In 2016 I intently watched through social media, the events unfolding at Standing Rock (not being covered by any news outlets.) Momentum grew as a Tribe asked the U.S. Government to recognize the threat a private corporation was posing to their community's drinking water.

A lot of people who weren't familiar with the government's historical treatment of Native Americans were shocked and confused by what was happening. I got so many questions like, "How could they do this?", "How do they not understand this pipeline will contaminate their water?"

"They don't see us as human beings. It's really easy to poison our water and hurt us, if they don't see us as human beings." Was surprised by how many people didn't realize how important it is that people in positions of power recognize Native Americans as actual human beings.

I cannot tell you enough how much hope this nomination gives me. It doesn't instantly "fix" anything, and Auntie Deb will be heavily scrutinized and also encounter a lot of resistance within the department.

But I won't ever forget watching the military tanks rolling into Standing Rock and Water Protectors being sprayed down with fire hoses in the cold winter as they peacefully prayed. I won't ever forget that supporters from throughout the country and internationally were pleading

for the Secretary of the Interior to recognize their treaty rights and their land rights, begging for the simple right to have clean water. I won't forget the agonizing cries as water protectors watched fields being dug up. I won't forget what it looked like as

they arrested respected elders and tear gassed youth. I won't forget the dogs with bloodied teeth and the riot gear and the guns. I won't forget the barricades and the drones and the journalists who were arrested while attempting to cover the story.

I also won't forget the singing, and the dancing and the prayers. I won't forget the pride I felt as I saw The Runners from my own community run into the camp. I won't forget the flags of all the different Tribal communities and Nations that visited the camp blowing in the wind.

I won't forget the banners of support our students spent days painting in the student lounge on my campus. I won't forget the student organized donation drives. I won't forget youth on horseback and they rode through the camps.

I won't forget the tents or the teepees or the makeshift kitchens that kept people fed. I won't forget the prayers and the support and the calls to action. I won't forget the coming together of community.

I won't forget those things.I won't forget our resilience.
I won't forget that during that time that the United States Government deliberated our treaties and treated our communities as subhuman, Auntie Deb Haaland stood amongst relatives and prepared meals for Water Protectors.

Thank you, Auntie Deb for all you do! We're so proud of you!

https://tucson.com/news/local/native-americans-interior-nomination-thrills-tribal-leaders-activists-across-arizona/article_7555ad41-4529-50ed-926c-cb2218ba28a7.amp.html