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Standing Rock protectors blasted by water cannons. Photo by Stephanie Keith/Reuters

On Thursday the besieged water protectors at Standing Rock marked a dissonant Thanksgiving - or, to many Native Americans, a Thankstaking, NoThanksNoGiving or National Day of Mourning - full of bitter ironies. As Americans went about the gluttonous, oblivious business of the day, best if surreally personified by a football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins (sic), the Sioux and their supporters were simultaneously mourning losses recent and ancient, vowing ongoing defiance, and facing off against brutal riot police for the crime of seeking to protect their own land and water, long ago stolen from them.

But the holiday also highlighted growing support for their fight. In honor of the questionable holiday, a visiting delegation of chefs, supporters and celebrities including Jane Fonda came to serve 500 meals - an action alternately derided as “the narrative (of) ‘Oh, we want to help the poor Indians on Thanksgiving of all days'” or celebrated as marking "a new era in American history when the rights and sovereignty of indigenous people are defended." Seeking to mend the divisions, one supporter advises, "If you're having trouble with the thanks, focus on the giving."

And the support extends far beyond the day. Several tiny houses have begun arriving for use by longtime campers, thousands of veterans plan a Standing Rock day of action for next week, a local public radio station in Little Eagle dubbed the “Lodge of Good Voices” will broadcast Sunday's benefit concert featuring Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt, the clothing company Patagonia has said it will donate its Black Friday profits to environmental groups, supporters are helping meet vital needs via Standing Rock's supply list and Amazon wish list, and despite what is largely mainstream media's indifference, many follow developments with Twitter and Unicorn Riot updates.

Above all, those at Standing Rock insist, "We are still here, united in water." Even on a conflicted Thanksgiving, says one water protector, “It’s a day to remember what the real story is and acknowledge that we’re still here, and our ancestors fought and died for us to be here.” Today as always, family and what it represents of the Native American past remains key, says Dave Archambault, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribal council. “Every day is just another day,” he says. “We just have to keep moving forward, and fight for our rights.”

W. S. Merwin

Listen

with the night falling we are saying thank you

we are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railings

we are running out of the glass rooms

with our mouths full of food to look at the sky

and say thank you

we are standing by the water thanking it

smiling by the windows looking out

in our directions