Protecting Water Protectors: from Standing Rock to the United Nations

Date: July 24, 2024

Three Indigenous leaders are in the photo. Two are embracing one another. The one on the right wears two braids, a turquoise shirt, a wide-brimmed hat, and jewelry. The one on the left wears a black shirt and a colorful skirt, clutching her hand to her heart. The third person is visible between them, wearing feathers in their hair and a floral button-up shirt. — Waniya Locke (left) is from the Ahtna Dene, Dakota, Lakota, and Anishinaabe tribes. She grew up on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and treasures her memories of playing along the Missouri River as a child. Photo Credit: Snake Garcia

Rallying for the protection of water, earth, and our collective future

In April, Waniya Locke, a lifelong community leader and frontline advocate for protecting water in Indigenous communities, reached out to NP for safety support. Waniya and the Indigenous Environmental Network were organizing a rally at the UN headquarters to advocate for the protection of water, earth, and our collective future. Inside, the annual UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues aimed to amplify the voices of Indigenous youth.

Not only has Waniya’s community in Standing Rock—like so many Indigenous communities—faced threats to their land and water, but they have also faced escalations and violence when advocating for protection from these threats. Familiar with these safety concerns and with NP’s work in protecting civic spaces, Waniya sought tactical support to facilitate the safety of Indigenous youth and other Water Protectors during a nonviolent rally at the United Nations Headquarters.

Waniya Locke (far right) is a grassroots community organizer and Water Protector born and raised on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. One of the initiators of the 2016 #NoDAPL protests, she organized a rally and workshop at the UN headquarters in New York City, the ancestral home of the Lenape people. Photo Credit: Snake Garcia

NP staff quickly got to work listening to the group’s safety concerns. Leading up to the event, NP worked with Waniya plus her team and rally partners—like Greenpeace and Cheyenne River Youth—to plan the route, address safety concerns, and map out potential threats and responses. On the day of the rally, NP staff interfaced with law enforcement, managed the crowds, and stayed alert to ensure a safe event. Staff accompanied the rally from the UN Headquarters on a march to a nearby park. The rally concluded with groups sharing messages of solidarity, using banners, placards, and chants. Throughout the event marchers and the public remained safe.

"The event was truly beautiful and a great experience for us,” shared Qaaree McDaniel, NP Program Specialist. Reflecting on their experience supporting safety at the rally, they shared: “Although we had to adapt our route slightly due to a noticeable increase in police presence, our team handled the situation well and our communication was good."

As the rally wrapped up, Waniya expressed her gratitude, stating, "Today, NP assisted us in a small rally and a march at the UN, and now we are getting ready to go to our workshop at the UN Forum. It has been really helpful at this time, and I really appreciated NP for accompanying us through."

Three youth march in New York City, holding signs with the text cut off. New York City police are in the background, with a street and the UN headquarters in the distance.

Three youth march in New York City, holding signs saying "End Fossil Fuels." One wears a "Greenpeace" shirt. — *In attendance were youth from* *The Standing Rock Youth Council,* representing Indigenous organizers, Water Protectors, Land Defenders, activists, scholars, and human rights defenders from various Indigenous communities across Turtle Island and South America—including Alaska, Montana, North and South Dakota, Greenpeace, and Cheyenne River Youth. Photo Credit: Snake Garcia

The Roots of the Movement: Standing Rock

Waniya Locke, from the Ahtna Dene, Dakota, Lakota, and Anishinaabe tribes, grew up on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. In early 2016, she was one of the four women who initiated the protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline, taking to the frontlines “in defense of her community and mother earth.” For her, the protest was a way to safeguard not only the future of her children, but generations of future Indigenous children.

It was during the height of the protests in 2016-2017 when Waniya became familiar with NP: In addition to providing protective presence and direct violence reduction, NP worked alongside the Bismarck-Mandan community to establish working groups on protective accompaniment, community dialogue facilitation, and clergy engagement.

Despite the Sioux Tribe successfully delaying the pipeline's construction, it was completed in 2017. Waniya and her peers continue their fight for Indigenous sovereignty through the Indigenous Environmental Network, an alliance dedicated to protecting the earth from contamination and exploitation.

Indigenous leader in a wide brimmed hat and a denim jacket beats a drum. They wear a UN grounds pass on a lanyard. In the background is an NP staff member in a mask, safety vest, and NP shirt.

Indigenous leader speaks, facing the camera. They wear two braids, a turquoise shirt, a wide-brimmed hat, and jewelry. They have a UN grounds pass on a lanyard. People behind them carry a banner and signs saying "End Fossil Fuels." A New York City street is in the background. — From Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza to the US Mission to the UN, concluding at Ralph Bunche Park, groups shared messages of solidarity, using banners, placards, and chants. That evening, attendees attended a workshop inside the UN headquarters, where youth voices took the lead. Photo Credit: Snake Garcia

Protection: for today, tomorrow, and generations to come

The pipeline still poses significant risks to Waniya’s community, with potential spills causing irreversible damage. The decision on its future is expected by the end of 2024.

Waniya reflected on NP's assistance, emphasizing the crucial role NP played in ensuring safety during the rally. “NP really helped us in navigating NYC. As a grassroots movement, having Nonviolent Peaceforce step in was extremely helpful but also safe.”

NP radically centers those most directly affected by violence. By working alongside communities to cultivate safety through Unarmed Civilian Protection, we can reimagine and build a better, safer, verdant and more just world. For more information on how you can protect civic space please check out our Safe Civic Spaces Guide.

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