thank you thank you for having me here today I’d like to begin by acknowledging
today I’d like to begin by acknowledging
today I’d like to begin by acknowledging the land on which we gather as the
the land on which we gather as the
the land on which we gather as the traditional territory of the Houghton
traditional territory of the Houghton
traditional territory of the Houghton ishani
ishani
ishani the Huron Wenda the Anishinabe the
the Huron Wenda the Anishinabe the
the Huron Wenda the Anishinabe the maytee and most recently the
maytee and most recently the
maytee and most recently the Mississauga’s of the new credit First
Mississauga’s of the new credit First
Mississauga’s of the new credit First Nation this territory thank you this
Nation this territory thank you this
Nation this territory thank you this territory was part of the dish with one
territory was part of the dish with one
territory was part of the dish with one spoon wampum belt treaty an agreement
spoon wampum belt treaty an agreement
spoon wampum belt treaty an agreement between the Iroquois Confederacy and
between the Iroquois Confederacy and
between the Iroquois Confederacy and then the Ojibwe and allied nations to
then the Ojibwe and allied nations to
then the Ojibwe and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the
peaceably share and care for the
peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes
resources around the Great Lakes
resources around the Great Lakes today this meeting place of ticker Anto
today this meeting place of ticker Anto
today this meeting place of ticker Anto is still home to many indigenous people
is still home to many indigenous people
is still home to many indigenous people from across Turtle Island and I’m very
from across Turtle Island and I’m very
from across Turtle Island and I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to
grateful to have the opportunity to
grateful to have the opportunity to speak to you on this territory today so
speak to you on this territory today so
speak to you on this territory today so why do I acknowledge this territory why
why do I acknowledge this territory why
why do I acknowledge this territory why do I say these words
do I say these words
do I say these words well almost exactly one year ago today
well almost exactly one year ago today
well almost exactly one year ago today exactly one year ago it’s amazing I was
exactly one year ago it’s amazing I was
exactly one year ago it’s amazing I was living and working inside of a war zone
living and working inside of a war zone
living and working inside of a war zone the war zone is probably something like
the war zone is probably something like
the war zone is probably something like you might imagine there is razor wire
you might imagine there is razor wire
you might imagine there is razor wire demarking boundaries were you bare not
demarking boundaries were you bare not
demarking boundaries were you bare not dare not step if you do you’re met by
dare not step if you do you’re met by
dare not step if you do you’re met by armed police decked out in riot gear
armed police decked out in riot gear
armed police decked out in riot gear guns and shields they’re face masks with
guns and shields they’re face masks with
guns and shields they’re face masks with balaclavas there’s a constant feeling of
balaclavas there’s a constant feeling of
balaclavas there’s a constant feeling of threat it feels heavy and overtime it
threat it feels heavy and overtime it
threat it feels heavy and overtime it made me feel slightly paranoid there
made me feel slightly paranoid there
made me feel slightly paranoid there were militarized checkpoints or army
were militarized checkpoints or army
were militarized checkpoints or army tanks are parked if you try and pass
tanks are parked if you try and pass
tanks are parked if you try and pass your questioned by guards holding
your questioned by guards holding
your questioned by guards holding weapons your movements are tracked and
weapons your movements are tracked and
weapons your movements are tracked and you’re always aware that at any moment
you’re always aware that at any moment
you’re always aware that at any moment you could be detained and questioned
you could be detained and questioned
you could be detained and questioned there’s the constant and pervasive sound
there’s the constant and pervasive sound
there’s the constant and pervasive sound of surveillance planes and helicopters
of surveillance planes and helicopters
of surveillance planes and helicopters this is probably the thing that I
this is probably the thing that I
this is probably the thing that I remember the most
remember the most
remember the most the endless hovering of aircraft morning
the endless hovering of aircraft morning
the endless hovering of aircraft morning and night
and night
and night always present it’s a sound I never got
always present it’s a sound I never got
always present it’s a sound I never got used to and then there were the
used to and then there were the
used to and then there were the floodlights shining white light down
floodlights shining white light down
floodlights shining white light down through the night imagine it done a
through the night imagine it done a
through the night imagine it done a dozen full moon shining down at you all
dozen full moon shining down at you all
dozen full moon shining down at you all around you and they’re accompanied by
around you and they’re accompanied by
around you and they’re accompanied by snipers lurking in the shadows trained
snipers lurking in the shadows trained
snipers lurking in the shadows trained to kill always watching you and then
to kill always watching you and then
to kill always watching you and then there were the people
there were the people
there were the people the people living on the front lines and
the people living on the front lines and
the people living on the front lines and in the camps rows upon rows of tents and
in the camps rows upon rows of tents and
in the camps rows upon rows of tents and shelters were men and women strangers
shelters were men and women strangers
shelters were men and women strangers families friends they slept side by side
families friends they slept side by side
families friends they slept side by side it was a small village medical tents
it was a small village medical tents
it was a small village medical tents schools kitchens multiple kitchens where
schools kitchens multiple kitchens where
schools kitchens multiple kitchens where mass meals were served there was
mass meals were served there was
mass meals were served there was camaraderie and accountability we
camaraderie and accountability we
camaraderie and accountability we survived through the help of one another
survived through the help of one another
survived through the help of one another and this connected us vitally and you
and this connected us vitally and you
and this connected us vitally and you might think I’m describing a conflict
might think I’m describing a conflict
might think I’m describing a conflict zone in Syria or Gaza or really any of
zone in Syria or Gaza or really any of
zone in Syria or Gaza or really any of the war zones we see reported but I
the war zones we see reported but I
the war zones we see reported but I didn’t have to go so far to be in this
didn’t have to go so far to be in this
didn’t have to go so far to be in this war zone
war zone
war zone the place I’m describing was inside the
the place I’m describing was inside the
the place I’m describing was inside the United States of America Standing Rock
United States of America Standing Rock
United States of America Standing Rock North Dakota to be exact it could have
North Dakota to be exact it could have
North Dakota to be exact it could have been anywhere it could have just as
been anywhere it could have just as
been anywhere it could have just as easily been here I’d arrived there to
easily been here I’d arrived there to
easily been here I’d arrived there to document the nine months long standoff
document the nine months long standoff
document the nine months long standoff that saw unarmed civilians occupying
that saw unarmed civilians occupying
that saw unarmed civilians occupying land in protest of the Dakota access
land in protest of the Dakota access
land in protest of the Dakota access pipeline a large-scale pipeline project
pipeline a large-scale pipeline project
pipeline a large-scale pipeline project that would cut across four states and
that would cut across four states and
that would cut across four states and threaten the drinking supply of millions
threaten the drinking supply of millions
threaten the drinking supply of millions originally the pipeline had been set to
originally the pipeline had been set to
originally the pipeline had been set to be built near the State Capitol but when
be built near the State Capitol but when
be built near the State Capitol but when people took offense to the possible
people took offense to the possible
people took offense to the possible environmental harm it would cause they
environmental harm it would cause they
environmental harm it would cause they lobbied to have the pipeline reroute it
lobbied to have the pipeline reroute it
lobbied to have the pipeline reroute it and just like that the pipeline was
and just like that the pipeline was
and just like that the pipeline was moved moved to within half a mile of the
moved moved to within half a mile of the
moved moved to within half a mile of the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation
Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation
Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation moved without consultation with the
moved without consultation with the
moved without consultation with the tribe or proper environmental
tribe or proper environmental
tribe or proper environmental assessments done and just like that the
assessments done and just like that the
assessments done and just like that the repeat button of history was pressed the
repeat button of history was pressed the
repeat button of history was pressed the repeat button was pressed when settlers
repeat button was pressed when settlers
repeat button was pressed when settlers first came to North America they
first came to North America they
first came to North America they employed many tools to extract control
employed many tools to extract control
employed many tools to extract control over the land and by extension the first
over the land and by extension the first
over the land and by extension the first peoples who live there the fur trade and
peoples who live there the fur trade and
peoples who live there the fur trade and the gold rush are just two examples of
the gold rush are just two examples of
the gold rush are just two examples of industry that would use the land in the
industry that would use the land in the
industry that would use the land in the service of progress indigenous women
service of progress indigenous women
service of progress indigenous women were attacked through acts of violence
were attacked through acts of violence
were attacked through acts of violence and forced marriage in order to procure
and forced marriage in order to procure
and forced marriage in order to procure land ownership and Buffalo which once
land ownership and Buffalo which once
land ownership and Buffalo which once roamed free in the thousands were mass
roamed free in the thousands were mass
roamed free in the thousands were mass slaughtered they were important food
slaughtered they were important food
slaughtered they were important food source to indigenous people but when
source to indigenous people but when
source to indigenous people but when they were masked
they were masked
they were masked they induced a famine and they’ve
they induced a famine and they’ve
they induced a famine and they’ve induced dependency and they forced
induced dependency and they forced
induced dependency and they forced relocation thus freeing the land again
relocation thus freeing the land again
relocation thus freeing the land again for settlement and then there were
for settlement and then there were
for settlement and then there were residential schools which separated
residential schools which separated
residential schools which separated children from their parents and their
children from their parents and their
children from their parents and their communities
communities
communities these were state led tactics to decimate
these were state led tactics to decimate
these were state led tactics to decimate indigenous spirituality and culture so
indigenous spirituality and culture so
indigenous spirituality and culture so time and time again we’ve learned the
time and time again we’ve learned the
time and time again we’ve learned the lessons about the value of land the
lessons about the value of land the
lessons about the value of land the meaning of lot of indigenous lives and
meaning of lot of indigenous lives and
meaning of lot of indigenous lives and the language that connects them both at
the language that connects them both at
the language that connects them both at Standing Rock we had state sanctioned
Standing Rock we had state sanctioned
Standing Rock we had state sanctioned Armed Forces standing in retaliation
Armed Forces standing in retaliation
Armed Forces standing in retaliation against unarmed civilians all in order
against unarmed civilians all in order
against unarmed civilians all in order to protect the corporate interests of a
to protect the corporate interests of a
to protect the corporate interests of a private company no one expected that a
private company no one expected that a
private company no one expected that a few dozen native people would balloon
few dozen native people would balloon
few dozen native people would balloon into tens of thousands to make this the
into tens of thousands to make this the
into tens of thousands to make this the largest indigenous led protests in over
largest indigenous led protests in over
largest indigenous led protests in over a century who would have thought that
a century who would have thought that
a century who would have thought that people occupying land peacefully would
people occupying land peacefully would
people occupying land peacefully would incite so much force I spent months in
incite so much force I spent months in
incite so much force I spent months in and out of Standing Rock documenting the
and out of Standing Rock documenting the
and out of Standing Rock documenting the occupation there and I could share many
occupation there and I could share many
occupation there and I could share many things with you because I saw many
things with you because I saw many
things with you because I saw many instances of beauty but today there is
instances of beauty but today there is
instances of beauty but today there is one particular memory that I’d like to
one particular memory that I’d like to
one particular memory that I’d like to share with you I was filming on a crisp
share with you I was filming on a crisp
share with you I was filming on a crisp day in November when the Warriors of the
day in November when the Warriors of the
day in November when the Warriors of the camp were called to the front lines the
camp were called to the front lines the
camp were called to the front lines the construction crews were advancing
construction crews were advancing
construction crews were advancing quickly and we were being called to stop
quickly and we were being called to stop
quickly and we were being called to stop them from crossing a small River
them from crossing a small River
them from crossing a small River tensions were high and the media was
tensions were high and the media was
tensions were high and the media was beginning to take notice of what was
beginning to take notice of what was
beginning to take notice of what was happening in Standing Rock people from
happening in Standing Rock people from
happening in Standing Rock people from the camp rushed to the water and they
the camp rushed to the water and they
the camp rushed to the water and they waded out into it to form a line to face
waded out into it to form a line to face
waded out into it to form a line to face the riot police who stood on a hill
the riot police who stood on a hill
the riot police who stood on a hill above them looking down at them the and
above them looking down at them the and
above them looking down at them the and the police they stared back at us they
the police they stared back at us they
the police they stared back at us they rarely looked at you it was more like
rarely looked at you it was more like
rarely looked at you it was more like they were looking through you never
they were looking through you never
they were looking through you never direct eye contact just the imposing
direct eye contact just the imposing
direct eye contact just the imposing threat of their bodies clad in armor
threat of their bodies clad in armor
threat of their bodies clad in armor their weapons in hand ready and one
their weapons in hand ready and one
their weapons in hand ready and one woman she stood just kind of beside me
woman she stood just kind of beside me
woman she stood just kind of beside me and she began to sing she was beautiful
and she began to sing she was beautiful
and she began to sing she was beautiful she was standing there and waist-deep
she was standing there and waist-deep
she was standing there and waist-deep water cold water and she was singing and
water cold water and she was singing and
water cold water and she was singing and she was mid song when suddenly she
she was mid song when suddenly she
she was mid song when suddenly she stopped and she pointed her finger
stopped and she pointed her finger
stopped and she pointed her finger straight out
straight out
straight out at the police officer in front of her
at the police officer in front of her
at the police officer in front of her and she looked him straight in the eye
and she looked him straight in the eye
and she looked him straight in the eye and she said I see you and I see you see
and she said I see you and I see you see
and she said I see you and I see you see me she held his eye he kept trying to
me she held his eye he kept trying to
me she held his eye he kept trying to look away but his eyes they just kept
look away but his eyes they just kept
look away but his eyes they just kept coming back to her and she held him
coming back to her and she held him
coming back to her and she held him there she held him in that space and
there she held him in that space and
there she held him in that space and then she began to sing she began to sing
then she began to sing she began to sing
then she began to sing she began to sing to him holding his gaze and she sang as
to him holding his gaze and she sang as
to him holding his gaze and she sang as the enforcement started spraying teargas
the enforcement started spraying teargas
the enforcement started spraying teargas into the faces of the protesters a white
into the faces of the protesters a white
into the faces of the protesters a white cloud of smoke overtook the crowd and
cloud of smoke overtook the crowd and
cloud of smoke overtook the crowd and the police officer she was singing – he
the police officer she was singing – he
the police officer she was singing – he broke rank and he yelled out to her run
broke rank and he yelled out to her run
broke rank and he yelled out to her run please run save yourself but the woman
please run save yourself but the woman
please run save yourself but the woman she just stood there as they gassed her
she just stood there as they gassed her
she just stood there as they gassed her at point-blank range her body a weapon
at point-blank range her body a weapon
at point-blank range her body a weapon of protest and what I witnessed in that
of protest and what I witnessed in that
of protest and what I witnessed in that moment it was a rare moment of
moment it was a rare moment of
moment it was a rare moment of connectivity an officer disarmed by a
connectivity an officer disarmed by a
connectivity an officer disarmed by a singing woman a singing woman embolden
singing woman a singing woman embolden
singing woman a singing woman embolden because she had been seen two people
because she had been seen two people
because she had been seen two people recognizing each other’s humanity in a
recognizing each other’s humanity in a
recognizing each other’s humanity in a moment of violence one doing his job as
moment of violence one doing his job as
moment of violence one doing his job as an officer sent to protect the or the
an officer sent to protect the or the
an officer sent to protect the or the interests of an oil company the other an
interests of an oil company the other an
interests of an oil company the other an indigenous woman fulfilling her
indigenous woman fulfilling her
indigenous woman fulfilling her traditional role as a water keeper there
traditional role as a water keeper there
traditional role as a water keeper there to protect the river the land that holds
to protect the river the land that holds
to protect the river the land that holds their bodies connects them their
their bodies connects them their
their bodies connects them their language connects them and the
language connects them and the
language connects them and the recognition of one another connects them
recognition of one another connects them
recognition of one another connects them in that moment of violence there is
in that moment of violence there is
in that moment of violence there is actually harmony within the dissonance
actually harmony within the dissonance
actually harmony within the dissonance and so when I stand before you on this
and so when I stand before you on this
and so when I stand before you on this stage and I acknowledge the land the
stage and I acknowledge the land the
stage and I acknowledge the land the land of the Houghton ishani
land of the Houghton ishani
land of the Houghton ishani the here on when dot the Anishinabe the
the here on when dot the Anishinabe the
the here on when dot the Anishinabe the matey the Mississauga’s of the new
matey the Mississauga’s of the new
matey the Mississauga’s of the new credit First Nation I’m acknowledging
credit First Nation I’m acknowledging
credit First Nation I’m acknowledging our shared humanity our connection to
our shared humanity our connection to
our shared humanity our connection to one another
one another
one another I’m also acknowledging decades upon
I’m also acknowledging decades upon
I’m also acknowledging decades upon decades of colonization that I sought to
decades of colonization that I sought to
decades of colonization that I sought to control own and destroy our relationship
control own and destroy our relationship
control own and destroy our relationship to this land and not just my
to this land and not just my
to this land and not just my relationship as an indigenous person
relationship as an indigenous person
relationship as an indigenous person but your relationship to when I
but your relationship to when I
but your relationship to when I acknowledge the land I do so in a
acknowledge the land I do so in a
acknowledge the land I do so in a language that is not my peoples and this
language that is not my peoples and this
language that is not my peoples and this might seem like a small detail however I
might seem like a small detail however I
might seem like a small detail however I believe that the erasure of indigenous
believe that the erasure of indigenous
believe that the erasure of indigenous language is key to why we are where we
language is key to why we are where we
language is key to why we are where we are today you cannot separate our
are today you cannot separate our
are today you cannot separate our languages from the land language is the
languages from the land language is the
languages from the land language is the connective tissue that allows our
connective tissue that allows our
connective tissue that allows our relationships to flourish and evolve
relationships to flourish and evolve
relationships to flourish and evolve erasing the way we communicate affects
erasing the way we communicate affects
erasing the way we communicate affects how we relate to everything around us
how we relate to everything around us
how we relate to everything around us and First Nations people have always
and First Nations people have always
and First Nations people have always operated within an oral culture our
operated within an oral culture our
operated within an oral culture our culture and traditions are passed down
culture and traditions are passed down
culture and traditions are passed down through storytelling and our stories
through storytelling and our stories
through storytelling and our stories they embrace a worldview where the
they embrace a worldview where the
they embrace a worldview where the natural world both human and non-human
natural world both human and non-human
natural world both human and non-human is a relative and when you see your
is a relative and when you see your
is a relative and when you see your relatives all around you
relatives all around you
relatives all around you how can you enact harm and that what you
how can you enact harm and that what you
how can you enact harm and that what you love so my indigenous language it’s
love so my indigenous language it’s
love so my indigenous language it’s derived from the land and it’s through
derived from the land and it’s through
derived from the land and it’s through listening that we came to know the names
listening that we came to know the names
listening that we came to know the names of things when our children are born
of things when our children are born
of things when our children are born into this world we wait for them to show
into this world we wait for them to show
into this world we wait for them to show us their names and more often than not a
us their names and more often than not a
us their names and more often than not a word will suggest a relational meaning
word will suggest a relational meaning
word will suggest a relational meaning for example the Ojibwe word for wind is
for example the Ojibwe word for wind is
for example the Ojibwe word for wind is Newton and Newton means three things it
Newton and Newton means three things it
Newton and Newton means three things it means the wind blows it is windy and
means the wind blows it is windy and
means the wind blows it is windy and there is wind the human relationship to
there is wind the human relationship to
there is wind the human relationship to wind is inherent in its meeting it does
wind is inherent in its meeting it does
wind is inherent in its meeting it does not exist alone we are present in its
not exist alone we are present in its
not exist alone we are present in its meaning existing only in relation to
meaning existing only in relation to
meaning existing only in relation to everything else it’s a delicate balance
everything else it’s a delicate balance
everything else it’s a delicate balance so when you hurt the land you hurt
so when you hurt the land you hurt
so when you hurt the land you hurt yourself I wanted to take the time to
yourself I wanted to take the time to
yourself I wanted to take the time to speak with you today to speak aloud
speak with you today to speak aloud
speak with you today to speak aloud these ideas because I really believe
these ideas because I really believe
these ideas because I really believe that words have power and the idea is
that words have power and the idea is
that words have power and the idea is that I present to you they’re not new
that I present to you they’re not new
that I present to you they’re not new they are not my own they’re as old as
they are not my own they’re as old as
they are not my own they’re as old as the rock we come from and as
the rock we come from and as
the rock we come from and as far-reaching as the four directions
far-reaching as the four directions
far-reaching as the four directions they’re shaped by the ancestors that
they’re shaped by the ancestors that
they’re shaped by the ancestors that have come before when we acknowledge our
have come before when we acknowledge our
have come before when we acknowledge our history we hold space for all of our
history we hold space for all of our
history we hold space for all of our relations we make room we cultivate a
relations we make room we cultivate a
relations we make room we cultivate a relationship with the earth
relationship with the earth
relationship with the earth and we can become stewards of the land
and we can become stewards of the land
and we can become stewards of the land that were meant to be and when we listen
that were meant to be and when we listen
that were meant to be and when we listen we can foster hope and understanding we
we can foster hope and understanding we
we can foster hope and understanding we can foster peace
can foster peace
can foster peace I don’t speak my language nobody in my
I don’t speak my language nobody in my
I don’t speak my language nobody in my family does anymore but I learn these
family does anymore but I learn these
family does anymore but I learn these words to bring them here to you today
Coquina Gein with a shake Minnesotan
Coquina Gein with a shake Minnesotan Coquina Jaguar can now look be gentle
Coquina Jaguar can now look be gentle
Coquina Jaguar can now look be gentle with all things of nature for everyone
with all things of nature for everyone
with all things of nature for everyone Jimmy Gretch
Jimmy Gretch
Jimmy Gretch [Applause]
”
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