Native Americans Fight Modern-Day Genocide:
Standing Up at Standing Rock
Updated January 24, 2016 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us
FLASH:
On January 24 the Trump-Pence fascist regime signed an executive order to push ahead and finish the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Keystone XL Pipeline. We will post new developments here. As of this posting, protests are taking place in various cities. It is urgent that the righteous defense of the rights of Native People, and the defense of the environment humanity depends on, not be steamrolled! And it is urgent that this important struggle be part of the defining struggle to STOP the fascist regime of Trump-Pence before it consolidates its power.
The encampment near North Dakota's Standing Rock Sioux reservation, December 4, 2016. Photo: Special to revcom.us
Below is background to this important struggle.
Continuing to Stand Strong at Standing Rock... and Spreading the Struggle
December 12, 2016
Over the past week, there have been important developments in the resistance to the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline (DAPL) that threatens the water and tramples treaty rights of the Standing Rock Sioux in the western Dakotas. Revolution reported on how thousands of people, including a contingent of veterans, went to Standing Rock to stand with people threatened with eviction by federal and state officials. Revolution Clubs mobilized around the country and sent a delegation to stand with people there, and connect them with organizing for an actual revolution.
Showdown Looms—
Stand With Standing Rock
Stand With Standing Rock
November 28, 2016
There is a showdown looming at Standing Rock Indian Reservation in the Dakotas. Thousands of Native American Indians, along with supporters, have been camping out there. They have been protesting the installation of an oil pipeline that gravely threatens the water that Native people and thousands of others in the area depend on, and violates Indian treaty rights. Hundreds have been arrested and hundreds more have stood up to beatings, macings, high-powered water hoses in sub-freezing weather, and unending harassment and insult.
Now the Army of Corps of Engineers has vowed to arrest anyone who remains in the camp past Monday, December 5.
The Native people cannot be left to face this alone. The environment cannot withstand yet another insult. It is on everyone—every revolutionary, every radical or progressive, everyone with a beating heart and a working conscience—to stand up for the Standing Rock Sioux and the water protectors.
Resistance at Standing Rock Forces Gov't to Back Down for Now... The Struggle Continues
December 5, 2016
The past 24 hours have seen dramatic developments in the battle to stop the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline (DAPL) from endangering the water and violating the treaty rights of the Standing Rock Sioux.
Voices From Standing Rock—Standing Firm in the Face of Threats
December 3, 2016
The Army of Corps of Engineers, and the governor of North Dakota, have issued threats to arrest anyone who remains in the camp with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe after Monday, December 5. Revolution correspondents at Standing Rock shared these responses from people they talked to about those threats.
ALERT! North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple Signs Executive Order for Mandatory Evacuation of Oceti Sakowin Camp at Standing Rock, Effective Immediately!
RESPONSE: We Aren't Going Anywhere!
November 28, 2016
A Letter to All of the Veterans
Standing for Standing Rock
From Carl Dix
December 1, 2016
Revolution Club Delegation to Standing Rock: An Unforgettable Inspiring Experience
December 12, 2016
If you are at Standing Rock, write to us. Tell us why you are there, your thoughts on what is happening and why, and what needs to happen.
Write to revolution.reports@yahoo.com.
Stand With Standing Rock!
Solidarity with Standing Rock
From a reader:
Midnight on December 1st, Mohawks of Kahnawake, near Montreal, Canada, began a 24 hour blockade of freight trains carrying oil on the Canadian Pacific Railway line. This action was in protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota, and in solidarity with the encampment and protest at Standing Rock. This action blocked the trains carrying oil while allowing the commuter trains to pass.
A spokeswoman for the protest, Kahionwinehshon Phillips, stated "We as the Mohawk people have a duty to protect mother earth, and we will continue to defend our mother earth for the coming generations as our ancestors did."
The protesters at Kahnawake have maintained an encampment since late October at the base of Mercier Bridge, which connects the Montreal borough of LaSalle on the Island of Montreal with the Mohawk reserve of Kahnawake, Quebec.
Excerpt from:
More Than 125 Defiant Protesters Arrested: New Clashes in the Battle at Standing Rock (October 24, 2016)
...The DAPL [Dakota Access Pipeline] is a 1,200-mile-long pipeline that, when completed, would carry 500,000 barrels of oil a day, extracted through environmentally destructive methods in northwest North Dakota. The burning of that oil would pump more greenhouse gases into the environment, further escalating the global climate crisis. While DAPL hasn’t attracted the same level of international attention as the Keystone XL pipeline, which crosses the U.S.-Canada border, DAPL is on the same scale. The pipeline route cuts through land that is historically and culturally important to the Sioux and other Native people. And leaks from the pipeline where it is designed to cross the Missouri River would threaten the water, health, and livelihood of the people at Standing Rock reservation and millions of others in the region.
Starting with a few protesters earlier this year, the defiant struggle of the “water defenders,” as many at Standing Rock call themselves, has drawn in hundreds of Native tribes—including ones with longstanding historic conflicts—as well as environmental activists and a wide range of people compelled to take a stand against injustice and oppression. Thousands of people are now part of an encampment near the Standing Rock reservation. Well-known voices, such as Edward Snowden and Susan Sarandon, have come out in support of the anti-DAPL protests, and actor Shailene Woodley was among those arrested at a protest earlier this month. At least 19 city governments have passed resolutions or written letters opposing construction of the pipeline.
The determined actions of the fighters at Standing Rock are posing big questions about the ongoing genocide of indigenous people and the predatory nature of the oil-addicted capitalist-imperialist system. On the other side are not just the capitalists who have billions of dollars invested in the completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline, but the ruling class as a whole who are all committed to what they call U.S. “energy independence.” Whatever the conflicts among themselves, they are in agreement on the need, based on their imperialist interests, to increase domestic fuel production in order to gain strategic advantage over rival world powers, as part of maintaining their position as top global oppressor and exploiter.
The situation at Standing Rock has been intensifying... Read entire article
For more on the struggle at Standing Rock, see these revcom.us articles:
Cold Shoulder and NYPD at Clinton HQ… Pepper Spray at Standing Rock (October 27, 2016)
More Than 125 Defiant Protesters Arrested: New Clashes in the Battle at Standing Rock (October 24, 2016)
High Stakes, Intensifying Contradictions at Standing Rock (October 17, 2016)
Native Americans Fight Modern-Day Genocide: Standing Up at Standing Rock (September 2016)
Interview with Simon Moya-Smith about Standing Rock:
“Taking it back to the beginning – another example of Native Americans fighting for our rights as human beings.”
Now, of course, slavery was not the only factor that played a significant part in the emergence of the U.S. as a world power, whose economic strength underlies its massive military force. A major historical factor in all this was the theft of land, on a massive scale, from Mexico as well as from native peoples. But, in turn, much of that conquest of land was, for a long period of time up until the Civil War, largely to expand the slave system. “Remember the Alamo,” we are always reminded. Well, many of the “heroes” of the Alamo were slave traders and slave chasers....And expanding the slave system was a major aim of the overall war with Mexico, although that war also led to the westward expansion of the developing capitalist system centered in the northern United States.
Bob Avakian, BAsics 1:2
This system and those who rule over it are not capable of carrying out economic development to meet the needs of the people now, while balancing that with the needs of future generations and requirements of safeguarding the environment. They care nothing for the rich diversity of the earth and its species, for the treasures this contains, except when and where they can turn this into profit for themselves....These people are not fit to be the caretakers of the earth.
Bob Avakian, BAsics 1:29
Correspondence from Revcoms at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation:
Editor’s note: Revcoms are at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. They are uniting with this historic struggle and reporting from the ground for Revolution / revcom.us. And they are taking out the reality that this is an illegitimate system that is behind all this and that it needs to be overthrown at the soonest possible time, and connecting people with HOW WE CAN WIN—How We Can Really Make Revolution. Following are correspondence from them on what they are learning, and doing.
Support revcom.us correspondents at the #DAPL protest encampment at the Standing Rock reservation in North Dakota!
Revcoms at Standing Rock, November 30:
“The Potential for Humanity to Come Together Around a Totally Different Way”…
From Travis Morales, November 26:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Moves to Evict Water Protectors Encampment by December 5
Revcom.us Interview with Standing Rock Youth on November 20 Police Attack:
"They emptied two canisters of mace on me and counting"
From Revcoms at Standing Rock, November 23:
Stop the Dakota Access Pipeline! No Thanks Genocide Day
From Revcoms at Standing Rock, November 21:
Winter Is Here—Water Protectors Aren't Going Anywhere
From Revcoms at Standing Rock, November 20:
Police Attack With Water Cannons and Rubber Bullets–Standing Rock Protesters Refuse to Back Down
From Revcoms at Standing Rock, November 16:
Thousands Act Together in Solidarity with the Struggle at Standing Rock
Blocking rush hour traffic, New Haven, Conn., November 16. (Peter Hvizdak/New Haven Register via AP)
Native Americans Fight Modern-Day Genocide:
Critical Juncture in Battle at Standing Rock
Interview with Eleanor Bravo:
“We’re destroying the Earth... This is the basic consequence...”
November 11:
Important Update from Revcoms at Standing Rock
November 8: Report from Revcoms at Standing Rock
“Revolution, Nothing Less!—
Ask Us How We Can Win”
Travis Morales at Standing Rock
Correspondence from Revcoms at Standing Rock:
Standing With Struggle, Connecting People With Revolution
On November 5, delegations from Hopi and Lakota tribes arrived at the main camp at Standing Rock. The Hopi Tribe from Arizona ran all the way. A powerful impact! Photo: Revolution Club, NYC @NYCRevClub
November 2:
At the Cannonball River: Bold Move by Standing Rock “Water Protectors,” Vicious Pig Attack
Up to 100 riot police attack people who reached Turtle Island. Photo: Special to revcom.us.
Standing Rock Interview:
New Zealand-born Samoan Activist Tu’ulenana Iuli
Clergy Standing with Standing Rock
Interview with Methodist Minister, Reverend Matt Richards
Interview with Reverend Mariama White-Hammond
October 31:
Dispatch from Revcoms:
Sunday at Standing Rock: Bouncing Off “Overthrow, Don’t Vote For This System”
October 31:
Interview from Standing Rock
“We’re going to fight and continue to fight…until the end”
October 30:
Dispatch from Revcoms:
Our First 24 Hours at Standing Rock
Saturday, October 29
The scene about an hour ago on Hwy 1806 as policr attempt to force Oceti Sakowin Sioux tribes to allow DAPL on their treaty land. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/wG4SXXrKAE
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016
October 27, on Highway 1806, police move against protesters.
Berserk police indiscriminately mace peaceful Water Protectors!Berserk Police indiscriminately mace peaceful Water Protectors! This blatant attack was unprovoked - there were young children and elders in this crowd for prayer. #NoDAPL #WaterisLife #MniWiconi Video by Rob Wilson Photography #WearetheMedia SHARE WIDELY!! Call to Action! We need you here NOW at Sacred Stone Camp! DAPL is trying to finish this pipeline now and they are nearing camp! They have to date destroyed 380 sacred sites! If you've thought about coming out - now is the time - we need you!
Posted by Sacred Stone Camp on Saturday, October 22, 2016
October 22, 2016, police indiscriminately mace peaceful Water Protectors!
The 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie supposedly guaranteed Native people the right to certain lands. But as oil and minerals were discovered, the lands were grabbed back by the U.S. government.
On Saturday, October 22, 83 people were arrested as 300 protestors stood their ground to block the attempts to build the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota. The proposed pipeline would savage the environment and endanger several nearby Native American reservations and lands.
September 9, more than a thousand people gather at an encampment to protest Dakota Access oil pipeline near North Dakota's Standing Rock Sioux reservation. Photo: AP
Posted by Angela Ohmer on Saturday, October 22, 2016
October 22, 2016
Youth from Standing Rock after attempting to deliver a letter to Hillary Clinton's office in New York City, October 27, 2016
Standing Rock Sioux…
Cleveland “Indian” Fans
Compare and Contrast
The Standing Rock Sioux and thousands of others protesting the building of the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline are fighting to protect the waters of this land and lands held sacred in their culture. They have heroically resisted pepper gas, beatings, and hundreds of arrests. In their determined resistance they have brought to the fore the whole history of broken treaties and genocide against the Native American peoples. The protesters are modeling something very important—collectively taking responsibility for the future of the land and people living on it and making sure it is not destroyed.
Contrast that with the people carousing and acting the fool in Chicago and Cleveland, celebrating a “World” Series in which one team uses a grotesque and cruel caricature of Native Americans as its emblem. Hundreds of fans have worn a racist “Chief Wahoo” costume to the games, and millions of people have watched them on TV... Read entire article
Case #90: The Sullivan Expedition, 1779—Genocide of Native Peoples and Scorched Earth in Upstate New York
This Revolution special issue focuses on the environmental emergency that now faces humanity and Earth’s ecosystems. In this issue we show:
- the dimensions of the emergency...
- the source of its causes in the capitalist system, and the impossibility of that system solving this crisis...
- a way out and way forward for humanity—a revolutionary society in which we could actually live as custodians of nature, rather than as its plunderers.
Read online....
Also available in brochure format (downloadable PDF)
This video was made in 2009 by Cree singer Buffy Sainte-Marie. It is currently circulating on social media. In her native tongue, Keshagesh means "greedy guts." "It's what you call a little puppy who eats his own and then wants everybody else's."
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Excerpt on Native Americans, from the Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America (Draft Proposal)
Authored by Bob Avakian, and adopted by the Central Committee of the RCP
C. Native Americans.
1. The conquest, domination, plunder and life-stealing exploitation carried out by European colonialism in the Americas–including by the European settlers who founded the United States of America and expanded its reach on the North American continent through force and violence, as well as deception and other means–had a massive genocidal impact, decimating and devastating the populations of the first inhabitants of the Americas. As the boundaries of the USA were continuously expanded through conquest–and huge numbers of Native Americans were killed or died off due to this armed expansionism and the destruction of their way of life, the spread of diseases common among Europeans for which the Native Americans had no immunity, and other factors–most of the Native Americans who survived were forced onto reservations that were encircled and controlled by the forces of the imperialist state.
2. The defeat of this imperialist state has opened the way to overcoming the effects and legacy of this terrible history. As one key expression of the importance it attaches to this, the New Socialist Republic in North America shall ensure that the right of autonomy of Native American peoples within this Republic is upheld; and, beyond that, wherever autonomous regions of Native Americans may be established, in the general vicinity of the historical homelands of the various native peoples, the central government will also act to ensure that these autonomous regions not only have the necessary territories but also the resources that will enable a real flourishing of these peoples, within the overall framework of the New Socialist Republic in North America. The central government of the New Socialist Republic in North America will provide special assistance and support to any Native American autonomous regions, on the basis of the principles and objectives set forth in this Constitution.
3. This special assistance and support shall be especially important with regard to Native American autonomous regions, but also with regard to concentrations of Native Americans in urban areas and other parts of this Republic–where autonomous Native American areas may also be set up–and with regard to the Native American population as a whole.
Such special assistance and support will also be of great importance, and shall be extended, to all the formerly oppressed peoples, and any autonomous regions and areas of these peoples, within the New Socialist Republic in North America.
Check out the Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America (Draft Proposal) and order it online.