Aboriginal sports star crosses the globe to stand with Standing Rock

Back home in Australia, Wiradjuri man Joe Williams is known as a former football star, professional boxer, mental health advocate and an Indigenous role model.

He visited the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota just as Donald Trump was announced as U.S. president-elect, where he stood as just another person trying to protect sacred water.

Opponents of the cross-state Dakota Access Pipeline Project took to streets across the world, including Australia to protest on Tuesday.

Williams decided to join the 2000-strong congregation of Sioux people and their allies at Standing Rock, because he sees many commonalities between the culture and concerns of First Nations people around the planet.

Williams told Mashable "The situation at Standing Rock is bigger than a Native American issue -- it's a humanitarian issue. We are talking possible contamination of drinking water to people."

Appearing in a Facebook Live video for the group Indigenous Life Movement, Williams told viewers he simply wanted to show the love and support that was being offered to protesters from back home in Australia, where many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples constantly battle against the threat of environmental destruction of their sacred lands.

"I see the impact colonisation and oppression has had on First Nations people around the world and I believe that has direct impacts to suicide and well-being.

"By continuing to hurt Mother Earth, is direct disrespect to our culture. Disrespecting our culture disrespects us," he said.

Talking about being a part of Standing Rock protests when news broke of Trump's election win, the advocate says people weren't as affected as one might think. After all, leaders come and go but a threat to water is a persistent issue.

"Everyone stayed focused at the task at hand each day, there was very little if any talk of the election. The media has portrayed it as a protest, whereas everyone on the ground describes themselves as protectors, not protesters. Everyone is focused on protecting the water."

There are many ways people around the world can help act as protectors too, he says. If you can’t visit the people of Standing Rock to show your solidarity and support, "you can send donations to the people who are there, clothing, blankets, food, water and even money to buy these things."

"I saw first hand just how many things were being donated every single day and every single item was being put to good use," he said.

"Sharing on social media is also a way for people to show support. This raises awareness of the cause and highlights the important work that is being done out there."

And of course, being engaged with environmental conversations doesn't hurt. "Mother Earth is most powerful," said Williams. "People have to listen and respect."