Below is a short film, made by RoJ, about the Standing Rock Water Protectors, following a visit by Chas Jewett to Dublin. To read more about Chas’ visit go here.
The Water Protectors
Chas Jewett, from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and Standing Rock Water protector, spoke in the Teacher’s Club on Monday evening at an event supported by Afri, Comhlamh, Feasta and Friends of the Earth. This public meeting was part of a tour around Ireland visiting Cork, Galway, Cloughjordan, Leitrim and Dublin. Chas is a tribal organiser who lives in Rapid City, South Dakota, and aims to encourage people to engage and mobilise.
Since 2016 the Standing Rock Reservation has been the scene of a protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline which aims to bring oil from Canada into the US through Native American lands over fears of contamination of drinking water supplies. The existing Keystone 1 pipeline has leaked 26 times.
Chas spoke about the legacy issues of the 19th century treaties between the U.S. government and the First Nations people. In 1873 General Custer found gold in the Black Hills which led to people being moved – without compensation – and separated into various different reservations, one of which is the Standing rock reservation. Continue reading “The Water Protectors”
The Water Protectors
Venue: The Teacher’s Club, Parnell Square
Date: Monday, June 26th
Time: 8pm
Standing Rock was a beacon of hope for the world where indigenous people from all over the United States came together to resist corporate power and protect the water that is their life. Chas Jewett is one of those protectors. This public meeting will draw out the links between the Standing Rock action and threats to water in Ireland and worldwide and the need to continue protecting our water and our planet.
Speakers:
Chas Jewett, Standing Rock Water Protector & Cheyenne River Sioux
Oisín Coghlan, Director, Friends of the Earth, Ireland
Speaker (tbc) from anti-fracking group, Love Leitrim
Organised by Afri, Comhlamh, Feasta and Friends of the Earth Ireland