Debra White Plume with Carter Camp in Oklahoma
I've always known that Debra White Plume had the energy of two 21 year olds. �I've watched her lead and organize and guide in such diverse places as Geneva, New York, and the Lakota homeland at Pine Ridge. �I've seen how she can stop big hauls from TransCanada from crossing Lakota territory, and train young women in leadership and organize unity gatherings bringing together hundreds of Indian and non-Indian groups alike. �But not until I actually spent a more substantial length of time at she and her husband Alex's home along the banks of Wounded Knee Creek did I truly see how much knowledge, ancient and modern, this one Lakota grandmother could turn into action, movement and inspiration.�
We came back here [Pine Ridge] after two weeks on the road educating people about the devastation of the pipeline, organizing grassroots communities and leading young people in their efforts to develop action camps. �Myself, a year younger than Debra, took a couple of days to rest up and get a modicum of energy back. �Meanwhile, our first day home Debra was driving herself over to the Tribal Council, advocating for a tribal resolution to keep the pipeline off of the Oglala Lakota reservation. �This is particularly important given that ??? have already sold out to the "fat-takers", the english translation of the Lakota term for invading colonists. �The next morning she was off again, back to the Council to ensure its passage. �
This is a small example of Debra White Plume's activism based on a love of Unci Maka, knowing that Mother Earth was the only being that would sustain and nurture her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren and their great-grandchildren. �Observing Debra White Plume and the few others like her, I now understand that�for the rest of us�the real battle to be fought is the internal one that sets aside fatigue, illness and fear. �It's time for us to get behind our true leaders and make a stand. �There is no more waiting and seeing. �The battle to save Unci Maka is on and we are either on the front lines or we are not. �Hecetu