Hello lair loves, I vanished just before my birthday once again but sadly this wasn't because of the new kids or Jack, or anything that brings smiles and laughter. I missed my birthday but thank you for not missing it with me. I will get to the events over the next few days but thank you all for thinking of me.

Mitakuye Oyasin - Aho! (All my relation - Hello!)

I'm home now. I have been for awhile. I just didn't have the strength to come here or anywhere to be honest. I've been on the rez, in the middle of a war zone. I still believe in justice and equality but my opinion and attitude about the people around me and the people who are in positions of trust and law enforcement have drastically changed. Going over the Frost Kennel claim of injury to it's work force and that they only reacted in self defense in comparison to raw video showing the security detail sic'ing their dogs on the crowd that had gathered when DAPL resumed digging is what got me involved in the first place. Now my job is to take the raw footage and piece it together to get the real story.

I do not like this job. I am also really good at it which is why they asked me to go frame by frame and match the different view points of the mountain of video that was taken from then until now.

I have for the first time in my life seen what a war zone looks like up close. I am Sioux. I lost track of my sister and my neice at the spirit fire at the camp of the Sacred Stones October 22. After Oceti Sakowin camp site was destroyed October 27 I found my niece but did not know my sister had been detained. The sheriff will tell you they were not mistreated. My sister still has a number faintly visible on her arm, she said she was shoved in a kennel looking crate - sound familiar? Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl.

You can read about it if you google Standing Rock. They (DAPL) have been told to stand down but they were told to stand down when they turned the dogs on us. They have brought in a huge contraption for drilling under Lake Oahe even tho the ACoE told them they don't have the right permits. Finding artifacts and grave markings didn't stop them from digging up the ancient burial grounds near Cannonball so I don't think anything anyone says will, they do what they want.

My brother is there, so are my uncles and two nephews while those who are staying set up the man camps. Once we found where they had taken my sister and got her out we ran for home. Now we've been hit with a blizzard but I assume they're still ok.

I don't want to get into a political debate, no, scratch that, I will not. Nor will I discuss or argue the pipeline, the money behind it, the sheriff, the goveneror, the propeganda or the media ignoring what happened to us. I know what I saw. I know what I heard. And I know how it feels to get hit with a beanbag round now. Learning all this was never part of my bucket list.

What happened is all over youtube but the most reliable other than E'sha, Myron and Dallas who tried to use live feed during the face off is Unicorn Riot's "Ninja". http://www.unicornriot.ninja/?p=10476

But to get the big picture, it's the raw footage that shows the truth, and is really tough to watch.

Look at your own risk. And no, that's not Iraq or Afghanistan. It's highway 1806 starting at the bridge at the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota.

Forgive me for not catching up as quickly as I should. I will eventually. ~Laurie Mikinaakikwe

NO child was shot and killed. That is misinformation.

Tatanka (the wild buffalo bull) did come when the tribe called. The footage of DAPL and military forces shooting at them and rounding them up is fact. They were put in a corral and now they're gone. If anyone has seen trucks hauling buffalo please let someone know, we can not find them.

Oh Laurie I have been worried about you, your family and your tribe. But this is a righteous battle for your tribe. Drilling will effect generations to come. Please be safe! I missed you, but understand and at the same time worry.

Stay safe , do what your heart dictates...that is all any of us can do. sending huggles

- hugs to you dear one. I looked at the info site you provided...unbelievable. I am glad you are safe Laurie. The whole thing is staggering. I want the tide to turn in your direction...and I want you to be safe...not in that order...you safe is first...hugs hugs hugs dear one ❤

I've put up pictures of what has occurred and will continue to do so on faceb.Stay well and stay safe hugs.

I'm so glad you came home safely from the protest. hugs

I simply don't know what to say. Stay safe, dear Laurie. I'm sending postive thoughts and prayers 💚 hugs

So glad to have you home and safe. Take your time to shake off the stress and truly relax while trying to deal with life as you know it. We love you - you're our Mama Bear! So sorry for how the USA works sometimes and you've experience some of the worst of it.

So glad you are safe. I am gobsmacked with what has gone on. It is despicable!!!!

Glad to know you and your family are safe! I was hearing bits about this but don't know all the details, I rarely watch the news anymore so the only real info about it I got was from your post and a few things I've seen here and there. It sounds completely awful out there, hopefully it's solved soon and they stop the pipeline.

laurie : It is a righteous battle, I like that word righteousness. Everything done in the name of righteousness will go rewarded one way or another. A small part of your reward is that your message is spreading, the world has been made aware of this issue and the imagination of the world has been enflamed toward your cause. I'm glad you are home. If only I could give you a hug now.

- Thank you for sharing your firsthand experiences protesting DAPL, and for the link to on-the-ground, uncensored footage of events there. With so much else in the news and editorial limits set on how much coverage these protests get in major outlets, real information from someone who's been a friend to us all is a wake-up call.

Stay safe, you and your family.

Please stay as safe as you can. What is happening to the Native people is horrific, I'm sorry that you have to go through this. My heart is with everyone fighting against DAPL.

Please stay safe, dear one, and know we are with you!

- Thank you for sharing and for all you are doing. A question for you, as I feel strongly about what you all are fighting for. What can a person like me, half a country away, do to help? I am with you in spirit. hugs

I am so glad to see you are home and safe now, I should have known you would be involved in the protests and I think all of those around you are lucky to have such a passionate and caring individual involved. I don't know half of what is going on with Standing Rock and the protests, mainly because the media doesn't seem to care about it enough to report, which makes me angry and very disappointed. The state of this country right now is scaring the hell out of me, but knowing you are there to stand up for what is just and right makes me have hope. Take care! Big hugs!

hun I am sending you love hugs and prayers. Please be safe my friend. That is a must!!! Love you and all you represent!!!! bear hugs

Thank you for the update! Glad to see you're safe and I hope you continue to be! Sending good vibes your way ^_^

I cant find jmy brother they have some trapped on the bridge please pray that he is not there that he is somewhere in the camp and lost his phone or no charge

https://www.facebook.com/esha.hoferer/videos/273117783085053/

https://www.facebook.com/kevin.happychappy

pray that they go away, that no one gets killed, that my brother and my family are not on the bridge please please please don't be on the bridge

Prayers going up, darling. Let us know if you hear anything.