Editor’s note: On Oct 7, 2025 a new children’s book about the Sacred Stone camp is set to be released by Penguin Random House written by Rae Rose and illustrated by Aly McKnight. The book was written with support from family members of LaDonna BraveBull Allard.

From Penguin Random House About Sacred Stone Camp

“A stunning account of the Sacred Stone Camp’s first day, where Indigenous activist LaDonna BraveBull Allard gathered water protectors to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline!

The land is sacred to the people. The people are sacred to the land.

As Water Protectors gather to defend the water and protect the land against a black snake that threatens the rivers that millions of people depend on, a young girl looks to her Unci LaDonna and Lala Miles who are leading the way to the camp.

Although she’s nervous about what might happen next, she finds strength from her family and the strangers all coming together to stand up for what’s right.  

Written with love by Rae Rose, who shares many memories with LaDonna, this is a deeply moving tribute to Ladonna’s work and impact with stunning watercolor illustrations by Aly McKnight.”

Pre-order your copy here

From author

This is emotional for me. I am excited, nervous, a little overwhelmed and relieved at the same time to announce the completion of my first picture book, The Sacred Stone Camp. This whole project has been a dedication to LaDonna BraveBull Allard. LaDonna taught me so much about how to walk as an indigenous woman, how to give, and how to receive. When I first met her, she wrapped me in a shall and welcomed me into her family with love and warmth. For a throw away such as myself, her acceptance and teachings gave me the strength to grow and most of all the loving guidance to heal. This is why I wanted the first story I put out to the world to be about LaDonna.

LaDonna opened her family lands to the people who needed a home away from home. That is how the Sacred Stone Camp opened to the world on April 1st, 2016, as a safe space for Water Protectors to live while they answered the call to protect the land and waters against Energy Transfer’s Dakota Access Pipeline, the DAPL Black Snake. In response to the people arriving to stand up against the DAPL Black Snake, LaDonna BraveBull Allard opened her family’s land to the people. The Sacred Stone Camp was a direct-action camp that set the precedent for its neighbors who arose in the fight after, the Rosebud, and Oceti Sakowin camps.

The Sacred Stone Camp takes you back to that first day that inspired the people to step up and Stand with the Standing Rock Nation against the greed of fossil fuel giants like Energy Transfer. Join Lil ’Donna, LaDonna, and Miles as they take you on this historic journey to stand for Mother Earth. This book is a dedication to the enduring spirit and inspiration that always was and will forever be LaDonna BraveBull Allard.

It is with deep gratitude I thank, Freedom McLaughlin and William BraveBull, thank you for all your support and the time you took to support me with this project. Kelly and Marty Jo BraveBull, thank you so much for sharing photos and memories with me. I love you all very much.

I also want to thank my agent Naomi Davis, and my editor Michelle Lee and her amazing team! From the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in this story and helping me share LaDonna’s legacy with the world.

Thank you, Aly McKnight, your beautiful art brought this story to life, to SCBWI for all the classes, support, and resources, my mentor Kelly Jones who continues to teach me about the publishing world, and thank you to my urban community and friends, I am beyond grateful for every one of you!

 I sincerely hope you will read and enjoy this picture book, The Sacred Stone Camp, written with love, by me.

Photos provided by family members of LaDonna BraveBull Allard

Rae Rose is a Pacific Northwest author of Paiute, Mayan, and Japanese heritage. She writes historical fiction, poetry, picture books. “Stories are very important to me, I hope you enjoy these stories I share with you.” You can follow her @raerosenwbooks