Hi.

Most people who know me, know that I’m very passionate about the NoDAPL issue. I just came across something I wrote about a month ago, on my second visit to Standing Rock. On this second occasion, I was traveling with the Puyallup Canoe family.

Today we are heading to North Dakota - NoDAPL with the canoe family. We had a prayer circle this morning and are on the road. It’s 1:45 pm, we are in Spokane. Some of our drivers want to pull all-nighters. I don't think I can but we only have 4 people in the van so I'm sure I can lay down somewhere.

When I think about this encampment, I can’t help but remember my mom's encampment on the capital grounds in Olympia, many years ago. It lasted 2 weeks before it was taken down by the state police, 7 teenagers were arrested. I grew up with strong parents who took us all over the USA to different conferences and spiritual encampments, they made us listen to the speakers and participate in the different spiritual events.

Mom traveled world-wide and talked about the indigenous peoples of this land. Many times she would come home and laugh because people really believed we still lived in tee pees, but our people, the Puyallup, have always lived in family lodges, made out of cedar.

Yesterday the Obama administration stepped in and stopped the pipeline, after the canoes went into the Missouri River and then up the Canon River.

As we came in last night we rode in the canoe and the Alaskans came in first, then Puyallup and Nisqually came in last night about midnight. It was great, we were welcomed and then we stayed and visited many people. I went over to the camp this morning and that's when I was almost blown away. The workers were telling people,” you have to leave” but they let me stay because I am an elder. It was raining hard and the clouds were barking thunder.

When the canoes came into Standing Rock and there were songs, speeches and war whoops, it was great! The canoe families were welcomed by the Chairman Dave Archambault and Orvil Looking Horse . My nephew, Hanford McCloud, did a real good job opening the ceremony. Clinton McCloud came after him, it was a beautiful landing. I visited with Kory McLaughlin, he's a young council member at Standing Rock. Tonight there will be protocol at the Sacred sites.

I sat down with Madonna Thunderhawk and Robbie Romero and we were talking about the days when we would go to help out other tribes with their resistance movement. We would raise our own money by doing fry bread stands and selling arts & crafts. The difference now is that people want to get paid to go help other tribes out and they feel entitled. That is what’s wrong with some people today. There are some camps doing damage to the contractor’s machines. This is not our way, we do not damage other people's property nor do we start the violence, this is a peaceful and spiritual encampment .

David Archambault was on his way to DC to meet with the president. It's crazy as to why he just don't sign an executive order saying no more sneaking into tribal lands or adjacent to them to do their terrible deeds.

Anyway, this was my experience with my canoe families at Standing Rock. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Please remember to help NoDAPL in any way you can.

Read my earlier blog for addresses and phone numbers.