DEPAUL — The DePaul Humanities Center breaks precedent Wednesday by presenting its annual Laureate Award to the Natives at Standing Rock, a key group in the protests against the Dakota Pipeline.
It's the first time the honor has gone to a group and not an individual.
Bobbi Jean Three Legs of the Hunkpapa Lakota, LaDonna Brave Bull Allard of the Standing Rock Sioux Nation and Dallas Goldtooth of the Mdewakanton Dakota represent the group in an award ceremony and discussion set to run from 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday in Room 120 of the DePaul Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave.
According to the Humanities Center, the award is given "in recognition of the ethical, political, and cultural importance of that community’s ongoing struggle, and in celebration of the role that the arts and humanities play in establishing such a strong and important culture and people."
It adds that the evening will include a "discussion and reflection on the Dakota Access Pipeline, the history of the land in question [and] the spirit of the Sioux Nation."
Protests raged against the proposed pipeline for months before the protesters' camp was broken up in February. Protesters argued the pipeline endangers tribal water supplies.
The event is free and open to the public, and the center has touted it by posting a bright flyer on Twitter.
We are thrilled to be giving this years Humanities Laureate Award to the Natives at Standing Rock! Join us for the ceremony this Wednesday! pic.twitter.com/mzDyIQ3iry
— DPU Humanities Ctr (@DPU_Hum_Ctr) May 15, 2017
