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Water protectors are activists, organizers, and cultural workers focused on the defense of the world's water and water systems. The water protector name, analysis and style of activism arose from Indigenous communities in North America during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests at the Standing Rock Reservation, which began with an encampment on LaDonna Brave Bull Allard's land in April, 2016.[1][2]
Water protectors are similar to land defenders, but are distinguished from other environmental activists by this philosophy and approach that is rooted in an indigenous cultural perspective that sees water and the land as sacred.[3][4] This relationship with water moves beyond simply having access to clean drinking water, and comes from the beliefs that water is necessary for life and that water is a relative and therefore it must be treated with respect.[5] As such, the reasons for protection of water are older, more holistic, and integrated into a larger cultural and spiritual whole than in most modern forms of environmental activism, which may be more based in seeing water and other extractive resources as commodities.[6][7]
Historically, water protectors have been led by or composed of women;[8] in this way, it is comparable to the ecofeminist movement.[9]
- ^ Today, Indian Country (12 April 2021). "LaDonna Brave Bull Allard 'changed history'". Indian Country Today. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ^ LeQuesne, Theo (2019-04-03). "Petro-hegemony and the matrix of resistance: What can Standing Rock's Water Protectors teach us about organizing for climate justice in the United States?". Environmental Sociology. 5 (2): 188–206. Bibcode:2019EnvSo...5..188L. doi:10.1080/23251042.2018.1541953. S2CID 158080836.
- ^ "Standing Rock activists: Don't call us protesters. We're water protectors". Public Radio International. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
- ^ Gilio-Whitaker, Dina (2017-03-06). "What Environmental Justice Means in Indian Country". KCET. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
- ^ Jewett, Chas; Garavan, Mark (2018-12-20). "Water is Life- an Indigenous Perspective from a Standing Rock Water Protector". Community Development Journal. 54: 42–58. doi:10.1093/cdj/bsy062.
- ^ "Grandmother Josephine Mandamin, a 69 Year Old Who Walked Around the Great Lakes, Talks About the Water Docs International Festival - Shedoesthecity". Shedoesthecity. 2013-03-22. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
- ^ Whyte, Kyle Powys (2013). "Justice Forward: Tribes, Climate Adaptation and Responsibility". Climatic Change. 120 (3): 117–130. Bibcode:2013ClCh..120..517W. doi:10.1007/s10584-013-0743-2. S2CID 149453106.
- ^ Dennis, Mary Kate; Bell, Finn McLafferty (2021-02-16). "Indigenous Women, Water Protectors, and Reciprocal Responsibilities". Social Work. 65 (4): 378–386. doi:10.1093/sw/swaa033. ISSN 0037-8046. PMID 33020844.
- ^ Bell, F.; Dennis, Mary Kate; Brar, Glory (2022). ""Doing Hope": Ecofeminist Spirituality Provides Emotional Sustenance to Confront the Climate Crisis". Affilia. 37: 42–61. doi:10.1177/0886109920987242. S2CID 234115149.