Happi American Horse struggling with COVID-19

Article by Brenda Norrell

Censored News

Happi American Horse, who locked down at Standing Rock, has been struggling to survive coronavirus in ICU in a Sioux Falls hospital.  Happi's mother Cheryl Angel, who has recovered from the virus, shares her message.

Happi sends this update on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2020:

“Hey everyone as you know last Tuesday I was in a flight for life to Sanford ICU Center here in Sioux Falls. I can't breathe on my own but finally, after who knows how many days it's been I have been transferred out of the ICU wing into a lower level. Although this is good news I am still not out of it and would like to thank everyone who shared and laid some prayers down for me. It means so much thanks for all the care you have shown and please continue to support! It's difficult for me to type at the moment and will leave that to others for more updates until I can do so on my own. I wish I could express more from my heart to yours but the heart has no tongue...oho mitakuye oyasin

In a video message on Facebook, Cheryl Angel sends thanks to everyone praying for her son Happi American Horse, who is hospitalized with COVID-19 and pneumonia. Happi is getting stronger.

Cheryl who has recovered from coronavirus said it is so difficult not to be with loved ones when they are sick. She describes how alone she felt when she was sick with the virus.

"I cried," she said.

"I prayed for energy."

Cheryl said Standing Rock changed her life.

In this two-week prayer vigil on Facebook live, Cheryl shares a song, "Water is Life." She reminds us that we have one another and to remember our friends and relatives who need help now more than ever.

Cheryl and Happi are Sicangu Lakota from Rosebud, South Dakota.

Broadcast live in 2016, Debra White Plume describes how the women cried to see how Happi suffered during this lockdown in defense of the water. 

Listen to Debra White Plume

Photos: Happi locked down during the resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock in 2016. Photo 2: Happi's mom Cheryl Angel sharing a video message today.

Lakota Jean Roach's Speech in Paris

JEAN ROACH, LAKOTA, IN PARIS, TALKS ABOUT THE ROLE OF WOMEN, LEONARD PELTIER AND WATER PROTECTION

By Christine Prat
Censored News
Recorded on October 13, 2018

Published on October 22, 2018

The 38^th Annual Day of Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples, organized in Paris by the French Committee for Solidarity with Indians of the Americas, CSIA, celebrated over five centuries of struggles against colonialism, the 50^th Anniversary of the AIM and the 40^th Anniversary of the CSIA.

Jean Roach was one of the speakers representing AIM. She talked about the role of women in the struggle, Wounded Knee, the Protection of Water and Earth, and called for Leonard Peltier's release from prison.

Below is the transcript of the speech she delivered on October 13^th, 2018.

Christine Prat

"My name is Jean Roach, I am from the Lakota Nation. I live near the Black Hills, in South Dakota. I'd like to thank everybody for coming and be interested in our fights.

I represent a man, Leonard Peltier, who has been in prison for 43 years, also a part of the colonization process.

When our families are being attacked, whether it was in the 1700's or in the 1970's, the women have to take a stand too. Our children have been adopted out and taken to boarding schools, being killed, murdered. Our men have been taken to prison, or killed, or both. Since the first contact, we have had many casualties.

My Nation is the Miniconjou. My people were massacred at Wounded Knee [December 29^th 1890]. Part of the role of the women… So, people try to call us activists or militants, but we are just mothers and grandmothers. We protect our next generations, those are our actions right now, and we probably carry the DNA of our ancestors that were murdered. So, when we talk about Leonard Peltier, we should relate to the fact that his grandfather was one of the Dakota 38 [38 men hanged on Lincoln orders in Mankato, Minnesota, on December 26^th, 1862]. To our generations, Leonard represents the United States manipulations.

Some people call them political prisoners, but we are just all Water Protectors. At Standing Rock, they were attacked based on their beliefs, our beliefs of protection of the water. And they are political prisoners too.

Leonard Peltier has been a prisoner, as I said, for 43 years. He is the longest held political prisoner in the world. All we are asking for is justice. And the story should be told and not forgotten. We would like the international world to know that we suffer and we still have a prisoner inside the prison. And many more. Until he's free, our Nations are not free.

I have a lot of documentation, on this I am talking about. I urge everybody to take interest in Leonard Peltier. And I congratulate all the water protectors and Earth protectors. Thank you."

French version:

http://www.chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=4720