Contemporary Connections: Tracks and the Dakota Access Pipeline Project

Photo by Standing Rock Rising (Facebook page), taken Feb. 1st 2017

Facebook: "Veterans Return to Standing Rock" https://www.facebook.com/fusionmedianetwork/videos/1809456462413657

Published on Feb. 13th 2017

U.S. Army veteran John Plouff, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jake Pogue, Texas Army National Guard veteran Roni Mathis, and U.S. Navy veteran Sean Sullivan share their experience thus far helping the Native Americans at Standing Rock, encouraging their fellow veterans to come out and help as well. Sullivan comments, ". . . is the same feeling that I feel whenever we're doing -- when I did good things in the military." Footage is shown of the veterans helping to transport water and other materials. Sullivan additionally comments, ". . . listen to First Nations and indigenous people because they have the knowledge on how to heal and go forward -- heal this country the right way, the good way."

In Tracks, Erdrich immediately captures us with a strong sense of despair. "We started dying before the snow, and like the snow, we continued to fall. It was surprising there were so many of us left to die" (p. 1). Opening with Nanapush's narrative, he says, "My girl, I saw the passing of times you will never know. I guided the last buffalo hunt. I saw the last bear shot. I trapped the last beaver with a pelt of more than two years' growth. I spoke aloud the words of the government treaty, and refused to sign the settlement papers that would take away our woods and lake. I axed the last birch that was older than I, and I saved the last Pillager" (p. 2). However, this chapter was set in the Winter of 1912. In addition to the weakened numbers of their people due to disease, Native Americans struggled with their relationship with the United States government - the Trail of Tears in 1830 forced Native Americans to disconnect with their ancestral homelands and relocate to another area. This relocation killed over four thousand en route. Struggles have not ceased since, with Native American lands now being smaller than ever and with the attempts to lead the Dakota Access Pipeline through sacred Native American land, despite is being illegal. Nanapush is a very wise character -- his experiences in dealing with the U.S. government provide an elder's input on just how much things have changed for them. It was almost as if he could foreshadow the persistence of the government's quest to gain land, but he didn't have the support of large crowds protesting and helping to protect his land. It makes me very interested to see how this all plays out, considering our (unfortunate) new leadership in office.