Of all the atrocities being committed by Federal Agents in Occupied Minnesota – apart from murdering American citizens in broad daylight, of course – I think the thing that has infuriated me the most is the abduction of Indigenous People. That alone tells you that this is not about immigration. It is about the systematic attempt to remove Black and Brown People from our country – and we’re not having it.
Local Dakota and Crow Creek Sioux tribes have set up a Bdote Prayer Camp at Mni Owe Sni (Coldwater Spring), right in the shadow of the sinister Whipple Building where people are being detained in unholy conditions. THIS IS THEIR LAND, and they are there to remind everyone of that absolute fact. And they will be there until it is returned.
This area is their most sacred … the origin of all life … and it also has an extremely dark history. This is where the U.S. Government killed hundreds of Dakota People in the 1800’s, and imprisoned thousands more in the Fort Snelling Concentration Camp (that’s not what it was called, but that’s what it was). They are now seeing history repeat itself in our country, and they are there to pray … for us ALL.
Arms full of offerings, hearts full of resolve
I heard about the camp last week, and got there as soon as I could, as they need our help and our donations. I thought it would be a great place to spend President’s Day – in opposition to the current criminal in that office. I had checked out the list of needed items, and knew that coffee was going to be a welcome treat. I’ve been kind of mad at Caribou Coffee because they haven’t taken much of a stand with Minnesota – at all – but I knew they had those big portable urn things, so that’s where I headed. I’m glad I did, because a very kind worker there heard where I was taking the coffee and matched my donation with their own. That has been the most heartening thing about all of this mess – the people are truly kind and beautiful, and the whole nation is seeing what it means to be a Minnesotan. And I could not be more proud.
The land where the camp is set up is super marshy, and it’s over 50 degrees (Farenheit – over 10 Celcius)) today, so everything is soaking wet, with massive puddles everywhere. They could really use shelving to get things up off of the ground. Tarps, ponchos, hand and feet warmers, fire wood … all things to keep the relatives comfortable and dry as they hold the line on their land. It was a wonderful thing to see a full parking lot and a long line of good people coming out with their own donations.
Bdote Prayer Camp, a place of unity and peace
The camp is not right next to the parking lot, it’s a decent little hike into the land proper. Some people had sleds to pull their offerings along with, others had a little ATV thing, all were slopping through the mud to get to the donations area. It’s very well organized, with a place to hand stuff off, and people there to take charge with it.
This is not a party place. There are signs all over demanding no weapons, no alcohol, no drugs. This is a peaceful ceremony. This is a living prayer for our hurting world. And believe me, we are hurting. The mainstream media has been so remiss in its reporting of this entire occupation. There has been no noticeable removal of Federal Agents, though the ghoul Homan claimed last week that they were leaving. If anything, people at the Camp are seeing more vehicles coming in and out of the Whipple Building now more than ever. They’re trying to be clever now, new cars with new plates that haven’t been reported. Liberal stickers on the cars to try and trick the Patrols. It’s all still the same, they’re just trying to have better P.R. about it. DO NOT BELIEVE OUR GOVERNMENT ABOUT ANYTHING. I mean, C’mon. You’re smarter than that.
The public is welcome to the Prayer Camp, but you must be respectful. Know that you are on sacred land. Know that you are on THEIR land, and we are following THEIR rules and customs. There are ceremonies and traditions that are not meant to be filmed. There are obviously things that are very culturally sensitive in these times, so just go with respect and an open heart … and a bunch of stuff from their donations list. We can all learn a lot from each other, and we MUST all look out for each other. And that is something that Minnesota is really good at. REALLY good. It was evident in all its glory there at the Camp today.
We really have no idea how long this insanity is going to go on, but I do know that we will all carry this time with us for the rest of our lives. Both the sheer trauma, and the heart swelling goodness of our People. And our Power. No elected official has been even a factor in any of this. They have been nowhere but putting their faces on the nightly news. They’re not in the streets. They’re not delivering meals. They’re not collecting donations (or even bothering with a rent moratorium THAT THEY CAN AND MUST DO!) No one but the PEOPLE of Minnesota deserves ANY credit, Jacob Frey. As always, WE PROTECT US.
Finding beauty while living a nightmare
I think a really beautiful thing that is coming out of this American nightmare is that it’s opening people up to their neighbors outside of their own bubbles. There’s people that have never been to a protest in their lives – but they’re out there now. There’s people who have never been to a sex shop, but they’re dropping donations and cash off at Smitten Kitten to help with the rent lists. There’s people that have lived in Minnesota their entire lives and never been to a reservation or learned anything about their Native relatives – but they are now. There is a blossoming of care, of awareness, of empathy … that is blooming into something that I hope will grow between us all our remaining days. We just have to remember to keep watering it. Always.
So please do go. Visit the Prayer Camp at Fort Snelling and reflect on where we are as a Nation right now. It feels really good to help, and I think it feels good for them to receive also.
To know that we care deeply about our Native neighbors, and that we are there for them. We are all relatives, and we are all in this together. Miigwech!
Venmo: Zacwhite (Zachary White, #763-452-8790)
Gofundme.com/Stand-With-Indigenous-Ceremony-On-Sacred-Land
Read this story with all the authors pictures in it on Substack.
Friends of Bylines Network
There has never been a greater need for grassroots journalism that investigates the stories that really matter, holds power to account and champions the voices of everyday citizens. We are proudly powered by volunteers but what we do isn’t free.
STAND WITH US for independent, citizen-led journalism that makes democracy stronger, and you will even get some exclusive benefits.
