“With Action There Is Hope”
I spent most of last summer protesting the construction of the Line 3 oil pipeline.
This pipeline is being built by a multinational Canadian-based company, through Indigenous territory in Canada and the United States. It is a nine-billion-dollar project and the largest tar sands oil pipeline in the world. It continues the cultural genocide of Indigenous peoples and perpetuates climate destruction and chaos.
The pipeline crosses the headwaters of the Mississippi River (the largest river in the United States) and more than two hundred other fresh water sources. Among other things, it endangers wild rice, a central part of Anishinaabe culture. Many Lakota people also call this territory home.
The Indigenous leaders and non-Indigenous allies protesting the pipeline are called “water protectors.” Most of us are young people and young adults. There are also older adults and elders.
Here is some of what my experience has taught me:
- I need to discharge more on my fears of getting arrested so that I can make rational decisions about it. I’m less scared of being in jail for the twelve to thirty-six hours it takes to get bailed out by our jail support teams than I am of possible long-lasting legal consequences.
There are real concerns about getting arrested while protesting oil pipelines. Many water protectors have been sentenced to years in prison. Many of my friends are facing felonies and could be sentenced to up to nine years in prison. At the same time, most water protectors who get arrested do not do any jail time after their initial arraignment.
- I need to discharge on the severity of the climate emergency. It makes sense to do all we can to stop it from getting even worse. Sometimes that means getting arrested.
Here are some questions I’m asking myself: When does it make sense to get arrested? When not? When am I letting my privilege and fear get in the way of putting myself on the line [in the way of danger]? When does it make sense to make taking care of myself a priority? When am I acting out internalized genocide recordings passed on by my Jewish ancestors? When am I so desperately wanting to belong that I’ll choose to get arrested when I could avoid it?
- As our society collapses, we are more likely to be arrested when we stand up for rational policies. I’ve noticed that for many people (especially white USers) the idea of getting arrested brings up terror. We need to discharge on the terror so that we can see the consequences clearly. We have been conditioned to automatically assume that getting arrested will be a terrible thing that will destroy our lives, but in fact it is nuanced. In some situations, we are looking at years or decades in jail. In other situations, we will do zero jail time, not even go to court, and simply pay a fifty dollar (U.S.) fine before walking away.
- The closeness and camaraderie in the water protector movement is amazing. Everyone takes care of everyone. This daily contradiction [to distress] kept me in the present more consistently than I’ve been for years.
- Being a non-Indigenous ally led by Indigenous people is a wonderful contradiction. It gives weight to our movement—Indigenous people in the United States have legitimate legal standing to reference when they fight to stop environmental destruction. It is a breath of fresh air for many of us who grew up more disconnected from relationships with our culture, land, and water.
I’ve made friends with Indigenous people and allies from all over the continent. We treat each other as family on the frontlines, and I know I will soon see many of them again at another frontline struggle.
- “One foot in our re-emergence, and one foot in the wide world” makes sense. Our activism shows us where we need to discharge. And we are more effective activists as we re-emerge.
- With action there is hope: I felt more hopeful about the climate crisis than I usually do. Hope inspires action, and action inspires hope. If you feel hopeless about the climate, I suggest you come to the front lines, even if your feelings say otherwise. It might be one of the best contradictions to your distress.
A recent setback: They finished constructing the Line 3 pipeline. Oil is now flowing to Lake Superior. Despite that, the Indigenous-led resistance is still fighting strong and needing help. Get involved if you feel called. There are also other frontline climate struggles (often Indigenous led) throughout the world. You can find one in your area and get involved. Our lives and the lives of future generations are literally on the line. Plus, it’s super fun!
Portland, Oregon, USA
Reprinted from the RC e-mail discussion list for leaders in the transformation of society
(Present Time 207, April 2022)