DAPL — Scotty Schenck

Dakota Access Pipeline Protests continue

By Scotty Schenck

Posted Dec. 6, 2016, Last updated: Dec. 6, 2016

In Cannon Ball, North Dakota, water protectors gather to Oceti Sakowin, a camp set up to protest against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, a 1,175-mile-long pipeline project with an estimated $3.8 billion price-tag. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe says that the pipeline not only threatens their water supply, but also sacred tribal land and burial grounds near Lake Oahe, which the pipeline was scheduled to run under. The camp is set up on federal land, which was originally given to Native Americans in the area under the 1851 Fort Lamarie Treaty.

On Thanksgiving Day, water protectors demonstrated at both Backwater Bridge, north of the camp, which has been blockaded by law enforcement and at Turtle Island. Turtle Island is one of the lands the pipeline was supposed to run through, which the Standing Rock Sioux said is a sacred burial ground.

Later in the week, the Army Corps of Engineers said in a statement it was closing the land to the public and would subject anyone on it to federal, state and local laws for trespassing; however, they would not personally forcibly remove them from the land. Additionally, the governor of North Dakota issued an emergency evacuation of the area citing fears for safety from wintry conditions, restricting emergency services to people in the area. Emergency officials said they would respond to crisis in the area, regardless of the governor's decision, saying "we aren't going to let someone out there freeze."

The Army Corp of Engineers rescinded easement to Energy Transfer Partners on Sunday, Dec. 4 and will be issuing a full Environmental Impact Statement with full "public input and analysis."

CANNON BALL, North Dakota — The sun bears down on Oceti Sakowin on Thursday, Nov. 24. Temperatures at Oceti Sakowin in November reached single-digits at night, but would warm to nearly 50 degrees during the day.

CANNON BALL, North Dakota — Protesters wait before a prayer ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 24 near Backwater Bridge in Cannon Ball, N.D. The $3.8 billion pipeline, a project by Energy Transfer Partners, threatens their water supply as well as running over sacred burial grounds on Turtle Island.

CANNON BALL, North Dakota — Northeastern University students cook soup for dinner on Thursday, Nov. 24. The students travelled over 32 hours by van from Boston, Massachusetts and gave up their Thanksgiving break to protest with other water protectors.

CANNON BALL, North Dakota — Water protectors march from Oceti Sakowin to Turtle Island to help other protesters on Thursday, Nov. 24. Standing Rock Sioux say that Turtle Island is a a sacred burial ground and part of the Dakota Access Pipeline is scheduled to be built on it.

CANNON BALL, North Dakota — Morton County Sheriff’s Department officers and North Dakota state troopers on Turtle Island look down at water protectors on Thursday, Nov. 24. Although interactions with police had been violent at times, the demonstration on Thanksgiving Day was peaceful, with no injuries.

CANNON BALL, North Dakota —Talon Voice, of the Crow Creek Hunkpati, a Sioux tribe from South Dakota, leads Sasha, a four-year-old horse, on Friday, Nov. 25. Voice, 20, travelled with nine horses along with his brother, Mason Redwind, and several other tribe members to Oceti Sakowin in August. “We’ve shown our support. We’ve protected the women, the children, the water,” Redwind said. “Were going to be here until it’s over.”

CANNON BALL, North Dakota — Stars fade in the early morning in Oceti Sakowin on Saturday, Nov. 26.