Unceeded Land

In the morning hours of Monday, March 9th Water Protectors occupied the TC Energy (formerly TransCanada) Building in Charleston, West Virginia.

The action was done in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en, in resistance to the expansion of pipeline infrastructure through their territory. The action began with Water Protectors raising a warrior flag and occupying the lobby to the building, including blocking access to the elevators.

In explanation of the action, Mama Julz, Oglala Lakota and founder of Mothers Against Meth noted the effect pipelines have not just on the environment but communities as well. People were drawing attention to the Meth Epidemic, Man Camps, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). The last of which has taken the red dress as their symbol.

Man Camps are tied to increase rates of sexual violence and sex trafficking, often with Indigenous Women bearing the brunt of this violence.

84% of Native Women have experienced violence in their lifetimes.