WinneroftheOakland“BlueCollar“PENAwardAworkofhistory,amanifesto,andanintergenerationalstoryofresistancethatshowshowtwocenturiesofIndigenousstrugglecreatedthemovementproclaiming“WaterisLife“In2016,asmallprotestencampmentattheStandingRockreservationinNorthDakota,initiallyestablishedtoblockconstructionoftheDakotaAccessoilpipeline,grewtobethelargestIndigenousprotestmovementinthetwenty-firstcentury,attractingtensofthousandsofIndigenousandnon-Nativealliesfromaroundtheworld.Itsslogan“MniWiconi“--WaterisLife--wasaboutmorethanjustapipeline.WaterProtectorsknewthisbattleforNativesovereigntyhadalreadybeenfoughtmanytimesbefore,andthat,evenaftertheencampmentwasgone,theiranti-colonialstrugglewouldcontinue.InOurHistoryistheFuture,NickEstestracestraditionsofIndigenousresistanceleadingtothe#NoDAPLmovementfromthedaysoftheMissouriRivertradingfortsthroughtheIndianWars,thePick-Sloandams,theAmericanIndianMovement,andthecampaignforIndigenousrightsattheUnitedNations.Whileahistorianbytrade,EstesalsodrawsonobservationsfromtheencampmentsandfromgrowingupasacitizenoftheOcetiSakowin(theNationoftheSevenCouncilFires),makingOurHistoryistheFutureatonceaworkofhistory,apersonalstory,andamanifesto.
