Sequoia Gregorich, Law and Ethics Editor
On Friday, March 10, economist, environmentalist, writer and activist Winona LaDuke spoke at the Open Space for Arts and Community. She was accompanied by islanders Martha Enson and Bill Moyer, as well as Water Warriors from the Puyallup tribe and other indigenous leaders.
The event consisted of speeches, music, prayer, humor, inspirational words and tales of tragedy. All proceeds from the event went toward LaDuke’s nonprofit organization, “Honor the Earth.”
One of LaDuke’s most notable accomplishments was her run for vice president alongside Ralph Nader in 2000. But overall, she is a celebrity famous for action.
LaDuke can be found at the front lines of protests such as the ones at Standing Rock and the Red Warrior Camp. She is an advocate for indigenous peoples’ rights, environmental reform and countless other issues.
A large portion of the night was devoted to addressing environmental reform and the negative impacts of liquified natural gas (LNG), an issue of interest for a great number of island residents.
“We have to be a patriot to the land, not the flag,” LaDuke said as she reflected on her continuous fight against the LNG and pipeline corporations that rip through Native American land — often leaking and disrupting the ecosystem.
LaDuke encouraged a society independent from fossil fuels, stating:
“It’s our covenant. [If you] live there, you take care of it.”
She has repeatedly been the voice of protests across the country, many times ending up head-to-head with the Enbridge Energy Partners corporation. LaDuke demanded Enbridge release an Environmental Impact Assessment, which ultimately resulted in the cancellation of the Sandpiper Pipeline on August 2, 2016, an oil pipeline that would have crossed the entire state of Minnesota.
And more recently, the event that brought tears to her eyes was the removal of 300 miles from the Dakota pipeline. During her lecture, LaDuke spoke of the protesters that caused such a change.
These people, some of whom are islanders, are facing opposition that often turns violent — and sometimes deadly. Many are met with pepper spray, dogs, fire hoses and weapons that can blow out their eardrums.
Despite the hatred that protesters have faced, LaDuke said, they remain a strong unit and continue to make an impact.
“Standing Rock was our ‘Selma Moment,’” LaDuke said.
Accompanying her speech was a variety of different forms of art, creating an atmosphere fit for the inspirational event. Before LaDuke spoke, Paul “Che oke ten” Wagner, who has played the flute in the Seattle symphony, performed two songs.
One song was accompanied by a plethora of illuminated salmon art, representing victims of the pipelines, that floated around the darkened room. A backdrop of photography and various other art projections appeared behind the speakers. Murals by Submerge, a musical group who played at the end of the night, lined the walls.
It was an evening of beauty and empowerment, especially for the women and youth in the room. LaDuke spoke of the importance of female leaders, as well as Native Americans’ history of powerful women.
She expressed the importance of lifting each other up, a theme touched upon throughout the night as Wagner invited the audience members to raise both hands as a sign of support and chant “yahowt” meaning “to complete something together.”
Not only were her anecdotes memorable, but LaDuke also captivated the audience with her witty and passionate mannerisms.
As a conclusion to the night, LaDuke called for action. Her statements were frank, asking that the audience not be “an island of political correctness unto yourself.”
She spoke of how the 1 percent is destroying the social and environmental systems in the country, and called upon the the 99 percent to demand change.
“Why don’t we act like we are the 99 percent?” she said.
She also expressed an admirable trait of Vashon — working alongside neighbors and protecting values.
For the families in the room, she ended the night with a message:
“How long are you going to let others decide the future of your children?”
It was a concept discussed before and during LaDuke’s speech — the idea of making a future for the next generations. Her message for the youth themselves?
“Make your future.”