The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: Standing Rock

  • Film Screening Displays Indigenous Resistance and Heroism

    Film Screening Displays Indigenous Resistance and Heroism

    ‘From Wounded Knee to Standing Rock’ offers insight into 71-day rebellion

    As Indigenous Peoples’ Week came to an end, one of the last events was an airing of the documentary, “From Wounded Knee To Standing Rock: A Reporter’s Journey” at the Eureka Theatre.

    This story followed rookie reporter Kevin McKiernan and his experiences recording the events of the 71-day seizure and occupation of the town of Wounded Knee, South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation from Feb. 27 to May 8, 1973.

    • Photo courtesy Kevin McKiernan
    • Photo courtesy Kevin McKiernan
    • Photo courtesy Kevin McKiernan

    Richard A. “Dick” Wilson was chairman of the Oglala Lakota Sioux of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Protests started in response to failures of impeachment. Wilson had accusations ranging from giving jobs to friends and family, to suppressing his political opponents with his private militia, the Guardians of the Oglala Nation.

    In addition, there were protests of the United States Government’s failure to uphold treaties with Native Americans. This was concerning since there was a history of abuse and neglect from American police and government. Cases such as State v. Bad Heart Bull served as a catalyst for the occupation.

    As a result of the GOON squads’ weaponized militia, the American Indian Movement was brought in to assist the protesters. Wilson also received help from the American Government in the forms of U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI.

    Photo courtesy Kevin McKiernan

    AIM started as a grassroots movement in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to address police brutality towards Native Americans; and grew to represent all indigenous tribes and help them with the issues they have faced since European colonialism, as well as helping people reconnect with their heritage. Many people lost their history once Americans forced native youth assimilate into Euro-American society.

    Acclimation to the colonizers’ lifestyles included forcibly removing Native people from their families, as well as preventing them from practicing their traditional customs. By accepting the different values as their own, such as Christianity, private property and material wealth, people became disconnected from their roots. AIM was a way for people to reconnect to their ancestors’ ways of life.

    During the time of this occupation, the U.S. Government prevented media personal from entering the reservation or recording any discussions between them and the rebel leaders, such as Dennis Banks and Russell Means. They also implemented roadblocks to prevent aid for the natives.

    McKiernan snuck in with the help of some rebels and slept on the floors of a church. While inside he recorded conversations with multiple members of the rebellion, shootouts with the FBI and USMS, took pictures of the aftermath of the altercations and recorded meetings with U.S. officials. Conflict escalated to the point of the USMS and FBI using helicopters, armored vehicles, snipers and automatic weapons.

    Photo courtesy Kevin McKiernan

    U.S. Marshal Lloyd Grimm was shot in the conflict and suffered paralysis from the waist down and Cherokee activist Frank Clearwater was shot in the head April 17, within 24 hours of his arrival, during a fire fight with federal forces.

    Shootings were just one reason for keeping the media in the dark, by preventing coverage of the measures that the government took against the AIM and Sioux. At one point during the winter, Department of Justice appointee Kent Frizell, to manage the government’s response, cut off water, electricity and food supplies to Wounded Knee in an attempt to starve them out. They also made attempts to stir up distrust in the local factions, which lead to some activists being killed by their own allies, for fear they were government plants.

    The final blow came in late April, when Lawrence “Buddy” Lamont, a local Oglala Lakota, was shot by a government sniper and killed. Soon after, both sides would come to an agreement to disarm. This led to the eventual end of the 71-day standoff between the Wounded Knee activists and AIM, and the United States assisted tribalists, serving as but one example of the Native American’s struggles since European Colonization.

  • Standing Rock Reflection

    Standing Rock Reflection

    By | Phil Santos

    We brought prayers to a gunfight, and we won. I’m talking about the water protectors who stood against military, police and mercenary forces last year at Standing Rock. We were there to protect the water, to preserve the future and to stand against those who would see our precious earth destroyed for a dollar. We were there to stop the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

    It was around this time last year that I had been released from jail. I was one of about 150 water protectors arrested on Oct. 27, 2016 during the invasion of Standing Rock. It’s 2017, and the pipeline has been built. So, how did we succeed?

    While I cannot speak for everyone, here is my individual take.

    Standing Rock demonstrates the active presence of a powerful Indigenous community. Historic and contemporary narratives often portray Indigenous culture as a part of the past. I’ve met people who didn’t know Indigenous Peoples still existed. I think Standing Rock has made this much less likely. Thousands of Indigenous protectors from hundreds of Indigenous nations from all over the world came together at Standing Rock. The media coverage of Standing rock sent a loud and clear message that Indigenous nations are not passive and that they are here and now.

    Standing Rock created alliances that might have otherwise never have been forged. The Sacred Fire of the Seven Councils was lit, something that hadn’t happened since the 1800s. Indigenous nations from all parts of the world came to show their solidarity. Groups from every race united under Indigenous leadership. I saw Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike all acting for one cause. This is an image that captures true power. I met like minds from across the world. I found lifelong friendships in a matter of hours. Although I’ve returned from Standing Rock, the reason I went carries forth.

    Standing Rock brought attention to Indigenous issues. Over 300 cities in the U.S. joined in to slow the construction of the pipeline. Newscasters across the world cast light on the continued violation of Indigenous rights, of Treaty rights and of the continued history of violence against Indigenous nations. The issue of environmental racism was explicitly raised and people were engaged. Footage showing the willingness for state and federal governments to utilize violence for the benefit of private companies broadcasted across the world. The U.N. sent human rights investigators. All of these events contributed to raise awareness of Indigenous issues which are typically marginalized.

    Sure, the pipeline was built – so one could say the movement at Standing Rock was actually a failure. But the protectors at Standing Rock who aren’t still in jail continue to forward the call, which brought them there in the first place. Thousands of protectors have been changed forever. You don’t forget something that has made you who you are, and Standing Rock is now a part of who I am. Standing Rock was not a defeat. It was empowering and gave me the courage to challenge the structures around me. I’m not the only one, and that is why I think we won.