In September of 2016,  my daughter Monet and I began a journey that would change things for us… in a good way. We both felt a powerful calling to stand beside our Indigenous brothers and sisters to protect the water from the Dakota Access Pipeline on the Standing Rock reservation. With 9 of our friends, we made our way to the Cannon Ball river with the intention of staying a few weeks, dropping off donations, cooking and doing whatever we could to share love.  After 3 days, Monet and I laid in our tent listening to the drums...we both started to cry. Monet told me she didn't want to go back to Charleston with the caravan. With everything in me I agreed, in this moment we were home.

Six months later, on February 22nd, we found ourselves reluctantly packing up the camp we built, forced to leave our home, Camp Sicangu, Rose Bud Camp on the Cannon Ball River.  What we experienced shaped a new vision for our future. Everything changed. 

We came to Standing Rock to love, to listen, to learn, to pray, to serve, to stand side by side and be allies.  We left with a much larger family, our oyate. We learned so much and continue to be open to grow through the journey. We see with new eyes, we walk with new vision. We found our purpose as peace makers, as sisters, aunties and friends. Our hearts were broken wide open and we know “the wound is the place where the Light enters”. We're grateful for every moment of this journey.

Our intention is to bridge the way for healing and hope for our Indigenous relatives.  We came to say, "how can we help?" We came to listen. We came to love. We came to serve the highest good. We know that peace begins with conversations, with listening first and foremost. There are so many amazing humans doing great work. We want to support their mission, their dreams and lift them up! 

We know that PEACE in every step turns the endless path to JOY. 

We came to Standing Rock to stop a pipeline but we found a greater mission. Those of you who stood with us from your homes, those of you who came in person for a weekend or for months... you know that this is only the beginning. When we restore the earth, we in turn restore ourselves. Heal the earth, heal ourselves. The power that makes the body heals the body.

For Monet and I, we found our frontline with Indigenous youth and especially with Indigenous arts and culture.  When we came to SR, we were on a path to start a positive media for youth... and then we met the Indigenous photographers, writers and film makers and we felt like this was not our story to tell at this time. Instead, we want to support Indigenous storytellers and artisans. Their voices tell stories that need to be heart. Storytelling is a powerful tool that unites and heals. We also have dreams to create spaces for Indigenous youth to gather in a good way… spaces space where to create and share meal… to lift the youth in love and support their gifts….to support healing through compassion and reconnecting to Culture including language and the arts …to provide the tools to heal, to follow their dreams and rise up. 

We are Poes for Peace and our mission is to spread love and peace, hope and healing, through service for the highest good. The proceeds from our art and photography support this mission.  We continue to learn how to walk lightly on the earth and use the sacred gifts Creator has blessed us each with! We will go where Spirit leads and live this calling of heart doing our best to embody Sacred love and shine divine Light in the world. 

It is LOVE, and only LOVE that writes the story for us all as we walk forward TOGETHER in Sacred love and ultimately Peace in every step. 

In gratitude and peace, 

Sarah and Monet Poe