One year later: Event will revisit Standing Rock

Monday marks one year since the Army Corps of Engineers’ denial of Dakota Access Pipeline’s (DAPL) permit to dig under the Missouri River — a decision that was reversed with a change in administration four months later.

To mark the anniversary of that event and raise awareness for the ongoing legal battle still being fought by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the film “Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock” will be shown at the Vashon Theatre at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Standing Rock elder Ray Kingfisher will speak after the movie.

The feature is a new documentary from Academy Award-nominated directors Josh Fox and James Spione, who partnered with indigenous filmmaker Myron Dewey and Standing Rock natives Floris White Bull and Doug Good Feather. The film premiered at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival in New York City and is described as “a unique collaborative documentary created in three chapters, each helmed by a different filmmaker.”

The film’s website states “Awake follows the dramatic rise of the historic #NODAPL native-led peaceful resistance at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, which captured the world’s attention as one of the biggest stories of 2016.”

Islander Jennifer Williams spent one week at Standing Rock last October and said she organized this event to “remember the small victories” of the movement and raise awareness about the ongoing legal battle.

“Money was raised, tears fell, and hearts were opened as we witnessed the brutality play out against Water Protectors daily over social media. Though the camps were evicted and oil now flows through the pipeline, the story is not over,” she said.

The event is free, but donations are encouraged. All proceeds will be donated to the Water Protector Legal Collective.