Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Steven Thompson-Oakes, a young Akwesasronon is in the front lines of the Standing Rock protest. According to Thompson-Oakes, hundreds of water protectors were injured at the Standing Rock encampments when law enforcement blasted them with water cannons in freezing temperatures Sunday evening. The attacks came when water protectors tried to remove remove burnt military vehicles that police had chained to concrete barriers weeks ago, blocking traffic on Highway 1806. The Water protectors wanted to clear the road and improve access to the camp for emergency services. They were met with tear gas, an LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device), stinger grenades, rubber bullets, and indiscriminate use of a water cannon with an air temperature of 26 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hundreds are receiving treatment for contamination by CS gas, hypothermia, and blunt traumas as a result of rubber bullets and other less lethal ammunition.

Before Thompson-Oakes left for Standing Rock, he took time to talk to Indian Time.

1. I understand you left your job to concentrate on the Standing Rock movement - what prompted you to take a bold stand for this (Standing Rock)?

“The decision to leave my job at the Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club was a very difficult choice for me. A while back I began to grow aware of the atrocities that were occurring in Standing Rock, and it really hit home for me. I grew passionate about the movement; so passionate I realized I had to travel to Standing Rock to stand with the Water Protectors. Thus, I began planning various raffles, marches, rallies, and other events all to raise awareness and gain support. I soon became so overwhelmed with my work schedule and the massive amount of support and donations I was receiving I realized I only had time for one or the other. It was a tough decision, but at the end of the day I knew where my heart was and that was with Standing Rock. I also realized I while I’m not at the Boys & Girls Club, this movement is for our children and the future generations so they can have clean water, and an Earth to live on.”

2. Why do you believe in this so much?

“We have to make a stance, and now is the time. This Pipeline is not only passing through Sovereign land, based on the 1851 treaty, but it is also going to pollute clean drinking water for millions of people. This is happening to all reservations as well, take ours for example - Look at the water and land after Reynolds, GM, the paper factories under the Cornwall Bridge, everyone can remember that horrible stench and not to mention our very own pipeline, Niagara Gas Transmission Ltd., a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. People should know there’s a pipeline going right across Kawehnoke to Massena, I’m guessing. Everyone needs to come together on this issue and realize this is for the good of Mother Earth; all Oil Pipelines will do irrevocable damage, and we must stop it.”

3. Would you mind explaining the program you are currently overseeing? How does it work? Who is the benefactor of this?

“Destination Standing Rock is a movement, both literally and figuratively. We understand there are any people that want to go to Standing Rock and just simply can not come up with the money, this is where we come in. Our main goal at DSR is to help fund hand selected groups of people to travel to Standing Rock.

Our program is relatively simple, we ask all individuals who wish to go fill out an application so we can gain a little bit of knowledge on them. Their stay in Standing Rock, while rewarding, will still be strenuous and dangerous at times. Once we’ve picked out the individuals, who are in the right frame of mind set, we pair them up with other like-minded people and pay for their travel expenses to get there. Upon arrival there will be a camp with food and water for the duration of their stay, all which is asked is that they put in their fair share of work.

The benefactor in Destination Standing Rock is everyone. We’re doing this because it is the right thing to do; clean drinking water is a right to everyone and we have to care for Mother Earth.”

4. How can we (any Mohawk supporter) make a difference there?

“Start by teaching our Children what this movement is about - the need for all Indigenous people to come together to protect Mother Earth from being poisoned by fossil fuels and pollution.

By continuing to help spread the message to help prevent the Dakota Access Pipeline. From ceremonial fires, to peaceful prayer circles, to marches and rallies, our previous march through Route 37, ending on the US-Canadian Bridge was a tremendous success. Reservations all over Canada and America were also doing marches on that day, enlightening people who knew nothing about the issue.

The best way you can make a difference is to actually go to Standing Rock - they need fellow protectors there to help them. By coming together as one we will be able to prevent the DAPL.”

5. Do you see this as global movement?

Yes I do, and I think we owe a big thanks to Social Media for that. Think about it, the only real “news coverage” we get in regards to the Dakota Access Pipeline is from Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms. With the ability to spread information from person to person we are able to inform the entire world about the DAPL – by publishing live videos of our rallies, peaceful prayers, all the way to unlawful use of police brutality on our women and children. The world is seeing who the “good guy” is and who the “bad guy” is and they’re all joining us, coming together as one, all living on this Earth, supporting our cause to prevent the DAPL.

6. Once in Standing Rock, how do you - yourself plan on helping out there?

“While I have never been, I have been told from others that Standing Rock has many camps and everyone works together as one. I won’t be going for a long period of time, just one week just to experience the power of prayer and energy in Standing Rock. This will be my first time going, I’m leaving this Friday and will experience the movement myself.

7. What affect do you think president-elect Trump will have on Standing Rock and the environment in general?

“Only time will tell, hopefully Obama can honor the 1851 Treaty and declare the land as Sovereign thus ending the Pipeline before January.”

8. Who inspires you to take a stand for others?

“What inspires me the most would be seeing history in the making. Seeing all Native Americans uniting not only with allies but with one another as well. The Indigenous people have always had this message within us, it just was silenced from the colonization, hurt, and pain from the past; however, we have so much resilience, prayer, love, and strength within us all. We have a message for the world that enough is enough our Earth is hurting badly. Will Mother Earth even be able to sustain life for our following generations to come?

9. What is your fundamental belief in the power of prayer and peace? Is this enough to overcome big oil, lower fossil fuel emissions and restore a balance to the planet?

“Yes, I definitely believe in the power of prayer and peace. Not too long ago I was praying not only for Standing Rock, but to be able to send all of Akwesasne there to stand with the Protectors. Shortly after, I was contacted by an extremely generous and kindhearted man, Jim Ledger, who I partnered up with. With his help I am now able to send as many eligible people to Standing Rock, so yes I do believe in the power of prayer.

My main belief is if we don’t make a change sometime soon, I’m afraid this planet won’t be here much longer, with what humans are doing to not just to her, but ourselves. This movement, “NoDAPL” needs to continue to be heard and fought for, this is the time to stand up together as one and press on for a better life for our future generations.”