In Cannon Ball, North Dakota, thousands of Indigenous people and their allies have gathered since April to stand in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Nation against the Dakota Access Pipeline. This week, I had the opportunity to go to the Sacred Stone Spirit camp with some of my 350.org team members.
As soon as the first light hits, the camp is already alive with the sound of drums, morning announcements, and horses nickering. If you take a walk to the river – the Cannon Ball River, which sits alongside the camp and flows into the Missouri River seen off in the distance – you’ll find steam rising from the water into the cool morning air, horses drinking from the river and grazing on the tall grass, and witness people in morning prayer.
As morning continues, children head off to school (a school has been set up at the camp), the head cooks begin preparing meals while others help by chopping wood, building more tents, or making art. As the day continues, you’ll see a caravan of cars entering the camp signaling the arrival of another tribe that’s come to stand with Standing Rock, or see a caravan of cars leaving the camp to head out for a peaceful action along the pipeline route.
