We Are Water Protectors

Author: Carole Lindstromb

Illustrator: Michaela Goode

Summary

This story begins and ends with water—the lifeblood of existence and the bond that connects a young girl to her community and their sacred land. When the Black Snake threatens to poison her water, she steps forward to protect it. With her hair flowing as freely as her unwavering resolve, this young girl stands tall against the winds of resistance and injustice—not only for herself, but for those that came before her, and the natural world she holds so dear.

Review

This story’s theme isn’t just a cautionary tale about the distant damage of environmental injustice. It showcases the very real and ongoing negative impacts of The Dakota Access Pipeline, or “Black Snake,” in the very lands of the Standing Rock Sioux community. There is a beautiful call to rising, together, as a community; and acting courageously. 

The illustrations are absolutely stunning. They beautifully depict the intertwining of culture and Earth’s beauty, with bodies of water personified into tears, medicine, and spirit. In stark contrast, the black snake lurks and threatens to taint it. Together, the story powerfully paints the message of both heartbreak and hope.

Story Context

The Dakota Access Pipeline, constructed in 2016, transports over half a million barrels of crude oil daily from North Dakota to Illinois, where it is then sent to refineries on the Gulf Coast. With the pipeline running beneath the Missouri River and just half a mile from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s reservation, concerns have been raised about its potential risks to the tribe’s and state’s water supplies, as well as the destruction of sacred Tribal burial sites.

This situation serves as yet another reminder of the ongoing exploitation of indigenous land. Despite vigorous opposition from community members and activists who fought against the environmental and socioeconomic harms posed by the pipeline, the U.S. government dismissed these concerns, allowing the project to proceed. They downplayed the likelihood of an oil spill and its impact on local communities’ health and safety. Although protests have persisted, achieving occasional successes—such as a temporary shutdown in 2023 following a lawsuit that ruled the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers violated environmental laws—the decision was swiftly overturned under a new administration. While an environmental review is still pending, the pipeline continues to operate.

As the struggle continues, the mission remains clear: shut down the pipeline, protect Indigenous land, and address the urgent issue of climate change. Find the latest news and ways to support this movement by visiting the following: https://standingrock.org , https://www.ienearth.org , https://www.honorearth.org