North Dakota – On Tuesday, September 27, a contingent of over 100 water protectors from the Red Warrior, Oceti Sakowin, and Sacred Stone camps entered a Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) work site to stop construction and conduct prayer ceremonies.

Video posted to Facebook by the Red Warrior Camp shows a crowd of indigenous water protectors, some on horses, facing a line of riot police.

State troopers from the North Dakota Highway Patrol were present in riot gear, arriving on scene in a gray school bus which has been observed at other direct actions against DAPL.

Law enforcement also deployed a Bearcat armored vehicle, which as far as we know has not been brought to any anti-DAPL actions until this event.

Work was stopped at the site for the day. As far as we know, no arrests have yet taken place in connection with this direct action.

“Let the police chase us around – give ’em something to do.  Long as DAPL ain’t working, we’re winning, so that’s what’s up.  Keep ’em busy!” – Masked water protector in Red Warrior Camp video

Red Warrior Camp issued this statement about the action:

“#NoDAPL Caravan & Prayer Ceremony Halts Pipeline Construction

 

Today, Tuesday September 27th, after a powerful ceremonial action on Sunday September 25th, hundreds more from the Standing Rock Oceti Sakown encampment attended 3 sacred sites in a 70 car caravan to conduct ceremony and intervene in the continued construction of the pipeline and destruction of Indigenous Lands and Waters. Led by the Horse Nation, the group of Indigenous Land Defenders and Water Protectors, Families and Warriors, accompanied by Human Rights Advocates and Observers, unarmed and in full ceremony, stood united and strong in the way of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

 

Police, armed and ready, were tense despite our acts of deescalation and our non-violent stance. They have since claimed shots were fired at today’s action. No shots were fired. Instead, the day was full of songs, prayers, life and hope. Where the state and the Federal government have used violence as a tool and tactic, where they have clearly and seriously violated our Indigenous and human rights to free prior and informed consent over any and all activities on our tribal territories, we have continued to conduct ourselves with dignity and in ceremony.“

Last week, Dakota Access, LLC purchased Cannon Ball ranch, a private farmland property near the Missouri river.  The ranch is within walking distance of the #NoDAPL overflow camp area where thousands of water protectors have been living.

This land parcel had been the site of contested DAPL construction and work stoppages by water protectors, before work in the area was halted at government request.

The purchase of this land may be in violation of North Dakota’s anti-corporate farming laws, and on Tuesday, September 27, North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem gave Dakota Access, LLC 30 days to explain the purchase.

Water protectors and their supporters have vowed to continue disrupting Dakota Access Pipeline construction with the intention of stopping the pipeline from being finished.

Unicorn Riot will continue to do our best to bring you stories and in-depth information from the front lines as actions continue to occur.

To help our volunteer-operated, horizontally-organized, non-profit media collective please consider a tax-deductible donation:

To see Unicorn Riot’s coverage of the Sacred Stone Camp and frontline anti-pipeline struggle, see below.

August 2016

• After covering the camp in the spring of 2016, Unicorn Riot returned to Standing Rock Reservation on Wednesday, August 10th, when Standing Rock tribal members and allies blocked the entrance to the Dakota Access Pipeline construction site.
• On Thursday, August 11th, a dozen or so people were arrested blocking the construction site entrances.
• Day 3, Friday, the fight to protect land & water intensified around the construction sites of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
• On the 4th day, the pipeline resistance encampment swelled and prepared for more action.
• Monday, August 15th, land defenders stormed the construction site halting construction, and the next day construction was halted as well.
• August 17th saw State Police begin checkpoints, roadblocks, and psyops as protesters united to defend water.
• August 24th, camps prepared as Federal injunction hearing looms.
• Camps Organize to Stay as Injunction Postponed.
• On August 31st, Non-Violent Direct Action Stopped DAPL Construction for Over 6 Hours.

September 2016

• September 6, indigenous water protectors swarmed Dakota Access Pipeline site, stopped work
• September 7, Uŋpa Nuŋpa was interviewed about ongoing #noDAPL actions
• North Dakota highway patrol refused to release email correspondence with Energy Transfer Partners
• September 8, ND National Guard took over Dakota Access Pipeline checkpoints
• Friday, September 9, US Govt. overruled federal judge and requested pipeline construction halted at Lake Oahe
• Meanwhile, cultural activities continued at #NoDAPL camps despite more arrests/warrants
• September 13, 20 were arrested during #NoDAPL lockdown, including 2 Unicorn Riot journalists
• September 14, direct actions continued against Dakota Access Pipeline while legal repression intensified
• On September 16 a federal judge dissolved the unconstitutional temporary restraining order Dakota Access, LLC had filed against Stranding Rock tribal members
• September 19, as solidarity protests spread nationwide, the federal appeals court ordered construction temporarily stop on Dakota Access segment as Solidarity Protests Spread Nationwide
• September 21, #NoDAPL noise demo demanded freedom for jailed water protector Olowan Martinez
• September 22, water protectors disrupted the annual meeting of the North Dakota Petroleum Council
• September 25, water protectors planted trees on DAPL construction site
• In Iowa on September 26, a non-violent direct action from the Mississippi Stand camp stopped DAPL construction for the day.

For our coverage earlier this spring of the Sacred Stone Camp, see May 27th report, “Dakota Access Pipeline Blockade Enters 2nd Month“; May 5th, “Sacred Stone Camp Resists Dakota Access Pipeline“; April 3rd, “Tribal Citizens Build Camp in Path of Oil Pipeline“; March 29th, “Tribal Citizens Prepare to Blockade Bakken Oil Pipeline“.