Pipeline Resistance Growing

The Sacred Stone Spirit Camp, which formed months ago on the Missouri River near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, to resist construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), has grown in size to include thousands of people (see this article in the Huffington Post for a quick recap). Indigenous people from across the country and around the world who have fought similar battles have travelled to the camp to show their support. And the movement is spreading! A similar camp, although much smaller, has been set up where the DAPL is supposed to pass under the Mississippi in southern Iowa (see their website or Facebook page).

The federal government may have temporarily halted pipeline construction in the area around the Missouri River, but the water protectors in North Dakota and their allies recognize that the resistance must continue, and many plan to stay at the camp throughout the winter. If you're wondering what you can do to show your support, there are many options. Donations can be made online through the camp's official go fund me page. The camp has an Amazon.com "wish list" too, where you can purchase requested items and they'll be sent directly to the camp. Also, there is a local group, "La Crosse Stands with Standing Rock", collecting supplies that they will take to the camp themselves in mid-October and mid-November. Needed supplies include winter clothes (jackets, gloves, hats, sweaters, socks, boots), blankets and winter sleeping bags, camping gear, and canned goods or dried food. Drop-off sites include English Lutheran Church, UW-L's Cartwright Center, and Three Rivers House (on Main St. across from the library). You can also contribute to the Mississippi camp in Iowa, or buy a t-shirt to support their cause.

Another way to help is to ask your friends, family, neighbors, and acquaintances if they know about the camp and the resistance. Many people who get their news solely from mainstream media don't know what's going on! Here's a 9-minute video from PBS New Hour (a fairly neutral source) that covers many aspects of the story and could be shared with a wide audience. If you've heard of other ways to support the cause, please share them below in the comments!