ABQ church answers call to prayer for Standing Rock
ALBUQUERQUE — As a deadline approaches for the thousands of tribal members and their allies to vacate their encampment on Standing Rock Sioux tribal lands in North Dakota, an international interfaith call to pray for their safety was issued last week.
The Oceti Sakowin Camp has been set up with teepees and other shelters as a temporary home for the growing population protesting the construction of the last leg of the Dakota access oil pipeline that tribal officials say threatens the Tribe’s sovereign land base, sacred sites and water sources.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe initiated the protest after it discovered that the Army Corps of Engineers approved construction permits. Unless the pipeline construction is halted, the protesters, who have become known as the wa- ter protectors, have no intention of leaving no matter how cold it gets or what demands come their way.
The U.S. Corps of Engineers set the deadline of next Monday for the evacuation of the Oceti Sakowin Camp Jack Dalrymple, North Dakota’s governor, has also put out a mandate to close the camp, which has become self-sustaining and is operating off the grid, according the Tribe’s website. While the feds and the state officials say they won’t use force, according to reports coming out of North Dakota, concerns are growing for the safety of the water protectors, who include children and elders.
“It’s just wrong. They (police) have used dogs, rubber bullets and water hoses against the (water protectors). A 13-year old girl was hit in the face with a rubber bullet. I am deeply con- cerned,” said Patricia Masterman, deacon of the St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church on University Boulevard.
The international call to pray for the water protectors’ safety for one hour last Saturday afternoon came from Uplift Connect, an online inspirational network that uses social media to support peace and global sustainability.
According to the organization’s website 1,000 locations around the world participated. St. Thomas was one of the locations.
As 2 o’clock MST, the synchronized hour of prayer, approached, about three dozen people from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds con- gregated there.
While several people observed silence as Mas- terman pounded rhythmically on a drum in a small chapel on the first floor, others made their way to the roof of the church.
There, Elisa Lucero and Kathryn Vega, who conduct drum circles for community groups, handed each person a drum or a rattle.
Circling the roof of the church, the group drummed and sang familiar spiritual songs, changing the lyrics to express solidarity with the water protectors.
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES | COLLEEN KEANE
Drum hosts Elisa Lucero (right) and Kathryn Vega (left) appear on top of the roof of St. Thomas of Canterbury Church as they lead others in song and prayers expressing solidarity for the water pro- tectors gathered at the Oceti Sakowin Camp on Standing Rock Sioux ancestral lands.
“We’re with Standing Rock, today. We must take care of the earth. She is our Mother,’’ they sang in unison to the tune of “We Shall Over- come,” the resonating hymn of the Civil Rights movement.
The synchronized beating of drums and voic- es, clear and serene as a church choir, rang out throughout the university neighbourhood.
“Our message today is that our prayers are with them. We drummed strong and in one heartbeat for the (water protectors),” said Luce- ro.
“I think it’s important to visualize police put- ting down their weapons, divine protection for the water protectors, the planet and our shared future,” said Kay Painter, one of the drummers.
“It’s an issue of faith for us to be in solidarity, because we know that prayer is very effective,” said Ann McCormick, another prayer day par- ticipant.
“This is one way to diffuse the violence. What’s happening on the part of the establish- ment is absolutely criminal. It’s a violation of human rights and freedom of speech,” added Henry Misserville after the hour-long session ended.
“Prayer is powerful. May there be solutions to this,” said Lucero.
Lucero and others say that there’s a simple solution for now – reroute the pipeline.
“Why can’t that happen?” she asked. According to the Tribe’s website, the Oceti Sakowin Camp currently provides the world a stage for environmental awareness and will act as a future indigenous meeting center.
Another prayer session is scheduled for this Sunday, one day before the federal and state evacuation deadline.
Information: standingrock.org, upliftconnect.com/pray-with-standing-rock