We are honored to welcome Manape LaMere to State of Water as we continue our series honoring our beloved friend and colleague, Holly (ba) T. Bird. Manape is Isanti Dakota, Ihanktowan Dakota, and Winnebago Hochunk. His name, Manape Hocinci Ga means “Soldier Boy.” Manape is a government representative for the Sioux Nation at the U.N. Economic and Social Council and also carries the responsibility of being a headsman for the White Buffalo Horn Society of the Oceti Sakowin (Sioux Nation). He is an advocate for the protection of his nation’s spiritual ways, social justice reform, environmental justice, hemp and food sovereignty, and was actively involved at Standing Rock in resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline.
In this conversation with State of Water host, Seth Bernard, Manape shares stories from the frontlines of Standing Rock, where he first met Holly in her work as an Attorney with the Water Protector Legal Collective. We hear stories of their deepening friendship, his travels to Michigan and the Earthwork Harvest Gathering, and their shared commitment to community care and Indigenous Mutual Aid. We are grateful to be able to share these stories and this episode with you and extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible water protectors who have shared their stories with us as we remember Holly through this series and seek to honor her legacy of love, community building, and water protection.
To read Title Track’s legacy page for Holly (ba) T. Bird with links to other remembrances and news articles: https://titletrackmichigan.org/rememberinghollytbird
Subscribe to our YouTube for video clips and full episode videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8m9Xx1htKJFjuD-kbQA3sg
State of Water is the official podcast of the Clean Water Campaign for Michigan, a program of Title Track. https://titletrackmichigan.org/state-of-water-podcast
/// EPISODE 56
/ Manape LaMere interviewed by Seth Bernard
/ Produced, edited and mixed by Chris Good
/ Graphic by Chris Good
