Documenting DAPL Opposition

My name is Josue Rivas, I'm a native american photographer and fim maker based in Los Angeles. At the beggining of August, I was deeply moved by an urgent plea for support from friends and relatives who are showing up in solidarity with the people of the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota.  This tribe has been fighting for years to protect their clean water from an oil pipeline that is being constructed near their land. Thousands of tribal members and allies from around the world have gathered in peaceful prayer at their multiple camps near Canonball, North Dakota to stop the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. This pipeline will cross through four states and carry crude oil across critical habitats, waterways, and sacred sites. 








Despite numerous actions, petitions and outrage from people all over the globe, the mainstream media is not currently covering this story in a way that represents the native perspective. As a native photojournalist and film maker, I feel it is important to let our people tell their own stories. That's why I drove 1,545 miles to connect with the protectors of this land and report on what is happening on the ground.

As of today the videos I created for Fusion, AJ+, Buzzfeed, Upworthy, and the Indigeneous Enviromental Network, have 65,065,345 million views on Facebook all together. All these videos have been created with the intension to give a ful picture of the opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline 

The goal is to keep creating content (photos and videos) that will reflect the reality of this struggle. These will be distributed through the Indigeneous Enviromental Network and their media allies. 

The funds will be used for transporation, lodging and meals for the duration of this journey. I strongly believe that water is life and that our relatives at Standing Rock Reservation deserve solidarity and support in having their rights and treaties respected. 



Thank you for your help in making these successful. 

For all my relations, 

Josué