Our History Is the Future

Our History Is the Future examines the 2016 Standing Rock protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline through the lens of Indigenous resistance movements throughout history. The book connects this modern struggle to centuries of Lakota and Dakota peoples' fights for sovereignty, land rights, and water protection. Nick Estes traces the complex relationships between Native nations and the U.S. government from the 1800s to present day, focusing on key events like the Fort Laramie Treaties and the Pick-Sloan dam projects. The narrative moves between historical analysis and on-the-ground reporting from the #NoDAPL encampments, where thousands gathered to oppose pipeline construction. The book demonstrates how Indigenous resistance operates as both a continuation of ancestral traditions and an evolution of modern protest movements. Through thorough research and first-hand accounts, Estes presents a framework for understanding Native American activism as part of a long historical arc rather than isolated incidents. The text challenges conventional perspectives on progress, environmental justice, and the relationship between past and present. This work extends beyond pure historical documentation to offer insights about colonialism, sovereignty, and Indigenous futures in North America.

Readers describe this as both a historical account and a call to action, connecting past Indigenous resistance movements to modern environmental activism. Many note its detailed coverage of the 2016 Standing Rock protests while weaving in centuries of Lakota and Dakota history. Readers appreciated: - Clear connections between historical events and present-day struggles - First-hand perspective from someone involved in Standing Rock - Documentation of Indigenous resistance tactics - Thorough research and extensive citations Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style can be difficult to follow - Some sections feel repetitive - Focus sometimes strays from main narrative Ratings: Goodreads: 4.39/5 (1,400+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (230+ ratings) One reader noted: "It connects dots between colonialism, capitalism, and climate change in ways I hadn't considered." Another mentioned: "The academic language made it harder to engage with than necessary, though the content is valuable."

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🔷 Author Nick Estes is a citizen of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe and co-founded The Red Nation, an Indigenous resistance organization focused on Native liberation. 🔷 The book connects the 2016 Standing Rock protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline to over 200 years of Indigenous resistance to colonial expansion and resource extraction. 🔷 Much of the research for the book was conducted while Estes was completing his Ph.D. in American Studies at the University of New Mexico, where he wrote his dissertation on the history of Oceti Sakowin resistance. 🔷 The title "Our History Is the Future" comes from a banner that hung at the Oceti Sakowin camp during the Standing Rock protests, emphasizing how past Indigenous struggles inform present-day resistance. 🔷 The Missouri River, which was central to the Standing Rock protests, has been the site of multiple Indigenous resistance movements, including fights against dam construction in the 1950s and 1960s that flooded Native lands.