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Seneca Nation stands with Standing Rock

OBSERVER Photo by Andrew David Kuczkowski The Cattaraugus Indian Reservation stood in unity with Standing Rock Monday. A 20-minute peace walk included chants of "Water is life" and shirts protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline.

CATTARAUGUS RESERVATION — In an effort to stand with the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in its fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline, the people of the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation gathered to walk the streets of Irving.

Event-goers hoisted signs that read “People over Pipelines,” “Water is Life” and “Defend the sacred water.” The message was clear.

The jaunt from the Route 438 bridge over the Interstate 90 to the Seneca Gaming Casino on Route 5 helped reinforce the similar ideologies the two reservations have, even though they are in completely different parts of the United States.

“Because water is life,” said Maria Maybee, who took the trek across Irving. “I strongly believe that women are the keepers of the water and that the water is sick and it needs us. That’s why they’re gathering in North Dakota.”

And like the United States’ origins, these “indigenous people” may be pushed aside for the benefits of a so-called greater good, in most instances money or power.

OBSERVER Photo by Andrew David Kuczkowski The Cattaraugus Indian Reservation stood in unity with Standing Rock Monday. A 20-minute peace walk included chants of "Water is life" and shirts protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline.

“It’s a similar story for all of us, from across America, South America,” Maybee added. “Wherever there’s indigenous people, we’re kind of just pushed away and abused, just stepped over.”

Darelyn Spruce added much energy to the cold, yet powerful walk. In the speech before it began, Spruce said she was just minutes from getting back from North Dakota. She took two trips out there in support of the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

“It was a great experience, emotionally, physically, spiritually most of all,” Spruce stated, wearing many layers after preparing for the single-digit-degree nights in North Dakota. “I would suggest that if you’re able to get down there to go because the power there is unbelievable.”

On Sunday, the protestors won the battle. The Army Corps of Engineers axed the project by not giving approval to go under the Missouri River. The Cattaraugus Indian Reservation was one day removed from the announcement, but that didn’t halt their walk.

“It’s hard to say because the government may say one thing and do another and that’s repeated history for the natives, so we’ll see what happens next,” Spruce said. “(Donald) Trump will be in soon and we’ll see what happens. Right now, it was a good step. It was a victory, so we’ll take that victory and we’ll take it day by day.

“We still have people down there. Of all the six nations, we have a camp down there. They’re still there, standing strong on the front lines for the people up here that can’t go.”

Protesting may seem pointless to some; protesting could be wasted energy, but for this instance, it was a success. Down the line, decisions may change, but awareness and action added up to a positive equation.

“I think that Standing Rock is a really good place for all of us to grab some positive vibes or energy to bring home,” Maybee concluded, “and take care of our own issues and do what they do at our home sites.”

Email: Akuczkowski95@observertoday.com.

Twitter: @Kuczkowski95

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