North Dakota Tribe Wants Some Protesters to Move—-Town is Overwhelmed

 

CannonBallND

Protesters who flocked to North Dakota to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in its fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline are no longer wanted in one tribal town. They have overwhelmed the community of Cannon Ball.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is urging the break-up of the encampment of some of the protesters who are still fighting the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota.

Tribal leaders meet this week and made clear it is time for the estimated 500 protesters to leave the Cannonball River floodplain where snow drifts and cold weather have become a huge challenge. The campsite is approximately 3 miles from the main Oceti Sakowin and smaller Rosebud camps which are also in the floodplain.

“We want people to leave the floodplain, either go home or come to the new camp,” said Cody Two Bears, a tribal councilman. He said volunteers and the tribe will help the protesters as much as possible. “There will be the force of law.”

Doug Crow Ghost who is director of the tribe’s water resources said it’s also a safety measure.

“They’re being asked to leave an area that’s going to get wet,” he explained, adding that the move is necessary to prevent contamination of any flood waters.

“But we need to put our feet to the ground. People are coming with their hearts and prayers and, at the same time, the fight is not over, the camp has to go.”

The campers at the Cannon Ball flood plain were welcomed to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline, but their stay also angered some residents of Cannon Ball.

District Chairman Robert Fool Bear said community buildings were overrun and the district forced camp media out of the gym and kitchen. They have a Saturday deadline to leave.

“We want to see people go home. It’s not a peaceful, prayerful camp anymore. We know that,” said Fool Bear. “I think the services the tribe can provide for a winter camp are a lot more than we can.”