Native Nations Rise: Indigenous Peoples and Allies March on Washington, D.C.

Lauryn Gutierrez
In spite of the sleet and the snow, young people danced outside of the Trump International Hotel during the Natives Nations Rise march. Lauryn Gutierrez/Rewire
An altered U.S. flag carried by a marcher in front of the Trump International Hotel. Lauryn Gutierrez/Rewire
A member of the Suquamish Tribe of the Pacific Northwest overlooked the marchers as they streamed down Pennsylvania Ave NW toward the White House. Lauryn Gutierrez/Rewire
Youth of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe led the Native Nations march, bearing a banner reading "Recognize Indigenous Peoples Rights. We Exist. We Resist. We Rise." Lauryn Gutierrez/Rewire
Jermaine Eugene Platero of the Navajo Nation told Rewire via email he bussed to Washington, D.C. from New Mexico with 50 others to help take a stand.

“Watching and sharing posts just wasn't doing it for me anymore …. For years I watched my people go through so many wars, [destruction], [their] land and children taken from them. I finally got the opportunity to help fight and stand in solidarity with my people and to let the White House know Chaco Canyon is not for sale.”

Of witnessing the march, Platero said, "My heart was filled with so emotion I couldn't help but cry a few times. Being there gave me more reason to keep fighting for our land, rights and more important [for] our children, their children and for our future generations.” 
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A Native youth paused from dancing in view of the White House. Lauryn Gutierrez/Rewire
Native women stood strong in Lafayette Square as a black snake puppet emblazoned with "NO CONSENT," symbolizing oil pipelines, was marched between them and the White House. Lauryn Gutierrez/Rewire
"We have much work to do. But above all ... what [Standing Rock] taught us is that [the work] has to be founded on culture. You cannot go into a community without honoring and respecting the traditions of that community," said Faith Spotted Eagle, a respected elder of the Yankton Sioux Tribe and a staunch opponent of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. Lauryn Gutierrez/Rewire
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, one of the people suing the U.S. federal government over the effects of climate change and youth director of Earth Guardians, served as the MC of the Native Nations Rise rally. He told the crowd that part of the way he expresses himself as a voice for the younger generation of indigenous people is through hip-hop.

"Indigo warriors, visionary artists / It's time to take the power back and finish what we started / 'cause nothing they can do will stop the waves that we've been making / this is roots of revolution / it's the power that we're taking," he free-versed, encouraging the continuation of the momentum gained by Standing Rock in communities across the country. Lauryn Gutierrez/Rewire
Candi Brings Plenty (at left), the leader of the Two Spirit Nation Camp at Standing Rock, stood with members of Two Spirit Nation, a group for Native LGBTQ people.

"We are reclaiming our space in that sacred circle as Two Spirit Warriors," Brings Plenty said. "We continue representing the LGBTQIA+ indigenous walk of life. We are strong and immensely impactful when we're of one mind, one heart, one prayer. We are all related, and we all need water to live .... We threw our lives down [at Standing Rock] to make sure our future generations have that water, and that path for them is paved as Two Spirit Warriors, as Two Spirit allies.” Lauryn Gutierrez/Rewire
"For a long time, people have been trying to make decisions about us without us at the table .... That happens each and every day here in Washington, D.C.," said Minnesota Rep. Peggy Flanagan (D-St. Louis Park), of White Earth Nation. "It matters when we show up and we make our voices heard."

Flanagan is one of four Native women in the Minnesota House of Representatives, a number she said will only continue to grow. "No more decisions about indigenous people without indigenous people!" she urged.

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"People come by the hundreds / sing and dance in the streets and shopping malls, to the corners and capitols of city halls / on this Turtle Island, our presence will break the silence / together, brothers and sisters, idle no more!" Ulali, a First Nations a cappella trio, sang. Lauryn Gutierrez/Rewire
"Let our voice be heard loud and clear reminding our leaders we are all bound together," said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI). "Our government belongs to the people …. The fight for clean for water is a battle for the life blood of our planet the soul of our nation, and of all nations." Lauryn Gutierrez/Rewire
Taboo Nawasha, a Mexican-American and Native rapper and member of the Black Eyed Peas, asked the crowd to "let love be the frequency that takes us to a positive world, to a world where we can all be united, to a world where we are in solidarity with all our brothers and sisters, no matter if we are indigenous natives. We are human beings. Remember this quote: 'The power of the people can be a lot stronger than the people in power.'"

He then performed the song "Where is the Love?" As the song ended, he asked everyone present to turn, point to the nearby White House, and shout the song's refrain. Lauryn Gutierrez/Rewire
Just visible from the White House's south-facing windows, an indigenous tipi gathering hosted cultural workshops in the days leading up to the march and a ceremonial fire on the grounds of the Washington Monument. Lauryn Gutierrez/Rewire
Two people from the rally paid a last visit to the symbolic camp set up by the organizers of Native Nations Rise on the Washington Mall.

"When you fracture a sacred place, you fracture the people," said Ahjani Yepa (not pictured) of Pueblo Action Alliance during the rally. "Our people are hurting. We are coming together in unity for this .... We're healing these ancient wounds." Lauryn Gutierrez/Rewire

Thousands of Native Americans and allies took their fight against the Dakota Access pipeline to the White House last week. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Native nations hosted the Native Nations Rise march to highlight “the necessity to respect Indigenous Nations and their right to protect their homelands, environment and future generations.”

The march began at the headquarters of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which granted the easement needed for completion of the pipeline, and wound through the streets of Washington, D.C. past the Trump International Hotel and finally to Lafayette Square to face the White House.

“Each week, we see more human rights threatened by a distant and disengaged administration,” said David Archambault II, chairperson of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, in his opening remarks at the rally. “What could possibly justify the dismissal of basic human respect?”

“Standing Rock marks a turning point in history, not just for our tribe, but for all tribes, and for America as well. The heart of this movement is the heart of the resistance,” Archambault II continued. “We are all Americans, and above all, we are all human beings. We deserve to be included, we deserve to be respected, we deserve to have our basic rights considered when a corporation seeks to carry out … actions that could perpetually harm our citizens. Together in unity, we will rise!”

A grassroots indigenous tipi gathering was also held for several days (March 7-10) prior to the march on the grounds of the Washington Monument.