Steve Tamayo
From April 22-27, 2014 the Cowboy Indian Alliance held a ceremonial encampment on the National Mall. On April 26 they presented this hand-painted tipi to President Obama, in hope that he would reject the KXL “black snake” pipeline, and to promise that the alliance will protect the land and resist any attempts to go through with the pipeline. The tipi was presented to the National Museum of the American Indian.
Steve Tamayo, Sicangu tribe, did the design and prep for the tipi and fifty volunteers, including young children, painted.
Photo by Jenna Pope. More of Pope’s photos and article in Vice.
Symbol/Color and Meaning
Sun/Yellow – Energy
Land/Green – Life domain
Night/Black – Mystery
Water/Blue – Sustenance
Horses/All – Society
Turtle/Green and Black – Family backbone
Cedar/Green – Plant Life
Pipe – Leader of Hunt
Circle around Eye -Keen vision
Square – Leader of raid
Lightning – Power and Speed
Hand Down -Warrior
Hand Up -Adversary
Hand/Black – Death
Hand/Red – Wounded
For photos of the process see our article.
From the Reject and Protect website:
Friends,
This was a different kind of event: not a rally, not a march, not a protest, but instead a ceremony, meant to make a impression on the President’s moral center, and ground us for the critical weeks and months ahead.
It was also an beautiful show of unity, not just by the Cowboy Indian Alliance, but from thousands of people from all walks of life who came to stand with them. If we’re going to win, we’re going to win together, and after today, we are more together than ever.