Our local Sustainable Pioneer, Judy Wicks, is once again leading the nation this Thanksgiving.

Wicks organized the Water Protectors Community Appreciation Dinner, “a delegation of 75 people (including actress Jane Fonda) who will cook and serve a dinner for 2000 of the Protectors at Standing Rock as another expression of gratitude and appreciation.” They’ll not only cook dinner, but also include cards from school children led by teacher Lou Ann Merkle and high school student Rachael Rodriquez, thanking the Native Americans for protecting natural resources.

So what inspired Wicks to create this caravan? According to Judy via her website,

“After 500 years of genocide and betrayal, today Native Americans are leading us away from a path toward mankind’s extinction by fossil fuel addiction and toward a sustainable future for all of our grandchildren.  The Standing Rock Sioux, joined by tribes from throughout the Americas and beyond, are courageously standing up to corporate control and militarism to protect their land, water, and way of life. While doing so, they are demonstrating values needed to move our country forward – generosity, non-violence, truthfulness, compassion, humility and respect for each other and nature.”

You can read Judy’s open letter about her journey on Ecowatch.

standing rock riots

The peaceful protests have been met with increasing force from security. Just last evening, law enforcement fired water cannons in freezing temperatures, and used tear gas, rubber bullets, stinger grenades and more a protesters.

Some of the delegation, including Wicks and Jodie Evans of Venice, CA, will join the front lines and risk arrest.

As Wicks said,“I’m going to honor the values they’re demonstrating—non-violence, cooperation, generosity, respect for mother earth and for others—even in the face of these armed riot police. So bringing them this dinner is a small token of my gratitude.”

Want to help Standing Rock?

Wicks raised over $11,500 (of her $10K goal) for this dinner, but the native community is trying to build a straw bale community center as a central gathering place camped at Standing Rock to be built and become permanent in the Spring. You can donate online here.

Call about the law enforcement excessive force: 

• ND Office of the Governor: 701-328-2200
• Morton County Sheriff’s Department: 701-328-8118 & 701-667-3330
  
• ND National Guard: 701-333-2000
  
• Demand that they have law enforcement STAND DOWN on Highway 1806
  This is inhumane and unacceptable.”

In other news, women protesters delayed the opening of TD Bank (one of the banks funding the pipeline) at 15th & Market this morning and were arrested. Here’s how to contact the 17 banks involved in funding the DAPL (or check the list to see if you want to change providers.)

PA Pipelines

Pipeline plans aren’t exclusive to Standing Rock. Stop the Pipelines lists slated pipelines that affect our local area.

Photo: Facebook

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher