One of our people in the Native community said the difference between white people and Indians is that Indian people know they are oppressed but don’t feel powerless. White people don’t feel oppressed, but feel powerless. Deconstruct that disempowerment. … Power is not brute force and money; power is in your spirit. — Winona LaDuke
Winona LaDuke, Puyallup, Quileute and Saanich leaders spoke to 500 of us gathered at the Open Space on March 10. Winona came from Minnesota to challenge us to get outside our comfort zone. She complimented us on our electric bikes, electric cars and electric trains and our intent to live sustainably. But she also invited us to come to Fargo both literally and figuratively to stand with her and others. Frankly, Winona challenged us to resist the temptation to retreat into our sense of environmental righteousness.
For the benefit of us all, we need to support the social movement she’s creating at the vanguard of both the politics of “no,” resisting unsustainable tar sands oil pipelines, and the politics of “yes,” creating restorative economies. Her struggle to keep tar sand oil in the ground by resisting the Line 3 pipeline that would bring oil to the Great Lakes is our struggle. According to Union of Concerned Scientists, “On a lifetime basis, a gallon of gasoline made from tar sands produces about 15 percent more carbon dioxide emissions than one made from conventional oil.” Leading climate experts James Hansen of NASA and Columbia University and Bill KcKibben of 350.org argue that using the Canadian tar sands oil is “game over” and will lock us into a run-away climate change scenario. The Great Lakes, accounting for one-fifth of the freshwater surface on the planet, cannot be tainted with oil.
Winona and Coast Salish presenters spoke to us about the historic and ongoing struggles of Native Americans to assert their sovereign rights and secure access to essential resources protected by treaties with the United States. These treaties, second only in power to the U.S. Constitution, indisputably establish tribes as sovereign nations. In our region, through staging non-violent protests, enduring incarceration, and winning legal battles, the Coast Salish tribes have irreversibly established the right to 50 percent of fish and shellfish harvests in the Salish Sea. The Minnesota tribes have rights to wild rice and fish harvests, too. These rights are glaringly under threat from broader environmental degradation. Despite the intense poverty that exists on most reservations, Native Americans are pulling all of us toward a different vision — the green, less worn path that Winona invited us to follow. It’s notable that after having lost so much to the Euro-American settlers, Native Americans are now in a place of influence in places like Standing Rock, Tacoma and Minnesota. They deserve our support. Their victories are our victories.
Winona’s message struck a chord with those who attended this catalytic event. However, it’s important we not view her visit as a one-off event. Here on Vashon, we need to find and strive to create the social and learning connections that will oppose proposed pipeline networks both locally and in the Great Lakes region. Winona’s message resonates as we watch in dismay, often feeling powerless, as environmental regulations, sacred places and vulnerable people are under attack. Winona offers an inspired response and a blueprint for action in these challenging times. Her organization has stood in solidarity of West Coast struggles opposing fracked liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facilities in Tacoma and the Kinder Morgan Pipeline near Vancouver BC. In addition to being educated and inspired by Winona we feel obliged to reciprocate and actively stand in solidarity.
We would like to thank the five Vashon-based non-profit organizations, numerous businesses, and dozens of individuals that committed funds and hundreds of hours to prepare for Winona’s first visit to Vashon. While infeasible for all organizations and people to be recognized on the event’s stage, it is notable that Vashon nonprofits of varying political stances and strategies co-led this effort. Winona has the power to inspire collaboration. We netted over $11,400 for Honor the Earth.
What are the next steps? With Winona’s support, we are launching a Facebook affinity group named “Vashon Stands with Winona LaDuke and Honor the Earth,” where we will provide a link to the video of her presentation. Please join. Honor the Earth intends to file a lawsuit ensuring Native American interests are considered in the Line 3 oil pipeline Environmental Impact Statement. We ask you to send generous donations to Honor the Earth and to purchase their wild rice and maple syrup online. We will continue supporting Winona’s hemp and sustainable energy projects with focused research involving UW students.
We welcome your support for future on-island events with Winona that foster solidarity, leadership and inspiration. We plan to host a workshop involving Winona for youth leadership development. Winona wants to learn how to do aerial arts. Hmmm, we know a few experts in that. … Just as Winona has, support local struggles to stop the proposed fracked LNG storage facility in Tacoma and the push for PSE’s use of renewable energy rather than fracked natural gas. We are actively seeking dialogue and suggestions.
— Patrick Christie is a University of Washington professor and activist; Ann E. Edwards has worked for years with indigenous people in Africa and Asia, and Rachel Taylor is the co-founder of The Joyality Program.
