The Coldwater area, known for its historical significance in the Dakota-U.S. War in 1862, is preparing to host the Gaza and the Dakota Full Moon Walk. This event is organized by Friends of Coldwater, a group that has joined over 1,500 organizations in endorsing South Africa’s Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip. The case, South Africa v. Israel, is currently under consideration at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.
Friends of Coldwater, also known as Mni Wiconi (Water is Life) USA, have decided to publicly address the issue of water scarcity and to incorporate Indigenous Dakota language into this international document. The group is part of a global call for justice in Gaza, criticizing the loss of human lives, wildlife, and vegetation due to military actions, which they claim are supported by U.S. taxpayer-funded weapons.
The South African genocide convention aims to provide essential services. Friends of Coldwater appreciate that the spring continues to flow, although at a lower rate than before the Highway 55 reroute in the 1990s. The group highlights the significance of water in the face of climate change, which is leading to floods, droughts, warming oceans, and severe storms.