A feather is not just something that falls out of a bird, can be picked up from the ground and put in the hair. To receive a feather an Indian must display acts of courage by doing brave deed. Indians were not allowed to wear the feather until they went in front of their tribal court and retold the story of their victory. It was at this time that they were allowed to put it in their headpiece.
Our Vets Stand fallback camp, Cheyenne River camp, sits on a hill south of Cannonball River. On this hill are the "standing rocks", very ancient boulders polished by glacier and incised with small pictographs. A sacred place to the Lakota of these immense prairies. As we raised out first large fallback tent on Feb 16 to house COS refugees, a stunning bald eagle flew over, skimming these rocks and blessing our work.
Dear Friends, fellow vets and family,
I got home from the Lakota reservation last night. Thanks to all of you for messages of support.
PHASE 1 - My group, Veterans Stand for Standing Rock (VS), joined the Lakota coalition to oppose the DAPL back in Nov. VS made a call for other vets to muster with them at end of month. An amazing brigade of fully 5400 (!) men and women showed up, ready to stand in front of native Water Protectors. This is the spirit of service to humanity inculcated by military service. You may have read how this contingent apologized to native elders for 100s of years of US soldier genocide against them.
There was an immediate problem: far too many motivated ex-mil activists for the local infrastructure (high prairie, cold, remote, lack of housing, sanitation, food, etc) to support. Then came the blizzard with winds and -20 temps. Lakota leadership and local law enforcement required the vets to make massive evac. Then came the period between 15 Dec and my arrival date of 15 Feb. Energy Transfer Partners Inc used their private terrorist militia, also the militarized police, National Guard, and federal-controlled BIA police made a number of brutal mini-attacks after the TV cameras had gone. Rubber bullets at close range, gas, etc. Indian and civilian activists were being injured. Then the corporate-state forces backed off, and Corps of Engineers issued a “total evac” order directed to the largest blockade, Camp Oceti Sakowan (COS). It is sited in a floodplain of the Cannonball River, and will soon face spring flooding. Danger of loss of life
PHASE 2 - VS returned in early Feb with two goals: 1) to redeem their reputation after the ill-managed Dec call to action; 2) at the invitation of the adjoining Cheyenne River Lakota, to set up an entirely new camp, on private, native-owned land, for resettling of the Lakota, Ojibway, SW Nations, Blackfoot, Rosebud Sioux and numerous other Indian groups who were breaking camp at COS. Also to take in the civilian camper support community being evacuated. (The COS, at height of its late Nov 2016 energy and unity, had a population of 12,000 to 15,000 folks. Highly organized, peaceful… truly an amazing show of heart and service vs the corporate empire!)
My personal goal going out was to join vets in setting up a protective line around the “Grandmothers and Water Protectors,” native leaders engaged in continual prayer and drumming at the central COS sacred Fire. We did not want the January violence to re-occur, and hoped media coverage of our US veteran-flags would deter this. I planned to stay as long as 3 weeks, if needed.
I was inducted into a fine vets unit building floor decks and setting up large 18x36 army tents, plus large community kitchen and latrine and security-gate tent. Assisted Lakotas in setting up their first 8 tipis, laid out site for the Pueblo-led SW Tribes to reconstitute their people. From the sacred Standing Rocks hill at our camp, we also kept watch over activities across Cannonball R. at COS. Lots of “controlled chaos” there as people broke camp prepping to leave.. On Feb 22 came the deadline to evac.Our vets team, approx. 30-40 men/women (VS, VFP, Vets Respond and other groups), infiltrated across the frozen river or the bridge; we spent night in COS and prepared by mid-afternoon to “defend” the grandmothers with our circle of vets.
All morning there was heavy rain turning to slushy snow, with dark clouds above the sacred burial ground behind COS (which I understand the pipeline will encroach on). Many dozens of police cars and vans massing on highway at camp entrance. (Ready to ferry arrestees to Morton County jail. It is too small, so they have rented large dog kennels to hold overflow of "felons.") Huge bursts of lightening ricocheting horizontally across the sky. We came to think this weather hazard persuaded the Empire force massed on the road to “sheath swords,” allowing an extra day for a peaceful evac. At last minute, the native leaders chose to slip away rather than invite an armed standoff in the mud and confusion.
We VS returned to our Cheyenne fallback campsite. More and younger vets were starting to arrive to pick up our logistics mission and keep raising tents. At 72, I was the oldest vet onsite. Also maybe the tiredest :-) That incessant wind and 12-14 hour shifts outdoors at 20-30 degrees, it was growley. I did what I had come for, so I consulted with leadership and, like all of my original 10-man squad, decided to head home. I feel blessed to have the heart and support of each of you.
Mene wachone – Water is Life!
Freeman
My unit at Standing Rock consisted of about 12 men and 3 women vets of USAF, USMC and USA, aged about 24 to 72(me). At least 5 of us are also VFP members. For an idea of the National Security State response to this peaceful occupation of native treaty land, this statement by "the disposable people" that we are still here, standing up for our Mother Earth, here is a "must see" link.