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Standing Rock Activists Arrive in Valley to Oppose Border Wall!

By: Mike Jimenez

"SAN JUAN - Tribal leaders and activists prepare to battle bulldozers to protect sacred burial grounds at Jackson-Brewster cemetery in San Juan. DuWayne Redwater of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe reflects on his time at Standing Rock.

“It was kind of an honor to be there because that what they went through. That was just a small taste of what our ancestors went through and I got to taste a little bit of that."

Redwater says his time at Standing Rock was a peaceful and prayerful experience which has made him stronger and calls the experience life changing. It has given him courage to come to the Rio Grande Valley to stand with his people.

"It's kind of our jobs to be the landlords and care takers again and show the people the right path again."

Evan Duke, a veteran and activist with the Border Support Network, is also here in the Valley. He’s taking a stand against the wall. He spent nearly six months at Standing Rock and recalls some of the more harrowing moments.

"I can tell you we had some veterans having PTSD attacks. We were literally in a no-fly zone surrounded by snipers and flood lights and suddenly it's freezing temperatures and it looks like a war zone out there."

Duke says he learned a lot from his experience and says he does his activism work because it's the right thing to do and hopes it will inspire others to also take a stand.

"What we saw at Standing Rock was a continuance of a movement and a reawakening of the indigenous movement a reigniting of those fires."

Duke adds the movement against the wall does have a similar feel to Standing Rock and says he expects the stance against federal forces to be more intense. While Duke and Redwood have unique experiences at Standing Rock both say they are here for the long haul.

"People ask me, ‘How long are you here?’ as long as it takes." Adds Duke.

Activists at the camp also say they hope their message will resonate with the local community to take a stand with them.

URL: [kveo.com]

of-the-mountain 9 Feb 8
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