The first 'Seeds of Resistance' were planted in 2014 by the Cowboy & Indian Alliance, when sacred Ponca corn was returned to the tribe's ancestral homeland in Nebraska for the first time in 137 years -- since the tribe was forcibly removed from Nebraska. (Photo via @JaneKleeb)
In Powerful Action, Anti-Pipeline Activists Sow Sacred 'Seeds of Resistance'
Virginian landowners join with environmentalists in opposition to proposed fracked gas pipeline
In a powerful display of opposition to the fossil fuel economy, activists in Virginia this week are planting traditional "seeds of resistance" along Dominion's proposed natural gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline route.
The action began Monday in Stuarts Draft, when residents met with anti-pipeline activists and members of national environmental groups to sow the sacred blue corn seeds, which were brought by a member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.
"We stand on this common ground that we care about and love," said Mekasi Horinek Camp, Ponca Nation member and coordinator with Bold Oklahoma, which is part of the anti-pipeline Bold Alliance campaign.
As the Alliance notes, "the first 'Seeds of Resistance' were planted in 2014 by the Cowboy & Indian Alliance, when sacred Ponca corn was returned to the tribe's ancestral homeland in Nebraska for the first time in 137 years -- since the tribe was forcibly removed from Nebraska. The corn was planted on land that lies both in the path of the Keystone XL pipeline, and on the historic Ponca Trail of Tears."
"We decided to use this sacred corn and ask it to protect the land for us and have the creator guide us," Camp added. "Crazy Horse said, 'You don't inherit the land from our ancestors, we just borrow it from our children.' I think those are words to live by."
The proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline would carry fracked natural gas over nearly 600 miles from West Virginia to Virginia and North Carolina.
Federal regulators have yet to give their final determination, but landowners oppose the inherent dangers of the pipeline as well as the government's claim of eminent domain. Environmental groups such as the Alliance, Oil Change International, and others that are taking part in the action say this project is another example of fossil fuel development when oil, gas, and coal must in fact to be instead be kept "in the ground."
Images of the dramatic action are being shared on social media under the hashtag #SeedsofResistance while planting continues through Wednesday.
\u201cHard to see, but important: Land tilled for planting #SeedsOfResistance curves exactly along proposed pipeline route\u201d— Oil Change International (@Oil Change International) 1465309381
\u201cCommunity members stand united against deadly pipelines - we must #KeepItInTheGround & spread #SeedsOfResistance.\u201d— Power Shift Network \u270a\ud83c\udffe\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83e\udeb6 (@Power Shift Network \u270a\ud83c\udffe\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83e\udeb6) 1465252563
\u201cPlanting #SeedsOfResistance to stop Atlantic Coast fracked gas pipeline. Thx @SolutionsProj for Fighter Fund grant\u201d— Jane \u201cGo Vote\u201d Kleeb (@Jane \u201cGo Vote\u201d Kleeb) 1465307990
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. The final deadline for our crucial Summer Campaign fundraising drive is just days away, and we’re falling short of our must-hit goal. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
In a powerful display of opposition to the fossil fuel economy, activists in Virginia this week are planting traditional "seeds of resistance" along Dominion's proposed natural gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline route.
The action began Monday in Stuarts Draft, when residents met with anti-pipeline activists and members of national environmental groups to sow the sacred blue corn seeds, which were brought by a member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.
"We stand on this common ground that we care about and love," said Mekasi Horinek Camp, Ponca Nation member and coordinator with Bold Oklahoma, which is part of the anti-pipeline Bold Alliance campaign.
As the Alliance notes, "the first 'Seeds of Resistance' were planted in 2014 by the Cowboy & Indian Alliance, when sacred Ponca corn was returned to the tribe's ancestral homeland in Nebraska for the first time in 137 years -- since the tribe was forcibly removed from Nebraska. The corn was planted on land that lies both in the path of the Keystone XL pipeline, and on the historic Ponca Trail of Tears."
"We decided to use this sacred corn and ask it to protect the land for us and have the creator guide us," Camp added. "Crazy Horse said, 'You don't inherit the land from our ancestors, we just borrow it from our children.' I think those are words to live by."
The proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline would carry fracked natural gas over nearly 600 miles from West Virginia to Virginia and North Carolina.
Federal regulators have yet to give their final determination, but landowners oppose the inherent dangers of the pipeline as well as the government's claim of eminent domain. Environmental groups such as the Alliance, Oil Change International, and others that are taking part in the action say this project is another example of fossil fuel development when oil, gas, and coal must in fact to be instead be kept "in the ground."
Images of the dramatic action are being shared on social media under the hashtag #SeedsofResistance while planting continues through Wednesday.
\u201cHard to see, but important: Land tilled for planting #SeedsOfResistance curves exactly along proposed pipeline route\u201d— Oil Change International (@Oil Change International) 1465309381
\u201cCommunity members stand united against deadly pipelines - we must #KeepItInTheGround & spread #SeedsOfResistance.\u201d— Power Shift Network \u270a\ud83c\udffe\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83e\udeb6 (@Power Shift Network \u270a\ud83c\udffe\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83e\udeb6) 1465252563
\u201cPlanting #SeedsOfResistance to stop Atlantic Coast fracked gas pipeline. Thx @SolutionsProj for Fighter Fund grant\u201d— Jane \u201cGo Vote\u201d Kleeb (@Jane \u201cGo Vote\u201d Kleeb) 1465307990
In a powerful display of opposition to the fossil fuel economy, activists in Virginia this week are planting traditional "seeds of resistance" along Dominion's proposed natural gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline route.
The action began Monday in Stuarts Draft, when residents met with anti-pipeline activists and members of national environmental groups to sow the sacred blue corn seeds, which were brought by a member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.
"We stand on this common ground that we care about and love," said Mekasi Horinek Camp, Ponca Nation member and coordinator with Bold Oklahoma, which is part of the anti-pipeline Bold Alliance campaign.
As the Alliance notes, "the first 'Seeds of Resistance' were planted in 2014 by the Cowboy & Indian Alliance, when sacred Ponca corn was returned to the tribe's ancestral homeland in Nebraska for the first time in 137 years -- since the tribe was forcibly removed from Nebraska. The corn was planted on land that lies both in the path of the Keystone XL pipeline, and on the historic Ponca Trail of Tears."
"We decided to use this sacred corn and ask it to protect the land for us and have the creator guide us," Camp added. "Crazy Horse said, 'You don't inherit the land from our ancestors, we just borrow it from our children.' I think those are words to live by."
The proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline would carry fracked natural gas over nearly 600 miles from West Virginia to Virginia and North Carolina.
Federal regulators have yet to give their final determination, but landowners oppose the inherent dangers of the pipeline as well as the government's claim of eminent domain. Environmental groups such as the Alliance, Oil Change International, and others that are taking part in the action say this project is another example of fossil fuel development when oil, gas, and coal must in fact to be instead be kept "in the ground."
Images of the dramatic action are being shared on social media under the hashtag #SeedsofResistance while planting continues through Wednesday.
\u201cHard to see, but important: Land tilled for planting #SeedsOfResistance curves exactly along proposed pipeline route\u201d— Oil Change International (@Oil Change International) 1465309381
\u201cCommunity members stand united against deadly pipelines - we must #KeepItInTheGround & spread #SeedsOfResistance.\u201d— Power Shift Network \u270a\ud83c\udffe\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83e\udeb6 (@Power Shift Network \u270a\ud83c\udffe\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83e\udeb6) 1465252563
\u201cPlanting #SeedsOfResistance to stop Atlantic Coast fracked gas pipeline. Thx @SolutionsProj for Fighter Fund grant\u201d— Jane \u201cGo Vote\u201d Kleeb (@Jane \u201cGo Vote\u201d Kleeb) 1465307990