Yurts For Standing Rock #NoDapl

It is imperative that we all stand together to protect our water and climate both here in the US and abroad against rogue fossil fuel companies and their irresponsible disregard for life. That's why I caught a ride up to Standing Rock this past September, to help out in any way I could. I washed dishes, prepped in the kitchen, cleaned up around camp and kept up the morale of our water protectors with smiles, humor, and a sunny, positive attitude. As with any of us who made the trip up there to help, personal responsibilities called me back home after two weeks. I never met such a group of considerate, hardworking, dedicated people before, from all Nations, united in this common responsibility. They will be keeping the camp going up there in North Dakota all winter, which is why I would like to lend my skills in order to make good, warm, portable shelters for them. Mongolian yurts are an ideal design to that end. They're aerodynamic, heavy, well insulated, and won't be affected by strong winds or snow, having been perfected over centuries on the steppes of Mongolia by nomadic herdsmen. Of course, there are commercial yurt makers here in the US, but after having researched all these companies when I was deciding which kind to live in myself, I realized that the prefab yurts offered do not adhere to the Mongolian design, they aren't as well made or sturdy, need pegging or they blow down, and aren't as warm or cozy as the original. Rather than go to Standing Rock to build them there, I consulted with people up at the Sacred Stone camp and decided it would be best to make them here, where we have the power tools and wood shop, and the sources nearby for materials, and once completed, truck them out to the camp to set up. I have a production crew ready to roll, we hope to make at least five good yurts to donate. And once we win this fight, the yurts can go to reservation families to provide comfortable homes for anyone in need. To that end, we hope to raise $25,000 dollars to make good ones. Mine cost almost 4,000 to build over the course of nine months by myself, which is why we need your donations. We will need lots of straight grained, knot-free wood, large tarps, canvas, wool felt underlayment, nylon cording, cotton webbing, cargo parachutes, and other materials to make good yurts to stand up to the harsh winters there. If I had the money, I would do it myself, but I live on a fixed, modest income. And I know that millions of people all over the world stand with us, yet cannot make the trip to North Dakota in person.  Here is a way you can be a part of this historic moment, this unprecedented unity in spirit, to fight in prayer for the life of our common Mother, the only Mother we have in the whole universe. Thank you for any amount you can spare. Let's do this!