Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Leader Asks Activists To Go Home

With the pipeline’s future uncertain, Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II is urging those braving winter conditions to leave the North Dakota camp.

The company constructing the pipeline, Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, and the Morton County Sheriff’s Office didn’t have immediate comment. The segment under Lake Oahe is the only remaining big chunk of construction. The statement Monday by the Trump transition team, however, cast doubt on whether that decision would hold any sway after the new administration takes over in January. “They’re making sure to drink lots of hot liquids and eat lots of good foods, and we’re not going anywhere”.

That final portion of the pipeline would be crossing Lake Oahe – a Missouri River reservoir – but months of protests led to approvals for that final leg being shot down by the American government.

The demonstrators flooded the Oceti Sakowin camp over the last two days after the U.S. Army Corps of engineers made a decision to deny easement of their land for the building of the pipeline.

But on Sunday afternoon when people learned the easement was denied and construction halted, they celebrated. That means the pipeline company can not file an appeal because the project was not formally rejected. The company on Sunday said the decision to deny the permit for more analysis was “a purely political action”.

The Corps gave several reasons for its decision.

“It’s time that we now move forward and that we don’t forget”. It has drawn intense opposition from Native Americans who say it’ll damage culturally significant sites. Technically, federal officials could still approve the project’s proposed river crossing, but the decision to call for further review suggests at the very least a good deal of skepticism that the pipeline-which is more than 90% completed-will be finished along this route.

“There were so many people there and when they (heard the news they) would sing victory songs, everybody was chanting and cheering,”she said”.

“Their goal has been served”, he said.

“I understand the fear that they have that this is just a small victory and it’s not over yet”.

The government has ordered people to leave main encampment that’s on federal land in southern North Dakota by Monday. Gov. Jack Dalrymple last week also issued a “mandatory evacuation” but said no one would be removed by force. On Thursday, US military veterans were arriving at a camp to join activists braving snow and freezing temperatures to protest the pipeline.

Depending on the court’s decision the pipeline could stay put or move somewhere else.

“We know this fight isn’t over”.