Andrew Row ’14 met with 7th, 8th and 9th grade students to talk about what it meant to him to camp alongside 10,000 others in December, protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Drawing on his past experience of time spent with the Cree Nation in Canada, and understanding that struggles over land and its use is all too familiar to native peoples, Andrew joined a van load of others who wanted to show their support for the Standing Rock Sioux.

Eighth grade student Saraphina Forman asked whether it is better to go to the site to protest or to donate the money one might spend on traveling. Andrew shared his belief that both types of support are needed, and pointed out that it’s important to either send money through a trusted organization or know what specific supplies are needed if one wishes to send items.

Andrew showed this video below, produced by the Standing Rock Sioux, and encouraged our students to be aware that these injustices continue to happen and that by supporting native peoples any way we can, we’re helping to build a new legacy.