An area woman is bringing sacred tobacco from Greenfield to the protesters at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota.
Emily Volz of Florence, in partnership with the Nolumbeka Project, is traveling to Standing Rock with ceremonial tobacco grown in the Wissatinnewag circle gardens. The Nolumbeka Project also included tobacco seeds, fabric and string for prayer ties, so the recipients would have options for how to use the tobacco.
Diane Dix, treasurer and events coordinator for Nolumbeka Project, said the group decided to send something when Volz told them she planned to go to Standing Rock to join protesters.
“We thought that this would be a wonderful gift to send to them,” Dix said. She said Volz left on Tuesday morning.
The Nolumbeka Project is a non-tribal organization in support of New England’s Native American tribes. The Project has owned the 41-acre Wissatinnewag property in Greenfield off French King Highway since 2013.
The Standing Rock Souix are opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline designed to move 470,000 barrels of domestic crude oil a day through four states. They’re fighting against what they argue is corporate greed, an environmental threat and an assault on sacred land.
Reach Miranda Davis at 413-772-0261, ext. 280 or mdavis@recorder.com.