Oceti Sakowin, ND – At approximately 3 a.m. November 16th, 2016, independent media makers from Digital Smoke Signals spotted a horizontal drill at the highly militarized drill site next to the Missouri River.

This sighting comes two days after the Army Corps statement made on November 14th, 2016. The Army Corps alerted DAPL that “construction on, or under the Corps land bordering Lake Oahe cannot occur because the Army has not made a final decision on where to grant an easement.”

The following day, November 15th, 2016, a Unicorn Riot reporter spotted construction continuing despite the statement from the Army Corps.

Dakota Access Pipeline excavator seen digging this afternoon, visible across the river from Sacred Stone Camp. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/SmHrLv1PBD

— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 16, 2016

The response from Dakota Access was to sue the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and the Army Corps of Engineers claiming all permits were granted. Despite the Army Corps statement that DAPL construction “cannot” continue, Dakota Access has moved in a horizontal drill and prepares to bore under the Missouri River at their highly fortified drill site.

Dakota Access builds militarized construction site w/ hesco walls & razor wire to protect oil pipeline from water protectors. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/TembKYZXfW

— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 11, 2016

Water protectors continue to gather in prayerful resistance at Oceti Sakowin against the Dakota Access Pipeline and prepare for the first winter storm of the season.

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Unicorn Riot’s coverage of the anti-Dakota Access Pipeline struggle #NoDAPL from early summer 2016 to present:

March – May 2016

• March 29th, “Tribal Citizens Prepare to Blockade Bakken Oil Pipeline“.
• April 3rd, “Tribal Citizens Build Camp in Path of Oil Pipeline“.
• May 5th, “Sacred Stone Camp Resists Dakota Access Pipeline“.
• May 27th, “Dakota Access Pipeline Blockade Enters 2nd Month“.

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
• September 26, a caravan of water protectors stopped work at DAPL site
• September 27, militarized police arrested 23 water protectors in DAPL work stoppage
• September 29, a #NoDAPL solidarity action took place at MN Enbridge office

October 2016

• October 3rd-4th saw the “Toxic Tour,” Governor debate disruption, and water protectors attend their court arraignment
• October 4, we learned North Dakota Governor Dalrymple’s email inbox was full of support for #NoDAPL
• October 5, Buffer Zone Holds as Caravans Continue to Disrupt DAPL – New Felony Charges
• October 7, 6 Arrested in Iowa #NoDAPL Action, Including Unicorn Riot Journalist
• October 8, Iowa Water Protectors Blockade DAPL Drill Site Twice in 24 Hours
• October 9, Federal Appeals Court Rules to Allow DAPL Construction
• October 10, 27 Arrests After Water Protectors Pray at DAPL Site on Indigenous People’s Day
• October 12, Lockdown Stops DAPL Construction in Iowa, 3 Arrested, Including Unicorn Riot Journalist
• October 14, Emails Show North Dakota Budget Bureaucracy Behind #NoDAPL Policing
• October 16, Direct Actions Continue to Stop DAPL Construction in Iowa and North Dakota
• October 17, Four Unicorn Riot Journalists Face Charges For Covering #NoDAPL
• October 17, Water Protectors Blockade Highway in Bismarck, Some Charges Dropped
• October 20, As DAPL Construction Advances, Water Protectors Continue Direct Action
• October 22, Water Protectors’ Prayer Walk Ends up with 127 Arrests, Including Unicorn Riot Journalist
• October 23, Law Enforcement Attack Private Drone as Water Protectors Erect Blockade & New Winter Camp
• October 24, Mississippi Stand Blockades Iowa DAPL Drill Waste Site, Drilling Stops
• October 25, Records Release: Morton County’s Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Assistance Agreement
• Hundreds Flood Minneapolis City Hall to Demand Local Sheriff Withdraw from North Dakota
• October 26, Tensions Rise as Pipeline Construction Nears #NoDAPL Blockade
• October 27, Police and Military Attack Oceti Sakowin Treaty Camp

November 2016

• November 1, #NoDAPL Solidarity Rally & Sit-In in Minneapolis Prods Sheriff into Removing Deputies
• November 1, DAPL Resistance Continues Despite Advancing Construction
• November 2, Police Attack Water Protectors Defending Sacred Sites
• November 5, DAPL Construction Nears US Army Corps Land While Still Lacking Permits
• November 6, Water Protectors Attempt to Reclaim Sacred Burial Site, Demonstrate in Cemetery
• November 8, Dakota Access Announces Plan to Drill Under Missouri River Within Weeks
• November 11, Dakota Access Pipeline Work Stopped As Water Protectors Storm Site; 30+ Arrested
• November 14, #NoDAPL Water Protectors March on ND State Capitol after Caravan Disrupts Construction
• November 14, Mississippi Stand Goes Inside Pipeline and Shuts Down DAPL Construction
• November 14, Army Corps Delays DAPL Easement

• November 16, “No More Stolen Sisters” Demonstration Blockades DAPL Man Camp; 25+ Arrests