Students at the Lac du Flambeau Community College put on a bake sale Tuesday in honor of Standing Rock Awareness day. November 15 is a day dedicated to solidarity as indigenous communities and landowners fight on the frontlines of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Dona Gilane Yahola is part of the Bad River Ojibwe Tribe and works as the outreach coordinator for the community college. She says the community celebrated the day by raising money for winter and camping supplies to bring to water protectors who are on the front…
“…they need ply boards, they need 4x4 posts, they need building lumber, they need metal sheeting, they need concrete blocks…”
Other supplies include winter clothing items such as wool, heavy stockings and gloves. Yahola says they need fire wood and medicine such as cedar, sage, tobacco and sweet grass. So far they’ve raised $800 of their $1,500 goal, but she says this is an effort that goes beyond tribal communities…
“…at this time it’s very important to have non-native allies because they give non-Indians a seat at the table before they give Native people seats at the table to talk and compromise and give them a voice. It’s good to have allies; It’s always good to have allies from different cultures.”
Community members will head out to Standing Rock next week Wednesday to bring the supplies and will return the following Sunday.
To donate contact Dona Gilane Yahola at the Lac du Flambeau Community College.
