The

The Hi folks. We are so glad that you're listening to Our Body Politics. If you have time, please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps other listeners find us and we read

them for your feedback. We'd also love you to join in financially supporting the show if you're

able. You can find out more at ourbodypolitic.com slash donate. We are here for you, with you and

because of you. Thank you. This is Our Body body politic. I'm Farai Chidea. Last month marked the

fifth anniversary of the end of the protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline in Standing Rock,

North Dakota. For nearly a year, thousands of people camped, prayed, and protested to block the Dakota Access Pipeline.

They argued it lacked proper environmental review and endangered both water supplies and historic sites.

Those who traveled to Standing Rock as water protectors came from hundreds of U.S. federally recognized tribes.

There were also indigenous people from all over the world, including Sami people

from northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Yes, there are indigenous Europeans, too. Shortly after the

2016 election, I went to Standing Rock as an independent reporter. One night, during a blizzard,

Che Jim, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and Giovanni Sanchez, a member of the Mexica tribe, sang Wopila.

It's a Lakota song and word which means thanks given for all of existence and the blessing inherent in each moment of it.

Wopelai and I. Chejim, a veteran and founder of the organization Healing Arrows told me why he and others came.

With this particular situation here, it's important to remember that this doesn't just face the standing rock people

or or even the people who who drink out of this water all the 18 million other people but

that problems like this exist all everywhere the encampments at standing rock are long gone but the

pipeline story continues to evolve investigative journalist jennie mon Monet was one of the first reporters on the ground there

five years ago. Among her many projects, she runs her own newsletter, indigenously, decolonizing

your news feed. I checked in with her this week about the significance of the anniversary and the

current state of the pipeline battle. I really appreciate you drawing attention to what otherwise was also a five-year anniversary

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