My Dearest Takoja: A letter to my granddaughter, from Standing Rock

By: Paula Antoine (Wopilawin)

My life has taken me down many roads. I am a grandmother, mother, sister, aunt, daughter, a relative to many. I am a Lakota - Dakota woman.
In our ways it is appropriate for me to introduce my ancestors before myself. My paternal grandparents are Lawrence Jennings Antoine, (a descendant of Chief Good Cane Milk and of Chief Red Cloud), Mildred Rumus Haukaas, my father Jacob Wallace Antoine. My maternal grandparents, Frank John King (Lakota named, Ska Wicasa, White (painted) Man) and Pauline Shields isis (Dakota name Wopida win meaning “they give thanks for her”); my mother Lavina L. King Milk. I am the middle child of 9 siblings both biological and hunka (Lakota for adopted relative) siblings. I have seven children of my own and nine grandchildren.
My family lives on  the east end of the Rosebud Indian Reservation of South Dakota, from the Ideal Community.

My people have been oppressed since 1492. The oppressors have sought to exterminate my people. The tactics used to take our land and resouces is nothing less than genocide. 
 
Our cultural, spiritual and traditional homelands are under attack each day. We live with the poverty conditions of third world countries of the world in the middle of North America.
 
As young children we faced racism and discrimination in the reservation border town we grew up. My mother was the first to file a discrimination lawsuit in our town which she won. The landlord of a trailor park told her “we don’t want prairie niggers in our lot”.  During that time she couldn’t find a lawyer, which inspired my oldest brother to become a lawyer. After which we all sought education to come back and help our people.
 
I have worn many labels. Two I am most proud of are Water Protector and Land Defender. Which brings me to this place and time. Taking on these roles showed me the endless possibilities that filmmaking, media, and photography could have for my people and our struggles, mainly in our striving to protect the environment, Unci Maka (Mother Earth) for future generations.



When Seth asked me several months ago if I might want to contribute something to this journal, I chose to share a letter I wrote to my granddaughter.

I wrote this letter over a year ago, when the Standing Rock camps ended. 

An elder had asked me at that time to write a letter to my daughter or granddaughter, so that later on it could be read and used as a way to pass on our story of hope to future generations. I didn’t tell others when I wrote the letter, but my granddaughter had already passed away. She was only a few months old when she passed, a couple days after we started our Spirit Camp during our fight against the KXL Pipeline, a few years before Standing Rock. The Spirit Camp had a big influence on the Standing Rock movement. I chose to write to my takoja instead of somebody else because I know that she is still with us, and her life is part of our future. 

-Paula Antoine (Wopilawin)​

(photo Oceti Sakowin Camp 2016)

My Dearest Takoja (grandchild), 
In a blizzard, an elder gave me a gift and encouraged me to pass it on and share our story with my daughter or maybe my granddaughter when she was old enough to understand the complexity and the roles our people are playing in our world. 
  
In the early days of the movement, I struggled hoping that people would turn their attention from the irrelevancy of what the media was force-feeding the public. My frustration was shared with a few others who were committed to saving, to protecting Mother Earth. We remained hopeful and persistent. Each taking different routes to the same end, protecting the future. 
  
Choosing prayer above else. Sitting around a thousand camp fires we shared our stories, songs, prayers, emotions and hope with each other. We sat under millions of stars, greeting and befriending each season while looking to the future.
  
Our hearts, minds, spirits and bodies changing forever; leaving behind the person we thought we knew. Together we witnessed the beginning of the awakening; the continuing of wicogan wicoti; our way of life that our ancestors lived and died to protect. We planted a thought in the world’s mind, a spark in their hearts again. 
  
By living our way of life, walking with respect, prayer and hope; our people can survive. Hecel Oyate kin nipi ktso - So the People will live. Many of us sacrificed more than anyone can imagine, so the people can live. We endured and were blessed with each other. Witnessing true humanity, generosity, love, respect, compassion and most of all humility. 
  
I came home a different person, I found new peace inside. Like when a lake is so calm it becomes a mirror - what is above is as below. The water brought us together, and Mni Wiconi gave us peace. As I hope you find, my dear tokoja. 
  
The elder did not know you left us years ago, making your journey beyond the Milky Way. But each day you inspire me, your spirit still moves me forward. As I know I will see you again. Until then, I will hold your memory and try to walk in peace.
  
Wopilawin (Paula Antoine)

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Paula Antoine

is Sicangu Lakota, from Rosebud Sioux Reservation and a mother and grandmother. Working with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe as the Director of the Sicangu Oyate Land Office and Chairperson of Shielding the People, in 2014 she was one of several who co-founded the Rosebud Spirit Camp in opposition to the planned Keystone XL pipeline. As an intervener in both the KXL and Dakota Access Pipeline issues at the South Dakota Public Utilities, members of the affected community reached out to her for assistance in organizational efforts on Standing Rock, and in 2016 she was appointed by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Council as an organizer of the Sicangu efforts there as well. While involved with the Oceti Sakowin Camp, Antoine participated in the Women's Council and provided advice and operational assistance on the ground with different aspects of the camp. In the efforts to protect Mother Earth, she has led several successful media strategies for both environmental campaigns.  
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Our ways ensure our survival. Remember, practice and pass on. Prepare: we’re closer to winter. Good morning relatives.