We’re not a political organization. We don’t believe it’s our purpose to tell others what to believe. Yet, once in a while we come to a moral fork in the road and we’re faced with a decision that encourages us to take a stand for others. Sometimes, there are important situations that call for enhanced cooperation from us all to really make a positive difference. The kind of collaboration that can’t be achieved without the support of our friends in this vibrant community.

And that is something we strongly believe.

Lands of the Sioux

If you aren’t following the ongoing conflict faced by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North Dakota it may seem worlds away, but it’s not. It’s a fight that has arguably lasted centuries; dating all the way back to the appropriation of the Black Hills territory when the United States dishonored the peace treaties of 1868 and stole the land from the Sioux people against its own agreement. Today, access to this land is still a source of contention and the fight is happening in our own national backyard.

Dakota Access Pipeline

Over the past few months, thousands of people, mostly Native Americans from hundreds of tribes all over the country, are protesting the construction of the $3.78 billion crude-oil Dakota Access Pipeline slated to snake through sacred sites and under the Missouri River and water supply for the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, transporting 570,000 barrels a day from the Bakken oil-fields of North Dakota to refineries and markets in the Gulf and East Coast.

Protecting Life for Future Generations

Regardless of the political implications of this issue, we believe that helping the Native American Nations who are fighting for the protection and preservation of the land and water against the dangers of the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock is the right thing to do as an environmentally conscious community, so we’re teaming up with the good people at Symbiosis to marshall our resources. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support!

To Support the People of Standing Rock

With joined hands, Symbiosis and Do LaB are asking anyone with the means to support the people and cause of Standing Stones Camp with monetary donations, but that won’t be enough, so in the days following Symbiosis Gathering, we’re packing trucks with supplies and hitting the road for North Dakota. The protectors at Standing Rock plan to camp out at the pipeline construction site throughout the freezing Winter, and will need all the supplies they can get to make it through the harsh climate. With the cold season approaching, this effort is particularly needed now more than ever. For more information on the situation in Standing Rock, watch this video from the Washington Post or visit StandingRock.org:

How YOU Can Help

We’re looking to gather your superfluous food, water, camping supplies, or other essentials after Symbiosis along with anything you’d like to contribute in support of this cause. If you’d like to help, talk to others at the festival (and everywhere else) to get the word out. If you’re able, make a financial donation directly to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. If you’re unable to do that, consider picking up an item to donate while you’re doing your shopping on the way to the festival. We’re specifically looking to gather the following supplies, as per the request of our friends at the Red Warrior Camp:

TENTS, TIPIS AND TENT/TIPI POLES
TARPS – HEAVY DUTY
BANNERS, SHEETS
BATTERY PACKS FOR CHARGING MOBILE DEVICES
BOTTLED WATER
BUILDING MATERIALS
CANNED/SEALED NONPERISHABLE FOOD
CAMPING STOVES/FUEL
CAR PORTS AND SHELTERS
HEADLAMPS
HEATERS AND PROPANE
INSULATION FOR TIPIS AND SHELTERS
REUSABLE DISHWARE AND FLATWARE
ROPES, TIE DOWNS
SHELVING
SHOWER BAGS AND ON DEMAND SHOWERS
SLEEPING BAGS (FOR 5 DEGREES F AND LOWER)
SOAP FOR LAUNDRY, DISHES AND HANDS
SOLAR CHARGERS FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES
SOLAR LIGHTS, PANELS AND INVERTERS
WINTER CLOTHES
WOOL BLANKETS

To drop off your donation, look for the Standing Rock Donations Depot stationed on your way out of Woodward Reservoir after Symbiosis Gathering. Look for our signage just before you hit the pavement. Or if you would prefer to drop off your donation in Los Angeles you can bring it on Wednesday, September 21st from 10am to 6pm to:

Big Art LaB
651 Clover St, LA CA 90031 

(Building 1 first door on the right)

The supplies in those trucks are crucially needed by the land & water protectors onsite in North Dakota, and even if you’re not attending Symbiosis Gathering there are still several ways to get involved. We encourage you to consider one of the following actions to show solidarity in a way that feels right to you.

How to Take Action & #StandUpWithStandingRock

Call for the Army Corps of Engineers’ to rescind the Dakota Access Pipeline permit

Call the White House at (202) 456-111 or (202) 456-1414
Sign the White House petition: bit.ly/StandingRockWH
Call the Army Corps of Engineers (202) 761-5903
Call North Dakota governor Jack Dalrymple at (701) 328-2200
Call or Email your Congressional Representatives and Senators

Support the Oceti Sakawan Camp and Honor the Earth with Contributions

Contribute via GoFundMe: http://www.paypal.me/ocetisakowincamp
Contribute to the Standing Rock Tribe Donation Fund: http://bit.ly/SRdonationfund

Tell the Executives of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. to stop building the pipeline

Lee Hanse, EVP (210) 403-6455 Lee.Hanse@energytransfer.com
Glenn Emery, VP (210) 403-6762 Glenn.Emery@energytransfer.com
Michael (Cliff) Waters, Lead Analyst (713) 989-2404 Michael.Waters@energytransfer.com

You can also start or join events in your area at bit.ly/NoDAPLEvents/