Many Indigenous people feel that the earth is their mother, and that the water is what helps her to thrive. Those who were at Standing Rock encompassed the very idea of freedom and what it meant to truly fight for what you believe in. They gave it their all and showed what it meant to truly be committed to protecting your mother. They showed great courage, and they were able to unite so many people, whether it was in coming to Standing Rock where their fight was, or right at home for many people. The idea was to motivate people of all ages to stand up in prayer, song, and positive energy. They had no weapons, they had no anger, just love and understanding, even for those who would do them harm. This is the thought process that should be implemented throughout all water protests and instances of fighting to protect the water.

As the Native American Student Organization, we recently partnered with many environmental groups such as OVEC (Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition), West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Citizens Climate Lobby-Huntington, Tri-State Indivisible, Four Pole Creek Watershed Association, and Ohio Organizing for Action. This event was called the Tri-State Water Defense Forum. It was this past Tuesday and it was held at Marshall University. We had short films, we had speakers, a public discussion that concerned the fairness of the use of our natural resources, and also how massive oil, gas, and petrochemical development will affect average people in the Tri-State Area and our water resources. The meeting was a chance to hear from concerned residents in the area, to share information that they may have that we might not, and have a chance to talk with officials.

We also showed the movie Awake: A Dream From Standing Rock, and talked about the ramifications of the actions of those who were building the pipeline against those who are water protectors. Many people who were in attendance to the movie screening were very shocked that the Standing Rock Sioux Nation were facing these issues. The looks on their faces from the brute force that was used to detain and assert power over the water protectors was more than some could handle. In many ways I would say that this documentary was an eye opener. It shows the general public what many mainstream news outlets didn’t show during the occupation at Standing Rock.

As college students we have to remember that there is a world out there that needs our help, and that we must fight to protect what is ours inherently, we are and should be contributing members of society. This means that we have a duty and a responsibility to make sure that future generations will have the same access that we had, and possibly better opportunities. We have to understand that our world is rapidly changing, and that this means that we will have to adapt accordingly. Whether you are for or against the pipelines, you have to understand that we as people in general need clean water. Without water, we can’t live, without water we can’t quench our thirst, without water we can’t maintain our animals with sustenance, without water plants and life don’t grow on this planet. All of these things that are mentioned are affected individually as well as collectively. They are in a chain reaction, or what we as Indigenous people deem to be the circle of life.