As months of protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota came to a head this past week, with at least 140 people arrested according to activists, there has been a groundswell of support for the Native American and environmentalist protesters gathered at several sites along the pipeline's proposed path.
On Monday, people "checked in" at the site on Facebook in an effort to derail what activists alleged was a strategy used by law enforcement to target them based on their location according to the social network. The check-ins likely just amounted to a show of support, but amplified the #NoDAPL message nonetheless.
Native American protesters say the crude oil pipeline runs through traditional sacred land and they fear it could contaminate drinking water that supplies several nearby reservations. The Standing Rock Sioux, the tribe with the reservation closest to the pipeline's North Dakota stretch, have been joined by several other tribes and environmentalists demonstrating against the project.
As protesters enter their fourth month camped out at several sites near the pipeline's 1,172-mile route, here's what you can do to support them:
Make a donation directly to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
These donations help the Tribe with legal, sanitary, and emergency supplies on the reservation. The tribe is taking payments either via PayPal or checks made out and mailed to:
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
Attention: Donations
PO Box D
Building #1
North Standing Rock Avenue
Fort Yates, ND 58538
Donate clothing or food to the Sacred Stone protest campsite
You can help with supplies via this this Amazon wish list, this GoFundMe page, cash or checks to the following addresses for the Sacred Stone campsite where protesters are gathered:
Sacred Stone Camp P.O. Box 1011, Fort Yates, ND 58538
or
202 Main Street Fort Yates, ND 58538
The protest camp's most pressing needs are firewood, tipis and tipi materials, a pick-up truck with four-wheel drive, trailers and campers for shelter, snow tires, gift cards for Lowes or Menards to purchase these supplies, wall tents with wood stoves and poles, and sleeping bags for sub-zero temperatures. A full list of supplies needed can be found here.
Donate to the Standing Rock Sioux's legal fund, which they're using to challenge the project in court
A few weeks ago, the Standing Rock Sioux lost a bid in federal court to halt work on the pipeline because they said the Army Corps. of Engineers granted development permits to Energy Transfer Partners without thorough tests and consultation. They have said they will appeal the judgement. You can donate to the fund at this GoFundMe page, which has reached $1.2 million of its $1.5 million goal.
Check in on Facebook
This might seem like an inconsequential act, but checking in to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation on Facebook is a show of solidarity and draws attention to this conflict, though it's unclear whether mass check-ins disrupt an alleged police strategy to target activists through their Facebook locations.
Send Energy Transfer Partners a message
The company that's building the Dakota Access Pipe Line, Energy Transfer Partners, is based in Texas. Reaching out to the company directly is another way of expressing concern over their $3.7 billion plans. You can reach their corporate headquarters at 214-981-0700
or
8111 Westchester Drive
Dallas, TX 75225
Get in touch with the office of North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple
Dalrymple has been mostly silent on the pipeline and the protests over the past few months, except that he called in the National Guard to deal with protesters and expressed his support for police arresting more than 140 protesters at one protest site last week.
Dalrymple's office can be reached at 701-328-2200
or
600 East Boulevard Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58505-0100
Sign this petition to get the White House involved
This petition already has more than 347,000 signatures–well above the 100,000 it needed in order to require a response from the White House. But it's still open and a good way to show the federal government how many people have concerns about the pipeline.
According to the company, the DAPL is scheduled to be finished by the end of the year, although it's the subject of two lawsuits and a partial halt-work order from the federal Department of Justice, at least until the Army Corps. of Engineers re-evaluates public land near Lake Oahe. Until then, the fight is far from over.