Standing Rock Rising Coverage
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Update: I have now been at Standing Rock for a month, you can view the work I have been working on at Facebook: STANDING ROCK RISING. Funds from this campaign will be used to help be upgrade equipment, and supplies for the coming winter months. I also need to return home to put my belongings into storage. I was originally planning to stay for 2 months, but now feel the calling to stay here until the end. If you would like to see me continue my work here at Standing Rock, please consider donating. Anything helps. Below is my original message for why I have come to help do my part:
My name is Ryan Redhawk. I am a photographer and independent journalist from Atlanta, Georgia. For the last year, I have found my calling in using my photography to help spread awareness for activism and social change across the United States. I have found my calling to use my photography and voice as a tool to help defend civil and human rights.
In early September, news errupted across social media about the ongoing protests of the North Dakota Sioux tribe in Standing Rock reservation protecting their sacred land, and water from a Dakota Access pipeline threatening to disturb burial grounds, and potentially poison the Missouri River that leads to their lake and only source of water for the reservation. Most recently, news came out of the natives identifying 27 gravesites within the path of the pipeline. The following day, the pipeline came out to the location of the sites with a bulldozer, and destroyed the locations. The pipeline has also been seen on video documentation hiring private sercurity with attack dogs. Protectors of the land have been attacked by dogs, and pepper sprayed for defending their ancestors graves.
Thanks to a sponsor, I was able to fly out to Standing Rock the following week to stand in solidarity of the Sioux, and over 200 native tribes who traveled from all across the country, and beyond, to stand in support in what is now being named the largest gathering of Native Americans in over a century. I spent 3 days at Standing Rock conducting audio interviews, taking photos for documentory and historical purposes, and showing my support for the tribes by standing beside them, and helping with errands and whatever was needed. Being a white man, I was accepted by most I met because they feel that more races involved in solidarity, the more impact. I was told that if the natives were out there alone, they would be ignored by the media, and discredited because of how they have been treated in the past. This stuck with me, and made me realize it was my fate to be out there standing with them.
On Friday, the Presidents administration put a temp. hold on construction of the pipeline near the reservation, but that is only a hold. Not a promise. Within the coming weeks, media will begin to leave the site to focus on new stories emerging across the country. When they leave, the natives will remain, determined to hold their ground until the pipeline has been defeated. As an independent voice, I find it important that media remains with them during these times. It wouldn't suprise me that once the media dies down, the pipeline will then again make an attempt to destroy native land. Once they feel safe they wont be exposed. I am determined not to let that happen, and want to be a media outlet to support the tribes in case that comes.
In the meantime, my goal is to spend 2 months on the grounds photographing the culture, and conducting audio interviews with Native Americans across the country to help restore their culture in modern American history. Over the generations, the deep roots of the Natives have been forgotten and ignored in American culture, and I am determined to help share their traditions, stories, and culture with the world to remind our country that they were the seeds of our land, and hold many stories of our land before Europeans arrived. I want to capture the essence and passion of our original Americans.
I am creating a 2 week campaign starting today. I want to be out there as soon as possible, so I can't afford to allow the campaign to run any longer.
With the money raised, I will be able to provide myself with winter camping supplies, food, clothing, and shelter as the colder months begin to approach the midwest plains. Some of the funds will be used to pay rent at my house since I will be walking away from both my jobs for this project, and if enough money is raised, hopefully be able to buy some better equipment for my tasks. I am asking for $5,000 for all expenses, but anything over that will be put to use for this project. $5 to $1,000, anything will help make this possible.
This project means so much to me, because I deeply feel the Native Americans are being forgotten in general American culture, and something as rich as their roots should live on forever. I want to see them be brought back to light as the original Americans. After all, this was their land, before it was our.
Words can't explain how grateful I am to be able to even propose this project to you all. I truely feel this is a path I was destin for, and it is my path to help make a positive impact in this situation through my photography and ability to share my perspective with you all. I am more than humbled to be a small part of this movement, and everything is appreciated. I couldn't thank you enough.
My name is Ryan Redhawk. I am a photographer and independent journalist from Atlanta, Georgia. For the last year, I have found my calling in using my photography to help spread awareness for activism and social change across the United States. I have found my calling to use my photography and voice as a tool to help defend civil and human rights.
In early September, news errupted across social media about the ongoing protests of the North Dakota Sioux tribe in Standing Rock reservation protecting their sacred land, and water from a Dakota Access pipeline threatening to disturb burial grounds, and potentially poison the Missouri River that leads to their lake and only source of water for the reservation. Most recently, news came out of the natives identifying 27 gravesites within the path of the pipeline. The following day, the pipeline came out to the location of the sites with a bulldozer, and destroyed the locations. The pipeline has also been seen on video documentation hiring private sercurity with attack dogs. Protectors of the land have been attacked by dogs, and pepper sprayed for defending their ancestors graves.
Thanks to a sponsor, I was able to fly out to Standing Rock the following week to stand in solidarity of the Sioux, and over 200 native tribes who traveled from all across the country, and beyond, to stand in support in what is now being named the largest gathering of Native Americans in over a century. I spent 3 days at Standing Rock conducting audio interviews, taking photos for documentory and historical purposes, and showing my support for the tribes by standing beside them, and helping with errands and whatever was needed. Being a white man, I was accepted by most I met because they feel that more races involved in solidarity, the more impact. I was told that if the natives were out there alone, they would be ignored by the media, and discredited because of how they have been treated in the past. This stuck with me, and made me realize it was my fate to be out there standing with them.
On Friday, the Presidents administration put a temp. hold on construction of the pipeline near the reservation, but that is only a hold. Not a promise. Within the coming weeks, media will begin to leave the site to focus on new stories emerging across the country. When they leave, the natives will remain, determined to hold their ground until the pipeline has been defeated. As an independent voice, I find it important that media remains with them during these times. It wouldn't suprise me that once the media dies down, the pipeline will then again make an attempt to destroy native land. Once they feel safe they wont be exposed. I am determined not to let that happen, and want to be a media outlet to support the tribes in case that comes.
In the meantime, my goal is to spend 2 months on the grounds photographing the culture, and conducting audio interviews with Native Americans across the country to help restore their culture in modern American history. Over the generations, the deep roots of the Natives have been forgotten and ignored in American culture, and I am determined to help share their traditions, stories, and culture with the world to remind our country that they were the seeds of our land, and hold many stories of our land before Europeans arrived. I want to capture the essence and passion of our original Americans.
I am creating a 2 week campaign starting today. I want to be out there as soon as possible, so I can't afford to allow the campaign to run any longer.
With the money raised, I will be able to provide myself with winter camping supplies, food, clothing, and shelter as the colder months begin to approach the midwest plains. Some of the funds will be used to pay rent at my house since I will be walking away from both my jobs for this project, and if enough money is raised, hopefully be able to buy some better equipment for my tasks. I am asking for $5,000 for all expenses, but anything over that will be put to use for this project. $5 to $1,000, anything will help make this possible.
This project means so much to me, because I deeply feel the Native Americans are being forgotten in general American culture, and something as rich as their roots should live on forever. I want to see them be brought back to light as the original Americans. After all, this was their land, before it was our.
Words can't explain how grateful I am to be able to even propose this project to you all. I truely feel this is a path I was destin for, and it is my path to help make a positive impact in this situation through my photography and ability to share my perspective with you all. I am more than humbled to be a small part of this movement, and everything is appreciated. I couldn't thank you enough.
Organizer
Standing Rock Rising
Organizer
Atlanta, GA
