BP or not BP?

It’s been an action-packed summer for BP or not BP? – and we have some fantastic films to show for it.

Today, we’re excited to share a film that’s been bubbling away for a while. The North America gallery at the British Museum – which is filled with Indigenous artefacts – is sponsored by JP Morgan, one of the main funders of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yes, that’s the same pipeline that is being forced through Indigenous people’s lands in North America, and was the focus for incredible resistance at Standing Rock. And of course, JP Morgan isn’t the only British Museum sponsor involved in promoting the pipeline – step forward BP, Morgan Stanley and Citi as well.

We took two separate trips to the British Museum to challenge this – a surprise performance we created at the museum’s “Global Money Week” event (yes, that’s really a thing), and an amazing visit with William “Hawk” Birdshead, a leading Indigenous water protector from Standing Rock. This two-and-a-half minute film combines footage from both those days to tell the story:

A longer – and beautiful – film of William Hawk’s visit to the British Museum, and his powerful critique of the way Indigenous objects are displayed and sponsored, can be seen on Facebook here and via Real Media here. We’d really recommend watching it.

Thanks everyone for your continued support for our rebel performances – please do watch and share these films to keep piling the pressure on these oil-sponsored institutions, and watch this space for more opportunities to join in with our future adventures!