A
large herd of wild buffalo have assisted Native Americans attempting to stop a
pipeline from being built on their land and water.
American
bison are honored by Indigenous culture (known as Tatanka Oyate, or Buffalo
Nation) as a symbol of sacrifice, as the bison give their lives to provide
food, shelter, and clothing through the use of their meat and their hides.
Native
Americans maintain a spiritual tradition with bison, believing that as long as
buffalo — a gift from the Great Spirit — roam free and as long as the herds are
bountiful, the sovereignty of indigenous people would remain strong.
And
in the midst of mass arrests, mace attacks, and beatings from batons, a
stampede of bison suddenly appeared near the Standing Rock protest camp. A cry
of joy reportedly erupted from the Standing Rock Sioux, as they had been
praying for assistance from the Tatanka Oyate during their standoff with riot
police and national guardsmen.
As
the police response to the Sioux’s ongoing nonviolent civil disobedience
escalates, tribal leaders are calling on state and federal governments to
respect the constitutional rights of water protectors and stop the mistreatment
of the indigenous community.
“We
call on the state of North Dakota to oversee the actions of local law
enforcement to, first and foremost, ensure everyone’s safety. The Department of
Justice must send overseers immediately to ensure the protection of First
Amendment rights and the safety of thousands here at Standing Rock,” wrote
David Archambault II, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. “DOJ can no
longer ignore our requests.”
H/T
: organicandhealthy.org