'We must kill the black snake': Prophecy and prayer motivate Standing Rock movement

There is an ancient Lakota prophecy about a black snakethat would slither across the land, desecrating the sacred sites and poisoning the water before destroying the Earth.

For many Indigenous people gathered near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, that snake has a name the Dakota Access pipeline.

"There was a prophecy saying that there is a black snake above ground. And what do we see? We see black highways across the nation," said Dave Archambault, chairman of the reservation, which straddles North and South Dakota. "There's also a prophecy that when that black snake goes underground, it's going to be devastating to the Earth."

That beliefis why hundreds of people have gathered since April to pray in camps along the Missouri River.

LaDonna Brave Bull Allardstarted the first camp, Sacred Stone, on her family's land near the reservation.

"If you go around the camp, you'll see people in different ceremonies and prayers all day long," she told CBC News last Sunday."It's about prayer."

Her message was clear: "We must stand together and we must kill the black snake."

Supporters of the cause have come from all around the country and even the world. They're determined to stop the $3.7-billion USproject that would transport an estimated470,000 barrels of crude oil a day from North Dakota's Bakken region southeast through four states to Illinois.

Its path would cross twice beneath the Missouri River, which supplies an estimated 17 million people with drinking water.

The campers received a big lift last Sunday, when the armyannounceditwon't issue a permitfor the pipeline companyto tunnel under a Missouri River reservoir and will askfor more environmental studies and potential alternateroutes.

Theyknow theblack snake isn't deadyet, but punishing stormslast week sent many campers packing. In fact, Archambault urged them to go home for their own safety and Allard asked that no newcomers show up at Sacred Stone unless they've been personally invited.

Lisa Greyshield, a member of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California and associate professor ofeducational psychology at New Mexico State University,was working asa medic in the main camp, called Oceti Sakowin, when CBC News visited last Sunday.

There were ceremonies throughout the day and night at the Sacred Fires, which elders and Indigenous leaders lit when the campopened in April.

"This was opened up as a prayer to stop that black snake from coming in, to pray for the water," Greyshield said. "Earth, water, air, fire, all these elements are important in Indian country. The water is the lifeblood."

Medic Lisa Greyshield says camps are about prayer, not protest

8 years ago

Duration 1:03

Medic Lisa Greyshield says camps are about prayer, not protest

There wasa constant rhythm of drumming and singing andthe smell of fires hanging in the air.

"Every victory is an answer to prayer. That's why we're here," Greyshield said, pointing to signs and banners you can see everywhere around the camp that say, "Mni Wiconi Water is Life."

She said camp organizers provided orientation for newcomers and always stressed the prayer element of themovement.

"We're water protectors and this is a peaceful gathering and it's about prayer and they've been very adamant about that. Not to escalate any of the violence."

It's clear that many non-Indigenous people aretaking their cues from the elders and respecting the traditional ways.

But there have been more than 500 arrests, as well asviolent clashes with police.

There's been tensionbetween groups thatsee different ways of achievingthe same goal.

Last Sunday afternoon, for example, just after the army's announcement, CBC News witnessed a confrontation between two groups of veterans. One group wanted to storm a bridge that local law enforcement had just vacated in an attempt to de-escalate the show of force, while the other was urging restraint.

In the end, the veterans retreated.

Answer to prayers?

Manyin the campsare convincedtheir prayers are the reason the army refused to issue the permit.

ButDallas-based Energy Transfer Partners says it's unwilling to reroute the project. On Monday, the company filed new documents in court asking a judge to declare it already has a legal right-of-way to "construct, operate, and maintain an oil pipeline beneath federal land at Lake Oahe."

• Standing Rock protesters celebrate 'big victory'
• Stay or go? Tribe gives conflicting messages to camp

Industry leaders are also urging president-elect Donald Trump to pave the way for the pipeline's completion afterhe'ssworn in next month.

Trumpspokesman Jason Miller won't say if the new administration will reverse the decision, but hetold The Associated Press it will review the situation "and make the appropriate determination."

Standing Rock chairman Archambaultsaysthere are more challenges ahead. And he knows the world is watching.

He has some advice for supporters everywhere.

"When you use prayer, you can overcome anything," he told CBC NewsonMonday.

"I believe that you follow your heart and if you know something is not right even though the law is the law, you have every right to stand up against it ...You will be heard, but I think it's important that you stay in prayer."

Prophecy and prayer in Standing Rock

8 years ago

Duration 2:42

Prophecy and prayer in Standing Rock