The sHEROes of Standing Rock

We’ve been moved this week by the wave of wonderful women and men peacefully protecting a sacred site at Standing Rock, North Dakota, to speak out against the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline.

They’re calling themselves water protectors, not protesters. The group says they have serious fears the pipeline will jeopardise water supplies that many communities rely on, and will pose a threat to many tribal sites that are sacred to Indigenous Americans.

The movement amassed this week has been inspiring, with indigenous and non-indigenous people of all ages, races and genders standing in solidarity to peacefully object to the pipeline.

They’ve been joined by hundreds of thousands of people online, who have checked in to Standing Rock after concerns police were using Facebook check-ins to target water defenders.

Not only have women been central to the peaceful objection, but brave women water protectors like Floris Whitebull have stood up and called attention to their ill treatment at the hands of police.

Want to meet more amazing Indigenous sHEROes? EcoWatch have put together an amazing list of women water protectors that are supporting the rights of their communities.