{"id":16107,"date":"2016-12-01T22:50:35","date_gmt":"2016-12-01T22:50:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/ColleenKeane\/?p=16107"},"modified":"2023-09-11T23:15:30","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T23:15:30","slug":"prayers-for-the-protectors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/ColleenKeane\/2016\/12\/01\/prayers-for-the-protectors\/","title":{"rendered":"Prayers for the protectors"},"content":{"rendered":"

ABQ church answers call to prayer for Standing Rock<\/h3>\n

ALBUQUERQUE \u2014<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s sovereign land base, sacred sites and water sources.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Corps of Engineers set the deadline of next Monday for the evacuation of the Oceti Sakowin Camp Jack Dalrymple, North Dakota\u2019s 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\u2019s website. While the feds and the state officials say they won\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s 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,\u201d said Patricia Masterman, deacon of the St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church on University Boulevard.<\/p>\n

The international call to pray for the water protectors\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

According to the organization\u2019s website 1,000 locations around the world participated. St. Thomas was one of the locations.<\/p>\n

As 2 o\u2019clock MST, the synchronized hour of prayer, approached, about three dozen people from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds con- gregated there.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

There, Elisa Lucero and Kathryn Vega, who conduct drum circles for community groups, handed each person a drum or a rattle.<\/p>\n

Circling the roof of the church, the group drummed and sang familiar spiritual songs, changing the lyrics to express solidarity with the water protectors.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES | COLLEEN KEANE<\/p>\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re with Standing Rock, today. We must take care of the earth. She is our Mother,\u2019\u2019 they sang in unison to the tune of \u201cWe Shall Over- come,\u201d the resonating hymn of the Civil Rights movement.<\/p>\n

The synchronized beating of drums and voic- es, clear and serene as a church choir, rang out throughout the university neighbourhood.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur message today is that our prayers are with them. We drummed strong and in one heartbeat for the (water protectors),\u201d said Luce- ro.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s important to visualize police put- ting down their weapons, divine protection for the water protectors, the planet and our shared future,\u201d said Kay Painter, one of the drummers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an issue of faith for us to be in solidarity, because we know that prayer is very effective,\u201d said Ann McCormick, another prayer day par- ticipant.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is one way to diffuse the violence. What\u2019s happening on the part of the establish- ment is absolutely criminal. It\u2019s a violation of human rights and freedom of speech,\u201d added Henry Misserville after the hour-long session ended.<\/p>\n

\u201cPrayer is powerful. May there be solutions to this,\u201d said Lucero.<\/p>\n

Lucero and others say that there\u2019s a simple solution for now \u2013 reroute the pipeline.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy can\u2019t that happen?\u201d she asked. According to the Tribe\u2019s website, the Oceti Sakowin Camp currently provides the world a stage for environmental awareness and will act as a future indigenous meeting center.<\/p>\n

Another prayer session is scheduled for this Sunday, one day before the federal and state evacuation deadline.<\/p>\n

Information: standingrock.org, upliftconnect.com\/pray-with-standing-rock<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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