Apparently the situation at Standing Rock is being made worse because white people are going there just for the “cultural experience” and treating it like it’s a vacation. If you can’t be respectful and cognizant of the protocols in place at Standing Rock, then it would help everyone out more for you to just stay home (and there absolutely are measures that you can take to support Standing Rock and NoDAPL that don’t involve actual protesting–there’s nothing wrong with supporting from a distance if you’re worried that your presence at Standing Rock will not be received well for whatever reason).
Be respectful. Take the time to actually learn about the traditions in place before you go to Standing Rock. Talk with the Native people there. Leave the camp the same way that it was when you got there (or better). Don’t make it all about your own personal feelings or how you think these demonstrations should go. It’s not about you, and if you’re going to Standing Rock you better be the best ally you can. Native people and sites are not your playthings, so stop treating them like they are.
[[Image Description: A set of three screenshots of a FB post made by Alicia Smith, which read:
“On my way back from the camps. Need to get something off my chest that I witnessed and found very disturbing in my brief time there that I believe many others have started to speak up about as well. White people are colonizing the camps. I mean that seriously. Plymouth rock seriously. They are coming in, taking food, clothing and occupying space without any desire to participate in camp maintenance and without respect of tribal protocols.
“These people are treating it like it is Burning Man or The Rainbow Gathering and I even witnessed several wandering in and out of camps comparing it to those festivals. Waiting with big smiles expectantly for us to give them a necklace and an ‘indian’ name while our camp leader was speaking.They are literally subsisting entirely off of the generosity of the native people (AND YOUR DONATIONS if you have been donating) who are fighting to protect their water just because they can. Some literally will not even prepare food but will take food that is prepared, again, having not done anything else all day.
“An elder, who I respect dearly, was screamed at by a young woman who was already warned once about disrespecting protocol. She was neither native, nor LGBTQ, but was occupying a camp for 2 spirit people. This girl also said ‘ancestors don’t matter we should just love each other.’ It gets worse, I saw affluent looking white people participating in ceremony and then standing off to the side to smoke and talk about their travels in Australia before it was even halfway over. I listened to a man on the phone with his friends telling them to all come because he thinks it’s such a great 'cultural experience.’ Yesterday I spent all day with some wonderful people at the 2 spirit camp building a new pier for the morning water ceremonies, only to learn that our 2 spirit elder was forced out of the ceremony the next day, their position occupied by white women.
“Last night, a dozen or so white people were running camp to camp telling people the cops were going to raid the camp and everyone needed to block the bridge right now. These agitators unnecessarily wanted to put people in danger of being arrested just so their picture might go viral. With complete disregard for the agreement one of the camp leaders told us about, between the police and the camp, to keep the bridge clear. I saw a couple of good allies while I was there. A young white woman who jumped in front of a truck to stop it from running over one of our elders. The man driving got out with a gun and fired it over her head and she did not move. This girl is in my heart forever. A white man also came out in the mud with us to help construct the pier. Both did this humbly and respectfully and obviously to the betterment of the camp itself and to these people who never even asked for a thank you, I thank them anyway.
“I am writing all this to say that if you want to come, or know someone who does, tell them to really search their heart and ask themselves why. And instead to maybe thinking about sending money or supplies to help winterize the camp. The first snow is supposed to fall Thursday. And to be honest I am worried for our warriors.”
Transcript for fourth screenshot can be found at the above link or here.]]
