STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBAL TERRITORY — Another 27 people were arrested Monday during a prayer and ceremony caravan at a Dakota Access Pipeline construction site.
In a statement, water defenders said a caravan of over 100 vehicles travelled to a pipeline worksite to carry out a ceremony “honouring the prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor uniting”.
The purpose of the ceremony, according to the statement, was to strengthen the will and heart of those gathered at the front lines.
Morton County Sheriff’s department insisted the action was a riot.
Dozens of riot police came to the worksite and began arresting water defenders.
One man from Six Nations, Shiloh Hill, was among those arrested.
Hollywood film actress and ‘Divergent’ series star Shailene Woodley was also arrested while walking back to her vehicle.
Woodley was one of several people broadcasting the events on social media through Facebook Live.
Woodley was live streaming during her arrest.
Morton County Police said 25 of the people arrested were charged with criminal trespass.
A statement from Red Warrior Camp, one of the water protector sites along the pipelines construction path, say those arrested were were also charged with rioting.
Two people of the 27 arrested were chained to construction equipment and are facing felony charges.
Sources at the camp confirmed Woodley paid bail, and then offered to pay bail for all those arrested with her on Monday. All were scheduled to be released Tuesday morning.
On Sunday the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s request for an injunction to halt construction of the pipeline.
Tribal Chairman David Archambault said Standing Rock is not backing down from the fight.
The US Departments of Justice, Army and Interior released a joint statement that they will not authorize construction the Dakota Access Pipeline land bordering or under Lake Oahe.
The federal government publicly requested Energy Transfer Partners voluntarily pause all construction activity in the area.
Archambault said the tribe will continue to fight for the people and will not rest until their lands, waters and sacred places are permanently protected from the destructive pipeline.
The Obama administration will hold its first listening session Tuesday to gather tribal input on reforming the consultation process for infrastructure projects.
“The Obama administration has been an ally to tribes,” said Dave Archambault II, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. “Today’s listening session is a critical opportunity to inform the process moving forward so that other tribes don’t suffer the same losses as the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.”
