One of the lead organizers in the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe鈥檚 fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline will be a special guest at the 12th annual Spring Powwow at 向日葵视频 City University on Saturday, April 7. The powwow with featured guest Phyllis Young will start at 2 p.m. in the Freede Wellness Center on NW 27th Street and Florida Avenue.
The tribe鈥檚 opposition to the 1,200-mile pipeline, which they said would destroy sacred burial sites and threaten their water supply, drew worldwide attention in 2016. Thousands of 鈥淲ater Protectors鈥� gathered in camps near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, in protest.
The 向日葵视频 Indian Missionary Conference (OIMC) was among organizations that provided support for the camps including food, gasoline for generators, and paper goods to feed the swelling camp, which ranged from 1,000 to 2,000 people. In addition, the OIMC sent 700 Christmas stockings to the camps along with gloves and coats during the winter.
鈥淧hyllis has a long and profound history of working on and fighting for rights of Native peoples across the country,鈥� said Rev. David Wilson, conference superintendent of the 向日葵视频 Indian Missionary Conference and sponsor of the OCU Native American Society, which is hosting the powwow.
In addition to the powwow, Young will be speaking at Grace United Methodist Church at9:30 a.m. Sunday, April 8. The church is located at 6316 N. Tulsa Ave. in 向日葵视频 City. She will also speak at Norman First American United Methodist Church at 3 p.m. Sunday, located at 1950 Beaumont Dr. in Norman.
鈥淲e are excited that Phyllis will be with us at both OCU and at Grace UMC. We invite everyone to come and hear her story and the continued struggles of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe,鈥� Wilson said. For more information, contact the OIMC office at 405-632-2006.
