The Legend of Standing Rock

Sometimes I wish my family was wealthy, if only to give our money to causes that I believe are important. Right now, we are just squeezing by, and even so, I try to donate what we can (money and time) to local community groups and sometimes larger organizations.

As someone who makes things, I can at least create and sell art inspired by a movement or fight, and rightfully donate all proceeds to those out fighting.

I made this drawing after weeks of immersion in the stories and reports of the battles against the Pipeline. I realized I knew nothing about the tribe who live at Standing Rock, or why that area in North Dakota has that name, or what the Sacred Stone refers to. I looked up the legends of the Sioux tribe and found “the Legend of Standing Rock”. My drawing is based on this story, which is told by many Native American tribes, but again, this illustration is based on the Sioux’s telling.

And maybe I’ve misunderstood the story or its translation, but it seems like the legend’s themes are of steadfastness and holding ground.

So I made this illustration, where the mother and child seem to be in between their human and stone forms. The moon phases and celestial elements are captured in feather shapes meant to mimic those found on the headdress of Sitting Bull and other Sioux men.

In an effort to donate to the Standing Rock Sioux, immerse myself further into the #noDapl fight and encourage others to learn about Sioux legend, I’m selling these prints in my Etsy shop. ALL proceeds are going to the Standing Rock Sioux. I’m hoping that this illustration and print sale is not pushing me into the realm of exploitation and appropriation of Native American culture.

If you’re interested, you can purchase the print here. They are glicee prints made on-demand, and it takes about 2 weeks to ship.

So, this statement was released a few days ago:

“Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not be granting the easement to cross Lake Oahe for the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline. Instead, the Corps will be undertaking an environmental impact statement to look at possible alternative routes. We wholeheartedly support the decision of the administration and commend with the utmost gratitude the courage it took on the part of President Obama, the Army Corps, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior to take steps to correct the course of history and to do the right thing.”

However, the President-Elect supports to pipeline, and it’s also more than 90% complete, so we know that it isn’t over. The pipeline may still affect the tribe and others living in the area.

Nothing is certain. The protesters are going to remain there throughout the winter, and we should continue to support them.

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