Standing Rock - My visit + An Upcoming Benefit.
As many of you may know, I recently traveled to Standing Rock. I have been following the events there for some time and have been donating to the efforts of the Water Protectors and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Still, as I sat at home typing away on my computer and asking others to reach out and to help I felt as if I could do more, that I HAD to do more! I felt an extreme pull to go to camp and to help the helpers. Two of my friends, Ben and Abby Walton went for a few days around Thanksgiving and were planing to return. I also knew of the movement by US veterans heading to Stand with Standing Rock. If there was ever a time for me to go this was it!
I booked my flight on Dec. 2nd and hoped on a plane the next day. I landed in Bismarck, ND and from there I rented a U-Haul truck, met my friends who had driven from NYC and together we purchased supplies for camp.
So many people replied to our calls for help!!!! In just 2 short days I received nearly $4,000 in donations and my friends, who were also asking for donations, received about the same. Together we bought a wood burning stove, mounds of firewood, water/wind proof horse blankets, building materials, subzero sleeping bags, flashlights, batteries, medical supplies, snow melt, shovels, gloves, face masks, sun blankets.. and more... My rented Uhaul and their Subaru were both filled to the roof with supplies. We were so happy to be able to bring these things to camp, as well as $1,500 in cash that went to the medics (who have been responsible for paying for hotels rooms and hospitalization for those suffering with hypothermia and other life threatening situations) $300 cash to veterans at camp and $500 to the propane/gas man that makes runs to and from camp filling tanks for free.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO SUPPORTED THAT EFFORT!!!
We arrived at camp on Dec. 4th, the same day the Army Corps of Engineers declined the permit to DAPL. It was a beautiful sight to see all the people celebrating this victory, but it was also a weary sort of celebration. Many people were talking about what would happen next . . knowing fully that it was not over. Many people were leaving camp but still more were coming in and others that had been there for quite awhile were deciding to stay. All the donations were greatly appreciated. All the helpers that remained continued to work.
It was a massive two days. I left camp on the 5th, after dropping the cash and supplies, meeting some wonderful new friends and helping to build a wigwam. My journey home was treacherous, a blizzard rolled in as I drove an empty Uhaul, 4 hours back to Bismarck, a drive that took 45 minutes the day before. The weather conditions only made me feel more concerned for those that were planning to stay at camp. I was so grateful to be alive and safe when I got home to my family, yet so many people were still out there, for them my heart ached.
A few days later DAPL openly announced that they would continue to build despite the order to stop. The fines they face for continuing have had no effect. There is too much money to be made. . .
For this reason and so many others I will continue to talk and pray about this. To never stop. So many people think that it ended on Dec. 4th. It did not.
Please help me in spreading this awareness!
Finally, if you are in/near Columbus, Ohio I invite you to join me on Dec. 23rd at Sew To Speak, in Worthington, for a special all day benefit for Standing Rock.
To start the day I will be offering 2 hour time slots for makers to come in and craft with me, pick my brain, get help with current projects or simply hang out and work on last minute handmade gifts while supporting this good cause.
Then from 6:30-8:30, there will be refreshments for all as I will present a trunk show and share about my work as a designer, inspiration behind my fabric collections, why I went to Standing Rock and my experiences at camp.
Here is the SCHEDULE OF EVENTS. I hope you can join us to support this important cause!!
12 - 2 PM - Bring your WEAVING and/or MACRAME! I will demonstrate weaving on a simple frame loom, Sew To Speak will also have some looms available for purchase. I can help you with different macramé knots and weaving techniques, help you choose yarn and answer any questions you may have.
2 - 4 PM - Bring your SEWING! I can walk you through reading a pattern, help you choose fabric, or assist with hand-sewing. Sewing machines will not be available for use but you can bring your sewing questions and/or hand-sewing projects.
4 - 6 PM - Bring your KNITTING! Get help with a new or current project, ask questions and let me assist with your yarn shopping. I'm pretty great with color!!
Participants are welcome to come and goes as they wish, attend any portion, or hang out all day.
NOTE: Even if (for example) your come for weaving and I move on to help people with sewing, you are still welcome to stay and freely craft!
Please bring a donation of at least $20.
100% of the donations received + 10% of Sew To Speak's sales from the day will go to directly to Standing Rock!
Donations will be divided into 3 parts with 1/3 going to Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s no DAPL Donation Fund, 1/3 to the Standing Rock Medic & Healer Council, and 1/3 to FreeRedFawn.com.
Thank you so much for following along on my journey, please share this post or the flyer so we can continue to spread the word about this important issue facing our country.
I look forward to seeing you on the 23rd and I can’t wait to create with friends from near and far!
Best wishes to all this Holiday Season,
xoApril
#NoDAPL
#istandwithstandingrock
Comments
1 Comment