagreements about strategic actions would be part of the picture. All in all, the tribal leaders did an amazing job holding things together. Dave Archambault, the SR tribal chair who was often a main spokeperson did, I believe, an exceptional job. Even though many disagree with his call for all to abandon the camp now he is well intended even if overly optimistic. The risks of surviving the winter there are serious.
As for rumors and disagreements within the ranks of the Veterans Standing for Standing Rock (VSSR) organized by Woods and Clark, it is equally understandable that they would emerge. Indeed, organizational leadership was chaotic, but one can imagine the logistical challenges relating to accommodations, food, promised expense compensation for so many people, keeping in mind that the 4,000 or so veterans who showed up was twice the number who had registered. Vets were also frustrated by orders that were vague and ever-changing. I received a note from one veteran whose car went off the road and was lost in a snow drift. He was in Mandan and unable to get hold of anyone to help. He told me he had PTS and was suicidal. Fortunately, I managed to get word to Wesley Clark who was able to contact him immediately and arrange for assistance.
In spite of such issues, and, I think it is remarkable that things worked as well as they did. Sure, some vets rolled their eyes at Wesley's histrionic claims that his mission was ordained from God and were disappointed that he stayed in a casino hotel room while his troops were huddled in gymnasiums. Others questioned his concerns that Tiger Swan, a private security firm with links to Blackwater, was likely involved in a number of efforts to create problems for the group, including infiltrators working to "divide and conquer" the troops by instigating rumors about financial misappropriations and with a variety of ploys about instigating illegal actions. However, keep in mind that everyone at Standing Rock was driven by a spiritual calling and that infiltration was a real problem and it has been confirmed that Tiger Swan has been working for DAPL and has served in advising the Morton County Sheriff's office.
Also we must realize that Clark and Woods did their best to abide by requests from Lakota tribal leaders that were themselves sometimes confusing. The bottom line is that Clark and Woods, with the significant help of the 50 or so Veterans for Peace members at SR, managed to bring the Lakota way of engagement into the hearts of every veteran. I did not hear a conversation that did not reflect a sincere understanding that prayerfulness and peacefulness guided these men and women who were truly willing to lay down their lives for the cause. Ultimately, I believe this is what prompted the victory. (As for financial compensation for veteran expenses, my best understanding is that all of this is being worked out.)
Question #4: Was the Army's decision really just a political act without substantive language or intentions?
I believe only the lawyers and legislators can ultimately determine this if and when the Trump administration attempts to stop the Environmental Impact Study. The order seems clear enough, though one might wonder about the phrasing. For example, is the Army secretary only directing a "robust consideration of reasonable alternatives?" Or is she just suggesting that she thinks an EIS is the best way to do this, but not necessarily? Here is what she says:
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