Road Trips with Purpose: a Power-Filled Gift to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

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Truck wheels kicked up the dust of sacred land and Arizona’s red rock desert soon became a rear view as two men from the Navajo Nation set off beyond the Colorado plateau on an expedition that would likely be the most impactful of their lives.

An inspiring journey to sacred land

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Unlike most journeys though, this trip was more than just a road trip. More than just a series of photos. More than just a self-fulfilling retreat for peace of mind. This journey was a contribution to support and protect land and water considered sacred and significant to the tribes of Standing Rock, North Dakota.

“[This movement] is to protect sacred sites … and in this case, prevent contamination of the water source for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the people that live downstream of the Missouri River.” – Brett Isaac

Known and loved in their local community for their efforts to bring affordable solar solutions to families living off the grid, Brett Isaac and Doug Yazzie (Navajo/Hopi and Navajo, respectively) were pondering the best ways to contribute to the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline construction when a camp contacted them regarding support in the form of energy.

Isaac and Yazzie, solar energy business partners, accepted the challenge without hesitation and resolved to build a 20-foot trailer and gift their own solar unit to the camp.

Driving Solar Panels on a 20-foot Truck in Six States

But the journey had just begun. Driving the 1.56kw solar panels, 40kw battery pack, and 20-foot trailer through Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and South Dakota to Standing Rock, North Dakota wouldn’t be easy, and the two men had a long checklist of tasks to complete within a short timeframe.

First, they needed DMV tags for the newly built trailer. Like most DMV interactions, the office was closed, and waiting for it to reopen set them back a day.

Then, as most road trips require, they needed to get a new spare tire in Moab, as well as service their truck in Grand Junction. Two days, 24 hours of driving, more than 1,200 miles, and an alerting engine light later, they arrived in Standing Rock and immediately set to work.

After consulting with tribe and camp leaders to discuss the best way to use solar energy, the solar panels were strategically placed to power the main kitchen (refrigerator, deep freezer, lighting) and PA system for the camp.

With over 280 nations and allies gathered to stand in the fight against the pipeline’s construction, this 1.56kw solar unit will be able to power the base that feeds thousands of people a day with donated food.

Winter Will Bring Hurdles

But the fight isn’t over. There’s much to be done. As the winter months shift closer, power is needed even more. Yazzie shared photos of the solar setup on his Facebook page, and informed readers how much more is needed, as visitors and tribes intend to stay through the winter:

“Kitchen and PA are powered … now we must work on powering the school, security, medic, [and] other four kitchens.” – Doug Yazzie

It is safe to say that a close-knit community has formed, regardless of tribe, as people continue to flock to Standing Rock to join what has become a powerful statement. Unsurprisingly, once Yazzie and Isaac arrived and got their truck blessed by the camp, their engine light turned off.

What You Can Do To Help Protest the Dakota Access Pipeline Construction

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Are you wondering, “How can I help the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe fight against the construction of the DAPL?”

Here are the top solutions you can contribute to in solidarity with the Sioux Tribe:

Help keep the power running. Donate to the solar panel fund to get these guys to build, transport, and install more solar power in the camp. Brett Isaac and Doug Yazzie have donated their labor and resources, but solar units are quite expensive. Their Standing Rock solar GoFundMe page is here: http://bit.ly/SolarForStandingRock
Check the list of actionable items from this Free Thought Project article including calling the North Dakota Governor; signing a number of petitions; and even donating to a legal defense fund. Click here for the article.
Donate supplies requested on this Sacred Stone Camp supply list and this Amazon wish list. Your contributions are appreciated.

Share this article and make a change!

If you were inspired by the action these men took to make change and support Mother Earth, sacred land, and fellow humans, then share this article and get people inspired to act now.

There are tons of things you can do to help, even if you have no money to donate or the opportunity to get there. You can make phone calls. Sign petitions. And keep sharing articles like this to support the fight.

xx, O.

Photo and video credits: Doug Yazzie and Tinsel Korey Yazzie

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9 Comments

This is so inspiring! (I found you on Instagram)

Love the story, people like this who r able to do this for such an important cause is way up there in my book as super hero’s! Water is Life!

Olivia Christine,
How great to read this article you wrote. I too have Lupus and I too was at Sacred Stone Camp.
I am a 68 yr old, young person at heart, from Santa Fe, New Mexico. My grandfather was from Southern, N.M.
I am Mescalero. Because of my Lupus or maybe because I am just getting old, it was too cold for me there at Sacred Stone camp. We were there three days and I vow to return when the weather gets warmer. Here in Santa Fe we are collecting winter clothes and blankets for the next person/s that does a run to ND.
The solar power system was great. I wish more Solar companies would do the same. Power for the school and the medic’s is so important. Teaching our children our ways and also the needed white ways, will give our children and their children and on and on, the opportunity to change the way our world runs. Change the greedy ways. The ugly competitive ways. All that was left outside the campgrounds. It was so beautiful. When we got home we found out the police had gotten aggressive again outside the camp.
It is unfortunate that some jobs make us behave, unlike humans sometimes. I think these policeman must hate their jobs at times, but, what kind of work can a barely high school graduate get, especially in the Midwest? I’ll bet they want their children to grow up with clean water, just as we do. As a grandmother I will fight where I can, with whom I can, as often as I can, about "Water is Life". I will return to Sacred Stone Camp, but in the meantime, I shall continue to educate the people around me about what is happening in North Dakota.
Olivia Christine, I wish you happiness, good health, much travel, abundance without the terrible strings that sometimes come with it, truth and I would wish you greatness, but you already have that.
Love with a sprinkle of magic,
Mitra Lujan

I have an outline to change this system. I plan on shutting down the oil industry, getting rid of Congress and 2 branches of the government. Changing the education system and developing the world to make it livable again.

MOST INSPIRING AND HEARTACHE TO KNOW THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN THE RESPONSE NEEDED BY GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT OUR NATIONS THAT ARE BRINGING AWARENESS TO AMERICA. OUR NATIONS HAVE GIVEN THE SHIRT OFF THEIR BACKS TO HELP ALL CULTURES. WE NEVER ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENT. IT’S OUR WAY TO GIVE FREELY, BUT GROSS NEGLECT AND CONTINUED GREED BY THE NEW CULTURES HAVE TO STOP. THERE ARE NEW GENERATIONS BORN EVERY MINUTE OF EVERYDAY. THANK YOU TO THE YOUNG MEN WHO BROUGHT HOPE TO THE NATIONS CAMPED AT SACRED STONES CAMP FROM THE NAVAJO AND HOPI.