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Indigenous Peoples marched from the U.S. Interior Department to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Friday morning. (Photo: Samantha Eldridge/Twitter)
'If the Water Is Rising, Then So Must We': Indigenous Peoples March in Washington Against Global Injustice
"It's a collective cry for help because we're in a time of crisis," said one organizer. "Indigenous people from around the world are suffering from the same colonization."
Jan 17, 2019
In an event described as "breathtaking, heartbreaking, strong, and beautiful," representatives from native communities around the world came together in Washington, D.C. on Friday for the first-ever Indigenous Peoples March.
Organized as a rebuke to the violence and injustices that Indigenous Peoples often face--from the murder of native girls and women to police brutality to having unceded tribal lands torn away by colonizing governments and fossil fuel corporations--the march kicked off Friday morning outside the U.S. Interior Department.
\u201cThe #IndigenousPeoplesMarch is calling attention to the injustices faced by Native communities, including:\n\n\u2022 The epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women \n\u2022 An "environmental holocaust" on Indigenous lands\n\u2022 Voter suppression\n\u2022 Police brutality\u201d— AJ+ (@AJ+) 1547819075
"I think it's a collective cry for help because we're in a time of crisis that we have not seen in a very long time," Nathalie Farfan, an Ecuadorian Indigenous woman and march organizer, toldRemezcla earlier this week. "When I say crisis, I mean collective crisis. A lot of Indigenous people from around the world are suffering from the same colonization."
"This is the time to bring awareness to these injustices that have divided us all," Farfan added. "That's why we are saying unity is power, and we need all Indigenous people to come."
With a nod to human-caused global warming, which also inspired Indigenous groups to plan the march, one participant declared from the streets on Friday, "If the water is rising, then so must we." Supporters and marchers posted updates to social media with the hashtags #IndigenousPeoplesMarch, #IPMDC19, #WhyIMarch, and #WaterIsLife:
\u201cToday we remember the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women. #IndigenousPeoplesMarch #IPMDC19 #WaterIsLife\u201d— People For the American Way (@People For the American Way) 1547821193
\u201cToday, we march with our Indigenous sisters, brothers and siblings at the #IndigenousPeoplesMarch \n\n#IPMDC19 #WomensWave\u201d— Women's March (@Women's March) 1547826298
\u201cToday, Indigenous activists and allies are taking to the streets of Washington, D.C. to call attention to injustices faced by Indigenous people and communities all over the world. Show them your support! #IndigenousPeoplesMarch #IPMDC19\u201d— UnitedStateofWomen (@UnitedStateofWomen) 1547831174
The march moved from the Interior Department to the Lincoln Memorial, where organizers planned an all-day rally, followed by an evening fundraising concert at the Songbyrd Music House. Indigenous leaders addressed the crowd at the memorial.
Acknowledging that she feels a responsibility to educate federal lawmakers on Indigenous issues, as one of the first Native American women in Congress, Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), who was scheduled to speak at the rally Friday afternoon, said in a statement, "For too long Native communities have been left out of the national/global conversation, and our men, women, and children suffer because of it."
The main message of the march seemed to be captured by one speaker who said: "Today we stand in solidarity and truth. Today we are visible."
\u201c\u201cI\u2019m just this old Ojibwe woman from the north... I come as an elder, I come as a people, I come to you.\u201d #IPMDC19\u201d— Jourdan Bennett-Begaye (@Jourdan Bennett-Begaye) 1547826485
\u201cHere at the Lincoln Memorial where many great leaders stood, where MLK stood, for the Indigenous Peoples March. Bringing awareness to our shared struggles and celebrating the beauty of our people! \u270a\ud83c\udffd #IPMDC19 #INDIGENOUSPEOPLESMARCH #WhyIMarch #WaterisLife #MMIW #MMIWG\u201d— OP\ud83c\udf84L (@OP\ud83c\udf84L) 1547826224
\u201cNow is the time for truth. Now is the time for healing. #IPMDC19\u201d— Native Americans in Philanthropy (@Native Americans in Philanthropy) 1547821510
There were also multiple solidarity marches organized across North America. Several groups supporting women's rights, reproductive justice, gun control, and environmental conservation expressed support for and even joined the marches, highlighting how each of those causes are especially important for Indigenous communities:
\u201cWe\u2019re marching because gun suicides disproportionally affect Native Americans.\n\nAccording to @genprogress @CAPActionGuns \u201cA young Native American commits suicide with a gun every six days in the United States\u201d\n\n#whyimarch #IPMDC19\u201d— March For Our Lives DC (@March For Our Lives DC) 1547793461
\u201cIn states that allow their Medicaid to cover abortion care, Indian Health Services still does not. The federal government & Hyde Amendment take those private personal decisions away from Indigenous women. #IPMDC19 #WhyIMarch\u201d— NAF (@NAF) 1547817863
\u201cWe stand in solidarity with all those gathering in DC today for the #IndigenousPeoplesMarch. We must continue to fight against the injustices affecting indigenous people. #IPMDC19\u201d— Earthjustice (@Earthjustice) 1547827271
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In an event described as "breathtaking, heartbreaking, strong, and beautiful," representatives from native communities around the world came together in Washington, D.C. on Friday for the first-ever Indigenous Peoples March.
Organized as a rebuke to the violence and injustices that Indigenous Peoples often face--from the murder of native girls and women to police brutality to having unceded tribal lands torn away by colonizing governments and fossil fuel corporations--the march kicked off Friday morning outside the U.S. Interior Department.
\u201cThe #IndigenousPeoplesMarch is calling attention to the injustices faced by Native communities, including:\n\n\u2022 The epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women \n\u2022 An "environmental holocaust" on Indigenous lands\n\u2022 Voter suppression\n\u2022 Police brutality\u201d— AJ+ (@AJ+) 1547819075
"I think it's a collective cry for help because we're in a time of crisis that we have not seen in a very long time," Nathalie Farfan, an Ecuadorian Indigenous woman and march organizer, toldRemezcla earlier this week. "When I say crisis, I mean collective crisis. A lot of Indigenous people from around the world are suffering from the same colonization."
"This is the time to bring awareness to these injustices that have divided us all," Farfan added. "That's why we are saying unity is power, and we need all Indigenous people to come."
With a nod to human-caused global warming, which also inspired Indigenous groups to plan the march, one participant declared from the streets on Friday, "If the water is rising, then so must we." Supporters and marchers posted updates to social media with the hashtags #IndigenousPeoplesMarch, #IPMDC19, #WhyIMarch, and #WaterIsLife:
\u201cToday we remember the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women. #IndigenousPeoplesMarch #IPMDC19 #WaterIsLife\u201d— People For the American Way (@People For the American Way) 1547821193
\u201cToday, we march with our Indigenous sisters, brothers and siblings at the #IndigenousPeoplesMarch \n\n#IPMDC19 #WomensWave\u201d— Women's March (@Women's March) 1547826298
\u201cToday, Indigenous activists and allies are taking to the streets of Washington, D.C. to call attention to injustices faced by Indigenous people and communities all over the world. Show them your support! #IndigenousPeoplesMarch #IPMDC19\u201d— UnitedStateofWomen (@UnitedStateofWomen) 1547831174
The march moved from the Interior Department to the Lincoln Memorial, where organizers planned an all-day rally, followed by an evening fundraising concert at the Songbyrd Music House. Indigenous leaders addressed the crowd at the memorial.
Acknowledging that she feels a responsibility to educate federal lawmakers on Indigenous issues, as one of the first Native American women in Congress, Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), who was scheduled to speak at the rally Friday afternoon, said in a statement, "For too long Native communities have been left out of the national/global conversation, and our men, women, and children suffer because of it."
The main message of the march seemed to be captured by one speaker who said: "Today we stand in solidarity and truth. Today we are visible."
\u201c\u201cI\u2019m just this old Ojibwe woman from the north... I come as an elder, I come as a people, I come to you.\u201d #IPMDC19\u201d— Jourdan Bennett-Begaye (@Jourdan Bennett-Begaye) 1547826485
\u201cHere at the Lincoln Memorial where many great leaders stood, where MLK stood, for the Indigenous Peoples March. Bringing awareness to our shared struggles and celebrating the beauty of our people! \u270a\ud83c\udffd #IPMDC19 #INDIGENOUSPEOPLESMARCH #WhyIMarch #WaterisLife #MMIW #MMIWG\u201d— OP\ud83c\udf84L (@OP\ud83c\udf84L) 1547826224
\u201cNow is the time for truth. Now is the time for healing. #IPMDC19\u201d— Native Americans in Philanthropy (@Native Americans in Philanthropy) 1547821510
There were also multiple solidarity marches organized across North America. Several groups supporting women's rights, reproductive justice, gun control, and environmental conservation expressed support for and even joined the marches, highlighting how each of those causes are especially important for Indigenous communities:
\u201cWe\u2019re marching because gun suicides disproportionally affect Native Americans.\n\nAccording to @genprogress @CAPActionGuns \u201cA young Native American commits suicide with a gun every six days in the United States\u201d\n\n#whyimarch #IPMDC19\u201d— March For Our Lives DC (@March For Our Lives DC) 1547793461
\u201cIn states that allow their Medicaid to cover abortion care, Indian Health Services still does not. The federal government & Hyde Amendment take those private personal decisions away from Indigenous women. #IPMDC19 #WhyIMarch\u201d— NAF (@NAF) 1547817863
\u201cWe stand in solidarity with all those gathering in DC today for the #IndigenousPeoplesMarch. We must continue to fight against the injustices affecting indigenous people. #IPMDC19\u201d— Earthjustice (@Earthjustice) 1547827271
In an event described as "breathtaking, heartbreaking, strong, and beautiful," representatives from native communities around the world came together in Washington, D.C. on Friday for the first-ever Indigenous Peoples March.
Organized as a rebuke to the violence and injustices that Indigenous Peoples often face--from the murder of native girls and women to police brutality to having unceded tribal lands torn away by colonizing governments and fossil fuel corporations--the march kicked off Friday morning outside the U.S. Interior Department.
\u201cThe #IndigenousPeoplesMarch is calling attention to the injustices faced by Native communities, including:\n\n\u2022 The epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women \n\u2022 An "environmental holocaust" on Indigenous lands\n\u2022 Voter suppression\n\u2022 Police brutality\u201d— AJ+ (@AJ+) 1547819075
"I think it's a collective cry for help because we're in a time of crisis that we have not seen in a very long time," Nathalie Farfan, an Ecuadorian Indigenous woman and march organizer, toldRemezcla earlier this week. "When I say crisis, I mean collective crisis. A lot of Indigenous people from around the world are suffering from the same colonization."
"This is the time to bring awareness to these injustices that have divided us all," Farfan added. "That's why we are saying unity is power, and we need all Indigenous people to come."
With a nod to human-caused global warming, which also inspired Indigenous groups to plan the march, one participant declared from the streets on Friday, "If the water is rising, then so must we." Supporters and marchers posted updates to social media with the hashtags #IndigenousPeoplesMarch, #IPMDC19, #WhyIMarch, and #WaterIsLife:
\u201cToday we remember the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women. #IndigenousPeoplesMarch #IPMDC19 #WaterIsLife\u201d— People For the American Way (@People For the American Way) 1547821193
\u201cToday, we march with our Indigenous sisters, brothers and siblings at the #IndigenousPeoplesMarch \n\n#IPMDC19 #WomensWave\u201d— Women's March (@Women's March) 1547826298
\u201cToday, Indigenous activists and allies are taking to the streets of Washington, D.C. to call attention to injustices faced by Indigenous people and communities all over the world. Show them your support! #IndigenousPeoplesMarch #IPMDC19\u201d— UnitedStateofWomen (@UnitedStateofWomen) 1547831174
The march moved from the Interior Department to the Lincoln Memorial, where organizers planned an all-day rally, followed by an evening fundraising concert at the Songbyrd Music House. Indigenous leaders addressed the crowd at the memorial.
Acknowledging that she feels a responsibility to educate federal lawmakers on Indigenous issues, as one of the first Native American women in Congress, Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), who was scheduled to speak at the rally Friday afternoon, said in a statement, "For too long Native communities have been left out of the national/global conversation, and our men, women, and children suffer because of it."
The main message of the march seemed to be captured by one speaker who said: "Today we stand in solidarity and truth. Today we are visible."
\u201c\u201cI\u2019m just this old Ojibwe woman from the north... I come as an elder, I come as a people, I come to you.\u201d #IPMDC19\u201d— Jourdan Bennett-Begaye (@Jourdan Bennett-Begaye) 1547826485
\u201cHere at the Lincoln Memorial where many great leaders stood, where MLK stood, for the Indigenous Peoples March. Bringing awareness to our shared struggles and celebrating the beauty of our people! \u270a\ud83c\udffd #IPMDC19 #INDIGENOUSPEOPLESMARCH #WhyIMarch #WaterisLife #MMIW #MMIWG\u201d— OP\ud83c\udf84L (@OP\ud83c\udf84L) 1547826224
\u201cNow is the time for truth. Now is the time for healing. #IPMDC19\u201d— Native Americans in Philanthropy (@Native Americans in Philanthropy) 1547821510
There were also multiple solidarity marches organized across North America. Several groups supporting women's rights, reproductive justice, gun control, and environmental conservation expressed support for and even joined the marches, highlighting how each of those causes are especially important for Indigenous communities:
\u201cWe\u2019re marching because gun suicides disproportionally affect Native Americans.\n\nAccording to @genprogress @CAPActionGuns \u201cA young Native American commits suicide with a gun every six days in the United States\u201d\n\n#whyimarch #IPMDC19\u201d— March For Our Lives DC (@March For Our Lives DC) 1547793461
\u201cIn states that allow their Medicaid to cover abortion care, Indian Health Services still does not. The federal government & Hyde Amendment take those private personal decisions away from Indigenous women. #IPMDC19 #WhyIMarch\u201d— NAF (@NAF) 1547817863
\u201cWe stand in solidarity with all those gathering in DC today for the #IndigenousPeoplesMarch. We must continue to fight against the injustices affecting indigenous people. #IPMDC19\u201d— Earthjustice (@Earthjustice) 1547827271
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