PACIFIC NW COUNCIL
OF WATER PROTECTORS
An OR State non-profit based in Portland, Oregon PNWCWP formed in 2017 after the Standing Rock Movement. We organize and host a free, yearly Medicine Gathering camp at Oxbow Park in Oregon which is open to all who wish to attend. Speakers, Workshops, Water Ceremony, and Indigenous and local music fill our space each year at camp. Our intention is to provide a family camp space in which participants can learn about indigenous values regarding land, water, and healing in a safe environment.
MISSION STATEMENT
The PNW Council of Water Protectors is a coalition of indigenous and non-indigenous supporters who carry forward the fire that began at Standing Rock to protect our sacred water and maintain the sovereignty of tribal nations.
The council is guided by our indigenous Elders on organization protocols, spiritual practices, and direct actions by council members. Our indigenous Elders model respect and take the lead in all sacred ceremonies.
We welcome like-minded and dedicated individuals who seek to protect our Earth Mother and the spiritual beings and relatives gifted by our Creator.
ABOUT OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Rose Linda Looking President Chair
Assinaboine Sioux from Ft. Peck Indian Reservation Montana.
Rose has worked over 30 years as a drug and alcohol counselor with 42 years of personal sobriety. Most recently she was an Elder Liason for Mother Nations and case manager for Spirit Journey House.
John D. Spence
Vice President
Gros Ventre/Dakota Sioux
Ft. Belknap Reservation Montana
Marine Veteran, MSW, phD,
Author of the book "Crazy Wolf"
A Half-Breed Story.
John taught 20 plus years at PSU.
and has another 30 plus years actively involved in Social work, organizing community, therapeutic counseling with horses, and many other things that serve the causes he feels strongly about.
John is one of our treasured elders.
LIGHTNING HORSE
John Sanchez
Board Chair
Shashone/Bannok Carrizo Comecrudo.
Long standing A.I.M member and Native activist.
Leader of the PDX to Standing Rock caravans.
Kay Eagle Staff
Board Member
Dakota/
University of South Dakota
Charmaine Kinney
Board Member, Secretary
PSU Graduate
Sr. QM Coordinator, MHASD at Multnomah County OR.
John (Buzz) Nelson
Founding Member
Lakota, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation S.D.
Marine Veteran
Buzz was one of the founding members of NARA here in Portland OR.
He has over 50 years of sobriety and continues to serve and consult for many Indian Community causes.
Buzz leads with Native cultural and spiritual
guidance and went to Standing Rock with the veterans caravan.
Brandie Dieterle Raddadi
Board Member, Grant Writer
Brandie comes from the Cherokee Nation. She continues the fight of her grandmothers to protect our sacred lands, waters, and peoples. She is a former Human Rights Commissioner who helped to magnify the voices of elders and leaders fighting against DAPL at Standing Rock, and continues to be an activist and organizer of Human Trafficking Survivor Services in Oregon.
Rosanne (Tootsie) Shields
Board Member, Camp Kitchen Manager
Assiniboine Sioux, Ft Peck Montana, Chippewa Cree, Turtle Mtn
Rosanne is a beadwork artist, manages a monthly cook and feed for the homeless camps in Portland, and is about to begin writing a book, holding the stories of her grandmother.
Cedar Songbird (Sanders)
Board Member, Treasurer, Grant Writer
WSUV graduate
Cedar's ancestors hail from many nations - North America, Ireland, British Isles, Africa, and Europe. She has been involved in organizing with PNWCWP since the beginning, providing logistical support to our elders.
Make A Stand For Future Generations
Standing Rock, and
Pacific NW Council Of Water Protectors
PNWCWP formed together out of the Standing Rock Movement that took place in 2016 when people from all over the world traveled to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota.
At Standing Rock, over 15,000 people came together and camped for nearly a year, to stand together in peaceful protection, prayer, song and in solidarity in determined opposition to the illegal Dakota Access Pipe Line drilling under the Missouri river.
The movement was started by our Native Youth and led by our Native Elders.
Our Native people faced military type forces daily, a lot were injured, arrested, and wrongfully threatened by the injustices of the legal system as our political parties were at that time changing.
Portland Oregon, was very involved in supporting Standing Rock.
We have many tribal members from the Dakota's who reside here in Oregon now and they have built solid community with the rising number of those who have learned the truth about the treatment of the Native American People over the last 500 years.
One of our Portland Oregon Camps at Standing Rock was facilitated by Rose Linda Looking and her family, to enable John Sanchez to lead the veterans caravan in December. John Sanchez led several caravans to and from Portland from the beginning to the end in Feb 2017.
Our Vision is to carry on the fire that began at Standing Rock with education, healing, and respecting the land and water.