Archived
BREAKING: Dakota protesters WIN their bid to stop pipeline being built through Standing Rock
The Dakota Access Pipeline will not go ahead at the Standing Rock Indian reservation, it was announced Sunday.
Cheyenne river Sioux Tribal Council chairman Harold Frazier told DailyMail.com that he was 'shocked' by the news, which he'd received from Jo-Ellen Darcy, US Army Corps of engineers.
The camp erupted into cheers as the news spread that the corps would not enforce an easement that would have allowed a pipeline to run through tribal lands, including a burial site.
Faith Spotted Eagle, an elder of the Ihanktonwan tribe, said: 'The easement has been denied. We have all come to this gathering being hosted by Mother Earth. I love you all.'
Shailene Woodley, star of the Divergent movies and 'The Fault in Our Stars', who had previously been arrested while protesting told a huge crowd: 'We feel so honored to have been a small part of this movement.'
Cries of Mni Waconi - 'Water is life' - went up from the crowd.
Scroll down for video
Victorious: Protesters at the Standing Rock Indian reservation triumphed today as the US Army Corps of engineers backed down in its plan to enforce an easement that would allow a pipeline to be built on their land
Cheers: Native American protesters and their allies were delighted as it was announced by the US government that the Dakota Access Pipeline would be re-routed away from the reservation
Happy: Protesters signaled their happiness after the announcement. Standing Rock tribal chairman Dave Archambault II said 'The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe will forever be grateful to the Obama administration for this historic decision'
Thousands: Protesters numbering in the thousands were present when the announcement was made, with cheers and cries of 'Water is life' going up from the crowd
Appreciative: Bernie Sanders - one of few prominent politicians who voiced opposition to the pipeline - tweeted that he was happy with the result, and cautioned that America should stop being dependent on fossil fuels
In a statement, Standing Rock tribal chairman Dave Archambault II said: 'Today, the US Army Corps of engineers announced that it will not be granting the easement to cross Lake Oahe for the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline.
'Instead, the Corps will be undertaking an environmental impact statement to look at possible alternate routes.
'We wholeheartedly support the decision of the administration and commend with the utmost gratitude the courage it took on the part of President Obama, the Army Corps, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior to take steps to correct the course of history and do the right thing.
'The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe will forever be grateful to the Obama administration for this historic decision.'
He went on to thank all of those who had given moral, physical and financial support from around the globe, and in particular thanked those who had joined the protesters at Standing Rock.
'We hope that [Energy Transfer Partner CEO] Kelcy Warren, [North Dakota Governor Jack] Dalrymple and the incoming Trump administration respect this decision and understand the complex process that led us to this point,' he added.
Happy: Members of the Sioux Nation celebrate minutes after the announcement that the Dakota Access Pipeline would not go ahead
Protest: Thousands had gathered at the site in order to stop the pipeline from being built
Art Desmarais an Army Vet from New Hampshire came to Cannonball,North Dakota, to show her support for the people of Standing Rock
Chief Joseph River Wind, a former military police officer, said he felt a calling to join the protesters and believes there is 'no expiration date on my oath to serve and protect'
The news came after thousands of veterans descended on Standing Rock Sioux reservation this weekend in a show of solidarity with the Dakota Access pipeline protests.
An estimated 2,000 servicemen and women poured into the Oceti Sakowin Camp, located on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land near Cannon Ball, North Dakota.
The Veterans Stand for Standing Rock group intends to form a human barrier in front of police to assist thousands of activists, who prefer to be known as water protectors.
They have spent months braving freezing temperatures and snowstorms in a stand against the $3.8billion pipeline which is planned to tunnel beneath a lake half a mile from the reservation. Activists say it threatens water resources and has destroyed sacred Native American burial sites.
The Oceti Sakowin campsite, the original name of the Sioux, meaning Seven Council Fires, has swelled in numbers since Friday.
Long lines of traffic pass through checkpoints to enter the camp staffed by volunteers.
Green military tents have sprung up as temporary barracks for veterans, many of whom are wearing camouflage fatigues and baseball caps of their regiments.
The weekend temperatures have hovered around 30F with bright sunshine but brutal weather is due to set in next week.
More snow is expected and a temperature drop to well below freezing.
On Sunday morning, veterans at the camp awoke to the sound of a lone trumpeter, Tony Lughan, playing Reveille and Amazing Grace on the hill.
Large crowds have started to gather at the pipeline site to continue the protests
U.S. Army veteran, Mike Matusewic, of Hurley, Wisconsin told DailyMail.com that the veterans had come to Standing Rock with the aim of giving some 'relief and protection to the water protectors and walk alongside them'
credits : Dailymail.co.uk