We met in Sioux City to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline, and now, we have a question for you:

Where were you?

We gathered at the Anderson Dance Pavilion. A drum was beaten. Songs were sung.

attribution: Jill Marie

Men and women of all different faiths and backgrounds joined hands to pray an Our Father:

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.

Deliver us from evil.

attribution: Jill Marie

Following the prayer, each of us shook hands with each person present as an exchange of peace.

Moments earlier, Frank Lamere reminded us, "Nothing changes unless you make yourself uncomfortable."

Did you hear that?

"The system is rigged... so they can take from you what you have and sell it to somebody else," Lamere said. "Nothing changes unless someone is made to feel uncomfortable."

We set out to do just that.

The people came, we lined the streets to protest peacefully, and we made our presence known. There wasn't a single negative response on my block. Most acknowledged us with cheers, smiles, and thumbs up. It seems to me that Sioux City doesn't want this pipeline.

So, where were you?

attribution: Jill Marie

There was a notable absence on Sunday afternoon. Out of thousands and thousands of Sioux City residents, we were a group of no more than fifty people.

Addressing this, Manape Lamere asked Sioux City and the surrounding area,

"Where are you? This is your river, too. I don't even live here."

Manape, Frank, and dozens of others who were present don't even live in Sioux City, let alone Iowa, but they came here to fight for you. To make you uncomfortable. To make you understand that our water and our land is sacred, and we can't continue to take our access to clean food and water for granted. It's not a given. It never has been.

"The kids from Standing Rock, they're not even from here, and they did this for you... I live on well water. I like my water. I love it... Sioux City takes that for granted," Lamere continued.

"That's all we hear about, Standing Rock. Right now the news is talking about what the Indians are doing... It's not an Indian issue. It's a human issue."

"Out of [80,000+] people who live here, this is how many showed up... There's about fifty people here. Sioux City has their own battle here and they don't even know it... The Big Sioux River is one of the most polluted rivers in the U.S."

"I made this sign, 'Jesus walked on water, not on oil,' and I'm not even Christian... Where is Mount Zion? I have seen the giant pool they baptize their [congregation with]."

"Where's our Muslim brothers and sisters? They might not even know." (Muslim men and women use water to cleanse their hands and feet before prayer.)

"Where is Heelan? Where are the churches?" Lamere asked.

"Briar Cliff. I'm glad Briar Cliff came."

Manape did not stop there. He continued asking difficult questions, speaking of farmers whose land has been stolen via eminent domain:

"How does it feel to get your land taken from you? ... For people to have a nice little piece of heaven here in Iowa, where they can take care of their families... just to have a pipeline rip through it... How does it feel?"

"Go back to your families. Talk to them. Warn them."

attribution: Jill Marie

Even Paris is fighting your fight for you. So, Sioux City,

Where were you?

Camp of the Sacred Stone Facebook page

On Saturday, September 3, I hope you can say you were fighting alongside us.

We will be at Sergeant Floyd River Museum from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Don't let your voice be a wasted one. Share the news with your friends and followers. You have one home, and that's your Earth, your Midwest, your Sioux City. Water is life. Defend it.