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Darrell Klesch at Standing Rock.
Darrell Klesch is a stonemason living in Oracle. He grew up in Missouri and the Tri-Community. He is a graduate of San Manuel High School, a Vietnam Veteran and political activist. Darrell has recently returned from Standing Rock, North Dakota where he joined many veterans to support the Native American Water Protectors in their protest of the natural gas pipeline being constructed on their sacred land.
Darrell says that his experiences there were life changing for him. He shared his thoughts and experiences at Standing Rock on his Facebook page. Those are reprinted here to spread the message.
Dec. 2: I will start my deployment to Standing Rock with this song. (Not Ready to Make Nice) I’m not either. Gaia bless The Dixie Chicks.
Dec. 4: At Denver International awaiting departure to Bismarck. Veterans for Peace.
Dec. 5, Cannon Ball, North Dakota: Its 4:20 a.m. and wishing I knew where coffee tent is. There are so many people here that you can get lost in a maze and lose your way….and not find one’s way back to your sleeping bag. S!!!, baby its cold outside!
My fellow Veterans and I are going to a Sioux Prayer Cleansing when the sun comes up, and then march arm in arm as originally planned to face off with the “oil army” in symbolic gesture to allow said force that we won’t and will not back down!
We rag-tag Veteran peace force are realizing we CAN make a difference. Love to all from Standing Rock.
Dec. 5, 6:10 a.m.: The Sioux are singing/chanting our awakening at this moment. Time to layer up and then layer up and get this day awakened.
Dec. 5, 4:43 p.m.: What a day … prayers/marches, blizzard conditions and below camping conditions. Sacred camp and sacred Fire.
I spoke at sacred fire and was able, through tears, apologize for 500 years of the wrath that our government has brought to all Indigenous North American Natives.
Now to hunker down….peace to all.
Dec. 6, 8:56 a.m.: Good morning from Oceti Sakowan, Sacred Camp. We have been in a blizzard condition with 50 to 70 mile an hour winds, sideways and are being huddled together for the duration and then when weather breaks, we will be taken to Casino 10 miles away. Crazy, but safe. Love to you all.
Dec. 6, 11:26 a.m.: Rescued to casino!!! Safe and warm. Looks like I will live to fight another day. Yay yay yes! Will never think Oracle is cold again!
Situation was extreme; tents crashed, propane almost gone and wood supply dangerously close to being 0. Please send warm thoughts to veterans and warrior supporters. And they offer cerveza here! Catch you all in a couple of days.
Dec. 6, 1:02 p.m.: Today we veterans were thanked with sincere blessings and thanks for our coming to Standing Rock. Fantastic drumming and prying for all people to build relations in the vital protection of Mother Earth. We were then honored to join the Sioux in a dance with Medicine people and Sioux warriors.
Dec. 7, 9:53 a.m., Solen, North Dakota: Reports are they are continuously drilling with a big F U to Obama and Water Protectors. Certainly wish reinforcement supplies are coming.
That blizzard was like a winter hurricane lasting 24 hours. I walked up a hill with my gear into a 50 mph wind and had to take one step then gather myself for the next step. Sioux People take this like Phoenix takes 120 degrees, except they are so much stronger. This has been a Spiritual Journey for me, and I have new purpose in my life.
Dec. 7, 2:17 p.m.: I am on my way home. I am different now, even more different than I was considered. I will spend my days protecting Mother Earth and I ask you to pray in your own way for the health of our home.
Dec. 8, 7:26 a.m.: Guess how the love was passed to me yesterday. Was having a difficult time obtaining a room due to traveling with cash only due to Xing my Wells Fargo account when a gentleman, with friends all hugged me and thanked me for Standing Up for Standing Rock. Without me knowing, he secretly paid for my room. Thank you Dave Mathews, yes, the Dave Mathews (Dave Mathews Band). I’m feeling more blessed.
Darrell with Billy Mills gold medal winner at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics at Standing Rock.
Dec. 9, 8:34 a.m., Oracle, Arizona: Back home and happy about that. It was an amazing few days and had some really cool adventures and cold ones too. Will share just one that happened at the sacred fire. I met and have a pic to post later, but I met the great Billy Mills, an Oglala Lakota, who won the gold medal in the 1964 Olympics. Billy eclipsed the American 10K record set by Louis Tewanima, a Hopi runner who came in a stride short of the gold himself in 1912 Stockholm Olympics. The Louis Tewanima Footrace is held each year on Second Mesa and I, along with several other Oracle runners have had the privilege of running with the Hopi and Navajo in this special event honoring Louis.
Billy told me that he thought the Tewanima Footrace was probably the toughest 10K he had ever run.
The Hopi are very happy that it took another Indigenous man to break Louis’ record that he held the 10K for over half a century.
Google Billy Mills epic Tokyo Gold Medal Race. Tis exciting.
Dec. 10, 7:43 Oracle, AZ: Another post about my journey to North Dakota in what turned out to be a spiritual changing lie experience for me.
When the call came out for all veterans to come and help protect the Water Protectors, I was among 2,000 that signed up to go. 4,000 showed!
Flying in over the vast plains, viewing down, capturing the landscape, I cannot help but have a flashback of flying in, over Vietnam nearly a half century before, my last deployment.
At the Bismarck airport, we veterans met and greeted each other, talked about their service branch, where they had been deployed, and where you hail. Beautiful Arizona baby!
Mostly of course, these veterans were a mixture of marine and army corps who had, of course, served in the god-forsaken wars of the Mid-east. We waited and waited and waited for vans that were to pick us up and deliver us to the encampment. They never showed! And that turned out to be a pivotal moment for this deployment; we began taking care of each other and at the sacred camp, Oceti Sokowin, taking care of each other, including the indigenous people and Water Protector supporters from around this country and around the world, taking care of each other in an Arctic blizzard that blessed us. It was explained to me that those vast plains/grass lands stretch all the way to the arctic. BRRRLIEVE THIS!!
We rented practically every vehicle available and headed out to camp via lonely icy roads, arriving just before dark in a bustling camp of 10,000. Lots of teepees, large and small tents and shacks, and no direction. The two ex-marines and I that traveled together found an unfinished “barrack”….imagine plywood shed with tarp roof, and found refuge for the night. Just a typical night on the Lakota lands and a temperature below 0, but there were people coming to our “camp” and insuring our safety….warriors helping warriors.
We even had heat for a couple of hours. At the break of dawn, I was drawn to the sacred fire and sacred coffee. I listened to the prayers offered by the elders and Indigenous veterans thanking us for coming and praying together around the Sacred Fire, allowing us veterans and supporters to pray and place sacred tobacco and pine needles as we knelt around the fire. We were becoming one. I am going to end today’s blog at the Sacred Fire, and continue my epic travel to Lakota World. I’m off for Saturday morning run through the majestic mountainside trails of Oracle with my buds. Please pray for Mother Earth in your own way.
In an interview with Darrell, he told me about the spiritual awakening he experienced at Standing Rock and how it has impacted his life. He shares his feelings and plans for his future in becoming an Eco and Peace Warrior and tells us how those of us who choose to can aid and support the Water Protectors:
“My experiences of joining fellow veterans and supporters of standing with the Water Protectors at Standing Rock was totally spiritual. After arriving late on Sunday evening, we sought refuge from the Dakota frigid elements. Shivering through the night, alone with my thoughts, I received a vision of my murdered dog, Dude, standing over me, and then all my dogs showed.”
“I awakened with these tears and carried them with me as I found the Sacred Fire (and for me Sacred Coffee). The fire has been attended to, sacredly for seven months and prayers offered every morning. This morning was special as prayers were directed at us Veterans. I prayed and offered prayer elements to the fire. We were allowed to offer our thoughts and blessings, although I would have preferred President Obama to have spoken these words, I did, and emotionally and sincerely asked for forgiveness for the Genocide.”
“During the “march” to the demarcation zone where we were to view the “oil army”, the blizzard began, and we could not even see the whites of their eyes. Basically, after this event and “show down” where the DAPL oil protectors could at least hear our chants, and the “infiltrating spies” at Oceti Sakowin, we received the news that this oil line under the lake of the Missouri River was being curtailed (for the time being). Not a lot of celebration as we were now pulling together to survive this -40 degree, 40 mph winds and sideways snow!”
“The celebration was awaiting us at the Pow Wow. The Lakota People celebrate with gatherings like this, and elder after elder gave us prayers and praise for joining the Indigenous People in this Standing Up for Standing Rock. Ancient Lakota songs were sung and six drumming circles drummed and chanted.”
“The great grandson of Sitting Bull was last and told us about Lakota prophecy concerning this time in history and that Grandfather the Creator, was full of tricks and bringing us all together was his way, and that we should be changed forever as we departed for our homes!”
“After all of us Veterans were blessed to come down and dance with Medicine People, I did feel a “being saved” type of spiritual awakening that I have never received in the Christian churches that have attempted to save my soul!”
“Later meeting with the Wounded Knee activists who shared this for the first time in their history, this was the first time of feeling thankful and trust for former members of the U.S. military and Anglo supporters in their 500 year history of genocide, treaty after broken treaty! I carried this blessing home and am determined to live my life as a Protector of Mother Earth, no matter the consequences. I am also going to nurture my relationships with Indigenous Peoples throughout the world! 500 years is enough!”
“I fully expect to be back to Standing Rock and I am joining a national organization, Veterans for Peace. I believe we veterans can be a force in these coming days, and it is going to be very interesting if Trump orders us Veterans to be shot, water cannoned, gassed and arrested as they are perpetuating these disgusting tactics on the Water Protectors. I plan on proceeding with my stone masonry career to fund my activist career in full resistance to the desecration of Mother Earth, by the very greed that has brought us Trump and his deplorable desecrating cabinet and followers!”
“One of our missions, declared by the Elders was to issue this to all: Please pray every day, however you pray for our home, Mother Earth.”
“This was only a “fire fight” won, and not the war. It is not over! To support the Lakota Standing Rock Water Protectors, come to be with the Protectors if you are able to do so or donate money to the cause, and to Veterans for Peace. We are already being requested to please come back. And we will, I fully expect to be on the “front line” when the oligarchy attempts to defile the waters of the great Missouri River. I, for one, will be your surrogate as an Eco-Warrior for Peace and Justice, so help me Grandfather!”
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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