00:07People in this country are yearning for a way to center themselves in a crisis moment,
00:14which our country and this world is in.
00:17We're in a world of endless wars, a world with endless economic disruptions,
00:22a world where the climate crisis is dire.
00:45Standing Rock was about all of the indigenous people who are struggling all over the world, really,
00:51for recognition of their moral and legal right to protect Mother Earth.
01:02There was a prophecy about a black snake that would come, that would try to destroy the land, the air,
01:09the water and our culture.
01:13Opponents of the pipeline claim the $3.7 billion project could be hazardous and damage the water supply of the
01:20reservation nearby.
01:21Thousands have taken up residence at the Standing Rock site in solidarity with Native Americans.
01:30In Native communities, we've always had a collective approach to problems,
01:36a collective communal approach to economic development.
01:51But as the movement began to grow and people from all of Indian country came to support,
01:58people from all of Indian country.
01:58In fact, it was the first time that this many tribes came together in one place.
02:07I think the powerful experience at Standing Rock was a 21st century American Indian city.
02:25Overnight, a major victory for the Sioux tribe at Standing Rock,
02:28the Army Corps of Engineers halted construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
02:37I felt at peace.
02:54When I was in high school, the takeover of Alcatraz was going on.
02:59We did a canned food drive in solidarity with Alcatraz.
03:04Angela Davis was imprisoned.
03:07Many of us supported her right to freedom.
03:10And after she was out of prison, she went to Wounded Knee.
03:16Many people died and were hurt.
03:20And they were looking for young Indian people to go to Wounded Knee and live there and collect the evidence.
03:25And I was like, sign me up.
03:27Many people trace organizing back to a handful of white guys in Chicago, coming up with the ideas.
03:35But in Native communities, organizing is as old as dirt.
03:41Our power is rooted in love for humanity.
03:46Standing together, people united.
03:50Today, Native women are here, representing many nations.
03:54And we are marching in prayer.
03:56We are marching with our ancestors in our hearts.
04:00President Trump, you will not steal our land.
04:04And we've been there before.
04:15As you know, I approved two pipelines that were stuck in limbo forever.
04:21I don't even think it was controversial.
04:23You know, I approved them.
04:23I haven't even heard.
04:24I haven't had one call from anybody saying, oh, that was a terrible thing you did.
04:29I haven't had one call.
04:40Many of the problems that we face in Indian country were forced upon us, were brought from the outside.
04:50There are families that live on land that their people have inhabited since the beginning of time.
04:58Many of our people believe that it is our role and our job to protect our country.
05:08They think we're over, we're done.
05:21We not only continue to exist, but our culture is very resilient.
05:29The Standing Rock Sioux tribal leadership wanted to see the momentum of Standing Rock continued.
05:34And so they decided, well, let's take it into the streets.
05:45So many of our people have never been to D.C.
05:49So many of our people who were there had never taken the streets in a major city.
05:55Some had come as far as from L.A. on a bus.
06:07I was in front and I was trying to help people stay kind of even in order for there not
06:14to be any gaps in the match.
06:17Stand up my back!
06:19Stand up my back!
06:19What are you doing when our children are under attack?
06:22Stand up my back!
06:25The day is over where people will accept decision about us being made without us.
06:31Come, come!
06:32Come, come, come!
06:33More publicists like us!
06:34Next side, go!
06:37Hey-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
06:44-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya.
06:47So many people came, including our allies,
06:50350.org, Greenpeace,
06:52to produce the largest native demonstration
06:56in the streets of D.C. since the 1970s.
07:02People were just invigorated by the idea
07:06that we not just resist,
07:08but to actually revive our culture through resistance.
07:17For more information, visit www.fema.org
07:21www.fema.org
