It started days earlier with the Japanese-American X/Twitter Crossover event in which, thanks to X’s automatic translation feature, posts from around the world are translated into the user’s language. Japanese X posts were particularly refreshing and delightful to X users, like myself, who had grown tired of doomer blackpill political-bots-from-India nonsense. Japanese users shared their love of American BBQ, refreshing takes on simple life, beautiful art, and, in general, there was an interesting several-day cultural exchange.

The morning of April 1 marked the start of winter’s re-emergence, spitting snow as I headed to my regular dentist appointment. Such appointments, for those of us who pay medical visits out of pocket, always feel like a controlled mugging. Clean teeth, smaller bank account.

Once at home, I called my parents. It is a tradition since college for me to call Dad on April 1 and tell an elaborate story that ultimately ends with me sadly saying I have totaled my car.1 Since I’ve been driving the same vehicle most of this time, it feels right to do this every April Fools Day.

There was no answer, so I left a voicemail.

My friend Naomi once told me years ago that my voicemails were “interesting.” I have never adapted well to leaving a voice imprint floating out in the ether, and so they have tended to be—despite my best efforts at times to stay on task and be concise in communications—a series of non-sequiturs, rambling, pretending to be a literate and pretentious drunkard, and in some cases, hokey questions about Prince Albert being in a can, assuming a serious voice and trying to place orders at the poop factory, or, when my mind blanks, basic farting sounds.

Given my voicemail skills (and my total lack of interest in parliamentary procedure), I could never run for office. After a few moments of the usual voicemail struggles, I ended my voicemail with a scold. “You two are in your mid-80s and are never home and have way more of a life than I do, and I’m not okay with that.”

About 40 minutes later, Dad returned my call.

“Sorry I missed your call,” he explained. “I was out in the yard with the tow truck guy. They’re towing the Explorer. I accidentally backed into it with the Scout.”

I had to pause. Wait. We don’t have the Scout anymore.

After a shocked pause, I finally spoke. “I cannot believe you just stole my April Fools joke from me.”

He started laughing. “I knew why you were calling.”

Our conversation devolved from there into a variety of hilarious but also infantile joking.

After hanging up with Dad, I then called the IRS, because if you’ve been in an infantile conversation, that’s a good segue. If you’re going to do it right on April Fools’ Day, do it right and call the IRS. After 55 minutes and being passed around to various folks at the IRS, experiencing the agony we upper Great Plains folks feel when we get the mush-mouthed lack of enunciation so common on help lines that forces us to uncomfortably ask them to repeat what they just said, I finally hung up the phone, reminding myself about the sayings involving death and taxes, and contemplating the overlap of the two.

Apparently, my super-delayed tax refund would continue to be so, because the IRS found it suspicious that I paid my quarterly taxes so much extra, even though they were a) paid on schedule, and b) paid according to what my accountant had told me to pay. Even after explaining that I used my tax refund to pay the next round of quarterlies and that, in fact, what we had here was just a revolving pass-off of the same money going to the IRS, then coming to me, then going to the IRS, there was still no joy.

After a visit to the dentist and a call to the IRS, both surprisingly similar, I noted that the April Foolery continued as the weather marched towards winter, with more snow forecast for Good Friday. Still aching after the IRS stomped on my tiny financial heart while I moved money to cover the dentist visit, I began doing client work and also testing my family’s patience. This was going to be a day of high achievement.

April 1 was, after all, Artemis II day.

Our family has a private messaging group, and while it’s typically used to share birthday greetings, family updates, plan get-togethers, and that sort of thing, they have to be patient with me because I am fond of abusing the group by forcing my interests on them.

“Family, for those interested…we’re going to the moon again starting today (hopefully)!” I wrote.

I then drowned them in various Artemis II links and told them the time they should tune in for the launch. As they updated the rest of the family on weather-related travel issues, birthdays, and Easter festivities, I bombarded them with moon stuff. I called my brother to get him to help Dad watch it on the NASA Roku channel at the parents’ house.

“Artemis II?” he asked. He didn’t know anything about it.

“We’re going back to the moon!” I said, hopeful I could light a fire under my family. A sister called me as she left work, wondering if she’d missed it.

“No, you have time, but drive carefully!” I said, excited that she was excited.

I plopped down on my chair with chips and guac, cat on my lap, a true American, waiting for Artemis II to go. “Eight minutes to launch!” I messaged at 5:27 p.m. “Who’s watching?”

My sisters chimed in that they were.

“I’m so excited!” I wrote. “Let’s not talk about O rings and tiles!”

And then it was time. As stupid as it sounds, I recorded the TV screen, holding my breath as old Challenger scars resurfaced. I started to cry, which surprised me. I’m sure the video picked up my whispered prayers.

My niece posted a photo of her living room, her young boys watching with two of their school friends. “These four boys aren’t too impressed,” she joked.

“Show them the Apollo 18 movie,” I said, a little bummed, remembering the school-age excitement of the shuttle program of my youth. I then quickly clarified, just in case. “No, do not.”

The Apollo 18 movie is a sci-fi horror movie, and probably the only thing flat-earth and moon-landing hoaxers would believe.

I cannot help but wonder at the genius (or foolishness) of NASA rebooting our moon space program on April Fools’ Day, or sending a vocal Christian (Victor Glover) around the moon at Easter when Reddit atheists exist.2

But after blackpilled doomers on social media griped about the launch costing about $12 per taxpayer and that the money should be used for practical things, and considering my earlier conversation with the IRS that very day, I felt like things were falling into place nicely. I would happily pay $100 to see this mission succeed and welcome all the fallout from the aforementioned pessimistic grifting ankle-biters if we, the normal general population, could stop fighting for just a bit and, on the flip side, give God some acknowledgment instead of laying all success and glory at the feet of human ingenuity.

Because, at the end of the day, after Japanese-American X and Artemis II, it felt like a Biblical moment.

The Tower of Babel, reversed.

Languages made the same.

Reaching for the heavens.

“We’ve got this. We’re so back! We’re so great! Nothing can stop us! Next, we’re totally going to Mars!” we say, forgetting we don’t know if we have tomorrow (James 4:14, Proverbs 27:1, Matthew 6:34). It’s our nature to view human unity and human achievement as a cue to not need God. He only gets our attention when he pulls back his hand, and horrible things fill the vacuum.

It is better to acknowledge God. It is not false humility. It’s a kind of spiritual order of operations. Get PEMDAS wrong, and it’s a mess.

The Apollo missions were marked by moments of Christian practice, even though NASA downplayed them. Apollo 8 astronauts read from Genesis during the first lunar orbit, which caused atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair to sue NASA.3 Buzz Aldrin celebrated Communion on the lunar surface during Apollo 11 and read from the Gospel of John while Neil Armstrong watched, though it was kept quiet to avoid controversy.4 Microform Bibles were carried on Apollo 12, 13, and 14, and Edgar Mitchell left 100 tiny 1-inch-square copies on the lunar surface. Apollo 15 astronaut James Irwin quoted from Psalm 121:1 from the moon. He also prayed for God’s help when he struggled in setting up the scientific equipment on the moon, later describing feeling a “profound sense of God’s presence.” Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke became a Christian many years after his mission.

In general, the astronauts often noted and expressed their faith, even if we only found out later about their private expressions.5 John Glenn and Jim Lovell were very open about it. Aldrin talked about how his experience was so meaningful that it was like a Christian sacrament for all mankind.

It would be easy to say that those were just the 1960s and that we are more evolved here in the 2020s, with our fixation on diversity and a modern understanding of how things are, and that we have moved past such simple beliefs as those held by the wielders of slide rules with flat tops. I would not agree that we are evolved; I suspect a better word is devolved.6 The lack of belief, or the desire to express no acknowledgment of God, is de-evolution.

Only the fool chooses not to understand his beginning.

Unrestrained human pride, where we neglect to mention God or, worse, purposefully negate Him entirely, leads to our destruction. We become our sole source of everything, thinking the same person who cannot control urges and addictions, who can’t understand another human being enough to keep their marriage together, is in control of their destiny. It is to God’s credit—His grace and mercy—that we think we have control of our existence when the opposite is true. All things are held together by Him, and when He loosens his grip and lets common grace slip, we get a reminder that, despite all the accomplishments we achieve thanks to God imparting those abilities in us as He created us in His image, we are always just inches from complete failure and destruction.

Gemini 9. Apollo 1. Soyuz 1. Soyuz 2. Challenger. Columbia. The IRS.

What we could learn from Genesis 11:4-8 and from John 1:1-3 and from Colossians 1:17 is humility. We didn’t make the stuff, though we were made to steward it. When we forget this and think we control the stuff, the breaking begins.

As it is, I have the live feed from NASA running on my computer and my living room television, nonstop. I’m excited for the Artemis missions. I’m praying for Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy, not only for safety and success, but to confront God’s vastness personally. I want a successful, safe mission in which the awe of the endless space God created is rightly celebrated, rather than turning humanity into little gods.

It would be a terrible, eternal April Fools’ joke to snub God, celebrate and elevate his creation without him, and still, whether we are aware of it or not, maintain the space in our hearts to blame and become angry at him when things go badly in life.

No room for praise, plenty of room for blame.

Save that for the IRS.

Godspeed, Artemis II.

Post-protest data taken from NDResponse.gov, which was gathered by various state agencies, including: ND JIC, NDDES, NDHP, NDGF, NDDH, and the Governor’s Office.

$43M Total cost to state taxpayers (estimated as of September 26, 2017). About $30M goes to personnel costs.

210 Total days of response support. The protest started on April 1, 2016; camps were fully cleared on February 23, 2017.

331,721 Total hours of response support.

106 Total North Dakota agencies that provided support during the protest.

10 Other states that provided assistance: Alabama, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

34 Total out-of-state agencies that provided support during the protest.

761 Number of arrests. 709 were protesters. 94% were from out of state. 227 had prior criminal records. 34 had a history of violence. 58 had a history of theft/robbery. 36 had a history of DUI/drugs. 41 were previously cited/arrested for drug possession.

544 Morton County households were affected by the protest.

$15-20K Individual losses claimed by Morton County farmers and ranchers.

57 Total livestock affected by the protest. 23 were killed or went missing. 34 were injured.

1,820 Total number of North Dakota personnel who came to help Morton County when the call for assistance went out. There were 412 sheriffs and deputies representing 43 of North Dakota’s 53 counties. (Data: ND Association of Counties)

200 Total number of hours the ND Department of Agriculture spent dealing with potentially pest-infested firewood.

700 Total number of hours employees of the ND Department of Agriculture dedicated to protest-related activities.

1,421 Total number of NDNG members who responded to the protest. 1,272 were Army. 149 were Air. On average, there were 200 members on duty for any given day. 136 students had to leave school for active duty response. 159 North Dakota cities/towns sent members to the response, while 9 other states were also represented.

$8.75M Total NDNG cost to protest response. Includes personnel, equipment, meals, and lodging.

$4.43M Total cost of ND Highway Patrol for protest. Includes personnel, travel, equipment, supplies, etc.

155 Total NDHP troopers logging emergency declaration time during the protest.

41,039 Total hours of NDHP regular time logged. There were 349,139 miles driven on regular time.

39,113 Total hours of NDHP overtime logged. There were 412,983 miles driven on overtime.

4,700+ Total number of private citizens who joined a single pro-community group on Facebook to counteract the protest. There were at least five groups of varying sizes.

90,000+ Estimated number of calls received by the ND Department of Emergency Services alone, according to Cecily Fong. There were more than 100 record requests, and more than 9,000 emails and written responses. This is a rough estimate, given the broad spread of people in the state who receive messages and calls.

This timeline is based on materials provided by the NDJIC (in particular, Keith Witt), legal rulings, news articles, and social media, as well as an early version I had created for public access.

2014 MAY

Two routes are considered for the Dakota Access pipeline. The USACE determines that the crossing north of Bismarck is more environmentally sensitive than the southern route at Oahe.

2014 JUNE

The Dakota Access Pipeline project was announced. It is a $3.78B, 1,172-mile pipeline running from the Bakken to Patoka, Illinois.

2014 SEPTEMBER

17 USACE attempts to set up meetings with Standing Rock officials five times but is unsuccessful.

30 Dakota Access officials meet with SRST Council. The tribe indicated they don’t want the pipeline, but also demand a full Section 106 NHPA review.

2014 OCTOBER

02 USACE goes to an arranged meeting with SRST, but arrives only to be told by SRST Chairman Archambault that the meeting was already over.

24 USACE sends a letter to various tribes that includes maps of cultural sites and construction areas. SRST is the only tribe that doesn’t respond. USACE gives SRST three extra weeks to respond.

2014 NOVEMBER

06 DAPL is removed from the SRST meeting agenda because the SRST Historic Officer does not attend.

13 Dakota Access sends files from a cultural survey to the SRST Historic Officer, but hears nothing back.

2014 DECEMBER

17 Dakota Access submits the application for the pipeline project to the North Dakota PSC, detailing the project and route.

18 USACE determines “No Historic Properties Affected” and allows soil bore testing to begin.

19 USACE emails SRST Historic Officer requesting January meetings with the tribe to discuss DAPL. There is no response.

22 ND PSC receives the Dakota Access application.

29 Dakota Access works to secure additional authorizations to continue pipeline construction.

2015 FEBRUARY

05 USACE requests more information from Dakota Access.

12 USACE emails the SRST Historic Officer to get comments. She does not respond immediately, but later says meetings weren’t necessary because she is working directly with Dakota Access.

17 USACE sends a letter to the SRST Historic Officer explaining that most of the construction work isn’t under their control, outlining the areas they’d be permitting. The letter notes that Dakota Access is conducting cultural surveys along the route and asks the tribe whether it has any concerns about cultural issues. USACE asks the tribe whether it wants to consult on the project and sets a March 30, 2015, deadline to respond.

25 The SRST Historic Officer sends a letter to USACE similar to the letter she sent on March 2, 2015.

2015 MARCH

02 The SRST Historic Officer contacts USACE with concerns over the locations of soil bore testing, the same day USACE has given the OK to start the work. The letter also requests further involvement but does not mention earlier Corps attempts to engage the tribe.

25 Dakota Access provides a complete application to USACE. 30 USACE sends a letter regarding the environmental assessment to SRST and other involved parties. The letter describes the Lake Oahe crossing and asks the tribe for comments.

30 USACE official and the SRST Historic Officer exchange emails.

2015 APRIL

08 The SRST Historic Officer responds to USACE that she had received their letter from February 17, 2015. Most of her response is about her concerns about soil bore testing and that USACE wasn’t responding to them. She says she hasn’t been contacted by USACE regarding this, and that the tribe opposes drilling in their ancestral lands. She says the tribe looks forward to full involvement in the tribal consultation process once it starts. That same day, USACE speaks with an SRST archaeologist regarding additional pipeline realignments. USACE repeats attempts to speak with the SRST Historic Officer, but she informs them she is on leave until July 27, 2015, and gives no indication if anyone will be in her place while she is gone.

2015 MAY

20 ND PSC announces public hearings for the proposed DAPL. The meetings will be held in Mandan, Killdeer, and Williston. The PSC provides dates, times, and locations for the meetings, as well as a map of the proposed route.

24 About 60 landowners affected by the pipeline form a bargaining group to get an easement that protects their interests.

28 About 80 people attended the first public meeting in Mandan.

2015 JUNE

05 Dakota Access is granted survey access for the pipeline.

15 The second public meeting is held, this time in Killdeer.

26 The third public meeting is held, this time in Williston.

2015 JULY

22 USACE sends a letter to SRST regarding a cultural site Dakota Access has identified. The tribe is asked to respond in 30 days if they want to consult on the Oahe crossing.

2015 AUGUST

19 SRST Chairman Archambault sends a letter to USACE, stating he is frustrated that he hadn’t been contacted about DAPL earlier. He asks USACE to come to SRST to talk about it. USACE responds and attempts to set up a meeting, but is unsuccessful.

21 SRST Historic Officer sends a letter to USACE regarding the offer to consult on the Oahe crossing. She again discusses soil bore testing and NHPA and expresses frustration that USACE doesn’t respond to her concerns. She says the tribe wants to be consulted before any work is completed and to play a primary role in all survey work and monitoring.

27 USACE begins planning a visit for their officials, tribe members, and the ND State Historic Preservation Officer to Lake Oahe.

2015 SEPTEMBER

03 USACE responds to SRST Chairman Archambault, acknowledging receipt of his letter and providing the requested information.

16 USACE sends a letter to SRST acknowledging a willingness to work with them and address concerns during the upcoming Lake Oahe visit. USACE begins emailing back and forth with the SRST archaeologist to coordinate that visit.

17 SRST archaeologist emails USACE to back out of the Lake Oahe visit, explaining that SRST Historic Officer decided it wasn’t in their best interest to participate until “government-to-government consultation has occurred for this project.” USACE does meet with the ND SHPO on site as planned.

28 SRST Historic Officer sends a letter to USACE, noting her concern about a lack of consultation prior to the start of archaeological surveys, bringing up soil bore testing. She also said she believes the entire length of DAPL is under federal consideration, and USACE was trying to avoid “federalization.”

29 USACE calls SRST Chairman Archambault to schedule a meeting with the Vice Chairman for October 28, 2015.

2015 OCTOBER

26 SRST cancels the scheduled meeting with USACE, saying no one can attend.

2015 DECEMBER

02 The Three Affiliated Tribes approves DAPL with a 5-0 vote, two abstentions.

08 Five tribes attend a general tribal informational meeting in Sioux Falls, SD, where USACE makes sure they all have copies of the cultural surveys. SRST does not attend.

2016 JANUARY

01 Dakota Access files condemnation lawsuits to gain access to land in ND. There has been enmity between landowners and Dakota Access in some situations.

08 SRST Chairman Archambault tells USACE they failed to consult the tribe regarding cultural sites, citing the soil borings. He lists other grievances with the project.

20 ND PSC issues a permit for DAPL.

22 USACE meets with SRST Chairman Archambault at Standing Rock.

25 Tribes attend another meeting in Sioux Falls, SD, to review the cultural surveys and routes to see if changes are necessary. SRST does not attend.

25 SRST archaeologist sends a letter to USACE indicating the tribe is still interested in formal consultation on the project, bringing up concerns about soil bore testing. She says the testing should not go ahead, though months earlier, she acknowledged USACE correspondence that said soil bore testing was completed. Without a primary role in surveying and monitoring, the tribe would refuse to attend meetings until USACE Col. Henderson comes to SRST to meet with them. USACE responds and attempts to schedule meetings, but calls go unanswered. SRST Historic Officer leaves her job at SRST.

2016 FEBRUARY

18 USACE Col. Henderson officiates at a tribal summit. SRST participates.

26 USACE Col. Henderson meets with SRST and commits to imposing additional conditions on DAPL, including double-walled piping.

26 SRST members and youth protest DAPL in front of the tribal administration office, saying that the administration has not been forthcoming with information about the project to tribal members.

2016 MARCH

03 USACE meets with SRST at USACE headquarters. The tribe expresses concerns over the James River crossing, so USACE tells Dakota Access to change the route. Dakota Access complies.

08 SRST identifies historical sites in a meeting with USACE, which promises to study them further. They eventually conclude that the sites are far enough from construction to be unaffected.

24 SRST Chairman Archambault responds to USACE, saying they failed to consult the tribe on cultural sites. Two other tribes said they felt they weren’t fully consulted on the project, either.

2016 APRIL

01 Sacred Stone Camp is set up. There is a ceremonial horse ride to protest the pipeline.

05 SRST receives two donations of $125,000 from green energy companies ConEdison Development and Fagen Inc. The donations come a year after the completion of wind farm construction, but just four days after the pipeline protest begins.

19 A bald eagle that had been injured but nursed back to health is released at the camp. SRST Game and Fish and the Dakota Zoo had participated in the eagle’s recovery.

22 USACE decides that no historical sites would be affected.

26 The ND Historic Preservation Officer agrees with the USACE decision.

27 Native American youth hold a 500-mile relay to protest the pipeline, from Cannon Ball to USACE in Omaha.

29 USACE meets with SRST, after which Chairman Archambault says USACE is addressing Section 106 issues through its actions and that on-site visits were productive.

2016 MAY

10 DAPL has 100 percent of the easements needed in North Dakota.

13 USACE reiterates in a letter that they could not control areas of the project that were not under their jurisdiction.

24 Construction begins on DAPL in North Dakota.

2016 JUNE

30 The Assistant Secretary of the Army agrees with USACE’s position regarding their jurisdiction on the DAPL project, and that it isn’t a federal project.

2016 JULY

25 USACE issues an Environmental Assessment finding of “no significant impact.”

27 With the assistance of environmental organization Earthjustice, SRST files a lawsuit against USACE.

2016 AUGUST

05 PSC investigates claims by a pipeline contractor who said the coating on the pipeline for Dakota Access wasn’t acceptable regarding where it crosses the water near Williston.

10 The protest picks up steam and begins in earnest.

11 Law enforcement responds to reports from private security that protesters are trying to stop construction, resulting in 13 arrests.

12 SRST Chairman Archambault and a tribal council member are arrested, along with four others, for disorderly conduct as he and about 250 other protesters try to stop pipeline workers from leaving a work site.

13 Protesters block the bridge over the Cannonball River on Highway 1806 as they marched from there to construction sites. Law enforcement officers begin removing their names from their uniforms due to doxing and online threats.

15 Dakota Access attempts to move construction equipment, but protesters on horseback push into the law enforcement line. Protesters then cut through a fence along the property, allowing 50 protesters onto private property. They break the windows in a loader and assault a private security officer. There are ten arrests. N.D. Gov. Dalrymple issues a state of emergency due to the protest. Dakota Access files a lawsuit against SRST Chairman Archambault and other protesters.

16 Windows are broken out of the bulldozers at a pipeline site. A generator and a light stand are also vandalized. Dakota Access gets a restraining order against Archambault, SRST council member Dana Yellow Fat, and others they are suing.

17 Traffic on Highway 1806 at County Road 138A is detoured to alternate routes as protesters continue to pour into the camps and park their vehicles on the shoulder of the 65-mph Highway 1806.

18 Protesters gather south of the Capitol grounds in Bismarck for two hours, closing Boulevard Avenue for three blocks. The demonstration is peaceful.

21 There are reports of a green laser light aimed at NDHP pilots at 12:45 a.m.

22 The ND Dept. of Health removes equipment and other items from the protest overflow camp at Standing Rock. A portable cell tower is installed near the DAPL construction site. Three Affiliated Tribes Chairman Mark Fox writes a letter in support of the protest. SRST and the International Treaty Council turn to the United Nations for help in stopping the pipeline.

23 Protesters march across Memorial Bridge (between Bismarck and Mandan) at 3 p.m., staying on the sidewalk. At an evening Morton County Commission meeting, citizens testified that the traffic checkpoint is frustrating and is having a detrimental effect on the tribe’s economy. Cannonball Ranch owner David Meyer reports damage to his property involving some structures, tools, vehicles, and windows. The Oath Keepers, a far-right group, report favorably on the protest.

24 Protesters march from the Cannonball River bridge to the construction site on Highway 1806 at 10 a.m. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia hears arguments on the SRST’s request for an injunction. The court says SRST had not shown that any cultural resources were threatened and that there was no reason to stop construction. Actress Shailene Woodley protests in front of a District Court in Washington, D.C. to show solidarity with the protest.

25 Environmental organizations sent a letter to President Obama protesting the pipeline as a response to the court’s ruling.

27 Some protest leaders reject help from “Anonymous,” who want to target individuals involved in standing against the protest, but “Anonymous” indicates they’ll do it anyway, targeting NDNG, ND government, and oil companies.

28 Four days after the court’s ruling, SRST archaeologist Tim Mentz is invited (according to Mentz) onto Cannonball Ranch property by its owner, David Meyer, due to possible artifacts that were found. The property in question was to be the next section of pipeline to be constructed. Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley mentions, in an interview, that protesters had gone to the home of a law enforcement officer.

29 Protesters gather for two hours in front of the office of a Bismarck attorney who represents Dakota Access. 31 Protesters gather at a construction site four miles south of St. Anthony, on Highway 6. They put signs on the construction equipment, and some attach themselves to it with “sleeping dragons.” Eight protesters are arrested. In the evening, about 12 protesters gathered at the law enforcement center to pray until the day’s arrestees were released. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, from Oregon, donate $2500 to SRST for the protest.

2016 SEPTEMBER

02 SRST archaeologist Tim Mentz claims that over the course of three days, he has identified 27 burials, 16 stone rings, 19 effigies, and other features in or next to the pipeline corridor that had previously been undiscovered. Dakota Access accuses Mentz of waiting until the Friday before Labor Day to release this information, in order to halt construction as long as possible, and says the sites are outside the construction corridor.

03 (“DOG DAY”) A rumor that DAPL was planning on moving dozing equipment to the area of Mentz’s new artifact discoveries sparks outrage. About 300 protesters, possibly led by the Red Warrior Camp, trespass onto private property where other construction is occurring. They trample and cut the fence, and walk in to access the equipment and workers. There are 20-30 horses and some vehicles. The protesters are met by private security who have dogs. Protesters hit security personnel with flagpoles and fence posts. The conflict leaves several private security officers and protesters with injuries. Law enforcement managed to get protesters off the private property. Democracy Now reporter Amy Goodman is present during this clash. Members of the Nation of Islam, Mosque #27 from Los Angeles, arrive at the protest camp.

06 About 200 protesters trespass onto private property to occupy a construction site south of St. Anthony near the intersection of Highway 6 and County Road 135. Two protesters attach themselves to the equipment, while others use spray paint to vandalize it; Presidential candidate Jill Stein is among those with spray paint. No arrests are made. A small fire is reported on a wooden-planked entrance road to a construction site. The United Tribes Technical College powwow Parade of Champions is cancelled. District Judge Boasberg temporarily halts pipeline construction between Highway 1806 and Lake Oahe, but allows it west of the highway, stating the USACE lacks jurisdiction on private land. North Carolina-based Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians donates $50K to the protest.

07 Protest supporters paddle from Bismarck to Standing Rock in canoes.

08 Four protesters attach themselves to equipment at the same site from two days earlier. Protesters say on Facebook that they left because no workers came to the site. Governor Dalrymple activates a military police unit for traffic control and administrative duties. A helicopter flies over the camp using a false N-number. Fargo City Commissioner John Strand visits the protest camp and comes out in support of the protest.

09 Protesters block both lanes of Highway 1806, walking, riding horses, or using vehicles. Due to the traffic hazard, the BIA has set up a traffic control point near the Cannonball River. A U.S. District Judge rejects SRST’s request for an injunction against the pipeline. Almost immediately, the Obama Administration issued a statement that it would not allow the construction of the pipeline on USACE land until the USACE reconsiders its previous decisions. Dakota Access is asked to voluntarily cease other construction activity within 20 miles of Lake Oahe. SRST issues a supportive statement regarding President Obama’s decision to stop construction. About 300 protesters gathered at the Capitol for three hours. The United Tribes Technical College 47th Annual International Powwow begins in Bismarck. A photo emerges online showing protesters stuck at a local gas station with signs that say “oil kills” and also signs asking for help to get gas.

12 SRST asks the court to make the government’s request for a voluntary construction pause enforceable while the appeal process proceeds.

13 About 300 protesters walk and drive vehicles on Highway 1806, blocking both lanes of traffic. Protesters also target construction sites near Glen Ullin and New Salem. There are reports of vandalized tires on construction equipment. Black Lives Matter releases a statement saying they support the protest as a means to “defeat their common oppressors.”

14 Three protesters attach themselves to pipeline construction equipment near New Salem. Eight people are arrested.

15 Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s leader, comes out in support of the protest. Vehicles and a trailer in Bismarck are vandalized with “#NoDAPL” spray-painted on them.

16 Protesters march across Memorial Bridge from Bismarck to Mandan. USACE says it will issue a special use permit to allow protesters to remain on their land. The permit does not grant access north of the Cannonball River. Judge Hovland ends the restraining order against protesters, but speaks out against violent protesters. Singer Neil Young releases a song and video called “Indian Givers” to show support for the protest, mentioning protesters in the song.

17 Protesters conduct a prayer assembly. Sen. Heitkamp speaks out against the threats “Anonymous” has been making against Gov. Dalrymple and others.

18 Greenpeace announces that it will help fund, feed, and house Red Warrior Camp in ten cities across the country.

19 Protesters post video on Facebook showing them skinning and butchering buffalo at the camp.

20 About 150 protesters gather at the law enforcement center in Mandan to support a protester who had been arrested at a protest site. At a North Dakota Petroleum Council event, Three Affiliated Tribe leaders ask for civility between all involved in the protest.

21 A memo is released that states that SHS found no evidence of cultural or human remains that Mentz claimed to have found. Protesters take over the stage at the ND Petroleum Council event.

22 The Cannonball Ranch is sold to Dakota Access. The ranch is west of the Missouri, where the pipeline crosses, and is a focal point of protester activity.

24 Six people on horses, and a few on foot, are observed walking a fence carrying “no trespassing” signs they’d removed from the property. Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry visits the protest camp.

25 A convoy of about 60 vehicles and three school buses leaves the camp and drives to a DAPL construction site. Protesters park the vehicles to limit access and attack three security guards at the site, injuring one. The guards report seeing a knife and a handgun among the protesters. The protesters go onto the property; some plant trees while others vandalize equipment. They repeat the activity at a nearby construction site.

26 The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians donates $250K to the SRST legal fund.

27 Protesters travel to a pipeline construction site, leaving in their wake DAPL signs with bullet holes and graffiti scratched into the pipe. The pipe will need to be recoated.

28 Protesters gather at Sacred Stone Camp, and then head to construction sites to try to remove concertina wire. 75 protesters, some on horseback, trespass near a farmstead near St. Anthony. A crop duster spraying fields in the area sets off rumors of “mustard gas.”

30 ND Agricultural Commissioner Doug Goehring speaks out about the threats and crime happening against farmers and ranchers in the area. Protester Joye Braun reads a statement in front of Morton County LEC stating that law enforcement has broken laws and incited violence, and that they were ignoring Great Sioux Nation laws.

2016 OCTOBER

01 A representative from the Local 563 chapter of the Laborers International Union of North America reports to WDAY radio that a pipeline worker was assaulted by masked assailants at a gas station. Red Warrior Camp leader Cody Hall says no permanent structures will be built on USACE land.

03 About 100 vehicles, with several protesters in each vehicle, travel to St. Anthony, make a loop, and go back to the camp. Mercer County Sheriff sends a letter to US Attorney Lynch, Secretary of the Interior Jewel, and USACE Lt. General Semonite describing the protesters’ violent behavior and asking USACE and the federal government to enforce their own laws. Activist D’Shawn Cunningham from BOLD Nebraska reveals violence and corruption in the protest camps and explains why he left.

04 Protesters gather outside the Belle Mehus auditorium in Bismarck to protest the ND gubernatorial debate. Some are asked to leave when they shout questions from the audience during the debate. Mandan Police Department vacation policies are waived as officers are not to take vacations until the emergency is lifted. The PSC meets with the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration regarding federal oversight of safety inspections along DAPL.

05 A convoy of about 75 vehicles and two buses travels from the protest camp to St. Anthony, where law enforcement stops them on County Road 136. The protesters began demonstrating there, but were told to clear the roadway. The convoy moves to a DAPL construction site and stages another demonstration.

06 About 60 vehicles leave the camp and travel to a DAPL construction site near St. Anthony. Law enforcement blocks roads leading to the construction site access points. The convoy drives around the area before returning to the camps. About 87 percent of DAPL is completed in North Dakota. Burleigh County Special Education Unit Director Barry Chathams sends a letter to ND Superintendent of Public Schools Kirsten Baesler, informing her that protesters have been harassing special education teachers who are trying to provide regular services to schools in the protest area, including trying to run them off the roads.

07 A pro-law enforcement rally is held at the law enforcement center in Mandan. A protester from South Dakota pleads guilty to stealing a car in Bismarck and driving 113 mph drunk down Highway 1806, crashing into an occupied tipi in the camp. Wisconsin sends 40 sworn sheriff’s deputies to help ND law enforcement. The ND Superintendent of Public Schools notifies SRST Chairman Archambault that the school operating at the protest camp is operating illegally because it does not meet five requirements for approved schooling.

08 The “Ride For Our Sacred Water”, made up of 20 horseback riders and support vehicles, travels north on Highway 1806 to Ft. Rice, and then west. Some protesters want to take photos of a construction site, but are stopped by law enforcement. A drone was seized from protester Myron Dewey based on a stalking offense that had happened earlier in the day.

09 The DC Circuit Court denies SRST’s emergency motion for an injunction. A rancher near the protest finds the heads of two of his cows in his pasture near the protest camp.

10 Two protesters attach themselves to construction equipment. There are three arrests. About 100 vehicles leave the camps and travel to a construction site. Protesters remove the fence and trespass on private property. Twenty-four protesters are arrested, including actress Shailene Woodley. SRST Chairman Archambault states, during meetings in Phoenix regarding various agencies working with tribal input, that it was critical so that “other tribes don’t suffer the same losses as the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.” Cass County Sheriff Laney calls the protests a riot and says he and his officers are helping Morton County. Local television news reporters from KFYR are threatened, on video, by protesters. USACE, the US Dept. of Justice, and the US Dept. of the Interior say they won’t authorize construction on Corps land until they complete further review, and ask Dakota Access to voluntarily pause construction.

11 Dakota Access announces that it will continue work on the pipeline near Oahe and hopes the federal government will help local law enforcement deal with protesters. Gov. Dalrymple states on KFYR that SRST Chairman Archaumbault told him privately that he no longer had control over the camp or the protesters. Archambault promptly denies saying such a thing. Activists tamper with current pipelines in five locations in states near Canada, including near Walhalla, North Dakota, in solidarity with the protest.

12 Dane County, Wisconsin deputies leave due to their constituents no longer wanting them to help ND law enforcement. Some deputies stay, volunteering on their own time. SRST Chairman Archambault says there are discussions about moving the protest camp to tribal land near Cannon Ball as winter approaches. A local rancher speaks on the radio about the harassment they are experiencing, noting that they are carrying guns as they try to bring in the harvest. The ND Dept. of Agriculture creates a hotline for farmers and ranchers. A Wisconsin deputy is arrested for DUI in Bismarck.

13 Senators Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Ed Markey (D-MA) sign a letter asking President Obama to halt pipeline construction until further consultation and review take place. The Red Warrior Camp’s “Black Snake Killaz” go on Facebook and ask for “reinforcement from skilled and trained Warriors prepared to evict the Dakota Access Pipeline and protect our homelands and way of life.”

14 ND ACLU considers suing over the use of roadblocks on Highway 1806, which have been used to keep protesters off of private property. ND Farm Bureau donates 86 cases of water and snacks for law enforcement.

15 A group of protesters travels to a construction site. One attaches himself to the excavator. A convoy of vehicles confronts a police line, and ten are arrested. Three protesters are arrested for trespassing on private property. ND Stockmen’s Association states that butchered cattle and bison, and other dead and missing livestock, are reported near the protest camp. They offer a $14K reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person stealing, butchering, or shooting cattle, horses, or mules.

17 Democracy Now assembles equipment in the church lot west of the law enforcement center in Mandan. Amy Goodman is scheduled to appear to answer the charges, but a Morton County judge refuses to sign off on them. A large group of protesters parks their vehicles on the east side of Memorial Bridge and blocks all lanes. Bismarck Police sent a notification urging people to avoid the area. Protesters march eastbound on West Main Ave., blocking traffic before heading back to the protest near the law enforcement center. Dakota Access makes an unanticipated discovery at a construction site, prompting them to change their route to avoid the area. More cattle are discovered harmed near the camp, one shot and another with two arrows sticking out of its rib cage. Chase Iron Eyes, the Democratic candidate for the US House, says much of the extreme violence is from outsiders.

18 Three journalists, led by Phelim McAleer, are surrounded by protesters at the camp, who attempt to grab their microphones and prevent them from leaving. Protesters demand that the journalists give up the video footage they shot, but the journalists refuse. North Dakota’s congressional delegation asks the Obama Administration to send federal assistance to address the protest. They also denounce the butchering of ranchers’ livestock.

19 Pyramid Communications, the Seattle-based PR firm that SRST hired to help with the protest, released tips on how it is helping pipeline protesters stay on message. A $3K blue roan horse is found dead near the protest site, its head removed and body skinned. Rep. Kevin Cramer says he does not expect a decision on the pipeline until after the upcoming election. SRST Chairman Archambaut identifies tribal land that could work for the camp, but does not say the camp will move.

20 A VIP walk of a construction site to view possible cultural sites takes place, including members of the tribe, state, and congressional delegation. Sen. Hoeven asks USACE to approve the pipeline’s final easement. SRST Chairman Archambault travels to Geneva to give a speech at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

21 About 40 protesters gathered near the Ft Rice boat ramp, but were stopped by law enforcement from proceeding. About 100 protesters gathered where the pipeline crosses Highway 1806, some cutting the fence line to get onto private property. Inspectors learn of the unanticipated discovery Dakota Access made a few days earlier.

22 About 12 protesters travel to a construction site early in the morning. Four attach themselves to equipment. About 150 protesters leave the camp and trespass onto the pipeline’s private right-of-way. Law enforcement forms a line between the protesters and the construction equipment on the private property. Protester numbers grow to about 200, and become aggressive. Arrests are made, and protesters began to scatter. A number of small children are in the group, including one about 3 years old. The protesters also have dogs, including three German Shepherds. Red Warrior Camp tells its Facebook followers that it wants to increase the trouble and expense for law enforcement.

23 At 8 am, about 200 protesters travel to the north camp (the camp in the ditch along the highway). A protester named Mekasi Camp-Horinek says he is the leader and says this would be a prayer gathering, and there will be no trespassing. On social media, protesters say the day will be “historic.” By 10 am, protesters trespass on private property, erect tipis, move vehicles onto the property, and enter buildings on the property. As law enforcement makes arrests, protesters run towards them. Law enforcement withdraws to avoid the confrontation. By 2 pm, protesters had built a barricade across Highway 1806 near the north camp using vehicles, wire fencing, logs, bales, rocks, and other debris. Protesters also block Highway 1806 south of the main camp using an NDDOT electronic sign and vehicles. Protesters also block County Road 134 west of Highway 1806 using logs and five tents. At about 4 pm, law enforcement approaches the north blockade and tells protesters they need to clear the highway. Protesters clear the debris by 5 pm, leaving the material in the ditch, but leave the blockade up on the county road. Protesters continue to build tipis, tents, and park vehicles on the private property. A protester drone flies within 50 feet of a helicopter. Law enforcement brings the drone down using foam rounds. There are reports of arrows being shot at the helicopter. SRST Chairman Archambault releases a statement saying law enforcement tactics are an assault on First Amendment Rights and asks the US Dept. of Justice to help resolve the tense situation, which would include an injunction against the pipeline. Morton County Sheriff’s Department issues a statement asking for more assistance. North Dakota officials ask the FAA to place a TFR over the area.

24 The illegal camp on private property continues growing through the night, with 17 tipis, more than 100 smaller tents, five large military tents, and a handful of RVs. The blockade on the county road grows as well, adding four more tents. In the afternoon, protesters block Highway 1806 near the north camp again. The protesters cite the 1851 Treaty of Ft. Laramie as their justification for being on the land. ETP delivers a letter to the ND Attorney General justifying their purchase of the Cannonball Ranch, refuting claims that the purchase was in violation of North Dakota’s anti-corporate farming law. Former Democratic Ag Commissioner Sarah Vogel says the sale was “sketchy.” ND State Rep. Kylie Oversen (D) declares her support for protesters. Oversen is the chair of the ND Democratic-NPL Party.

25 The north camp on private property continues to grow, with more tipis. By early afternoon, protesters had gathered materials to construct a second blockade between the new north roadblock and the north camp. Six horse riders go onto private property at the roadblock on the county road. A TFR is put in place over the protest. Actor Mark Ruffalo arrives at Prairie Knights Casino on SRST and addresses the audience, encouraging protesters to stand up to law enforcement. The Crow Creek Tribe from South Dakota rescinds their tax agreement with South Dakota because SDHP had helped North Dakota law enforcement. Al Gore comes out in support of the protest.

26 Law enforcement representatives (Sheriff Kirchmeier, Sheriff Laney, Colonel Gerhart, General Dohrmann) meet with protesters at the north roadblock. Mekasi Camp-Horinek acts as the leader again. Protesters are asked to remove the roadblocks and leave private property. The protesters say they will not move. Law enforcement leaves. Private security later finds a protester drone, the same one that had buzzed the helicopter, surveilling them near an archaeological site. The new north camp continues to grow, with more tipis and a small mobile home. Actor Mark Ruffalo and Rev. Jesse Jackson arrive at the protest site for photo ops. Ruffalo, along with the CEO of Native Renewables, brings solar panels to the camp. Protesters in Minneapolis protest against the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department assisting North Dakota law enforcement. Morton County Sheriff’s Department determines, in an investigation into private security personnel who used dogs, that they were not licensed to do security in North Dakota. North Dakota rancher Doug Hille writes an open letter to Ruffalo and Jackson, and actor Leonardo DiCaprio (who had also come out in support of the protest), stating that they were helping to fracture a community. The FAA places a temporary flight restriction (TFR) over the protest through November 5, 2016. Restrictions apply to altitudes up to 3500 MSL (about 2500 AGL), unless the aircraft is for law enforcement or the pilot has permission. Archambault travels to New York City to receive various honors from organizations there. He also appears on Lawrence O’Donnell’s MSNBC show. SRST Chief Arvol Looking Horse calls on religious leaders to support the protest. Protester attorney Bruce Ellison, a former AIM attorney who represented Leonard Peltier and would represent Red Fawn Fallis after her arrest, gives an interview to South Dakota Public Radio in which he states protesters aren’t hurting landowners beyond walking on land and planting trees.

27 (See map above.) At 11:50 a.m., about 300 law enforcement officers began clearing blockades and illegal camps on private property (1). This day is well-documented in video, showing law enforcement repeatedly asking protesters to clear the highway and illegal camp and go back to the main camp on Corps land if they did not want to be arrested. Protesters refuse and start the north blockade on fire. A fire truck is called in to put out the fire. At the same time, another group of law enforcement moves in from the west, near the roadblock on County Road 134 (1). The protesters set the bridge blockade on fire. By 12:40 p.m., protesters from the north Highway 1806 blockade fall back to the second blockade (2), while the protesters on CR134 add more material to their fire to make it larger. A fire truck is called there. Law enforcement pushes protesters south, heading into the north camp, checking tents and other structures. They find three protesters locked to something embedded into the ground (3). The protesters are cut free. Protesters also chain themselves to a vehicle parked on Highway 1806 and put tipi poles and large logs in the middle of the highway (4). Law enforcement continues pushing south and has cleared protesters from the north camp by 4:15 p.m. Protesters on horseback begin chasing a private herd of buffalo in a nearby pasture, attempting to stampede them towards law enforcement. A helicopter and an airplane assisting law enforcement try to push the herd back. Some of the protesters on horseback are arrested by law enforcement officers on ATVs. The herd owners report that some animals died or lost the calves they were carrying. Protesters continue to burn the blockade on the county road, setting vehicles on fire. Law enforcement pushes protesters back again. At about 5:20 pm, an NDHP pilot notices a clash near Backwater Bridge involving a security officer and a large group of protesters. The video shows a white truck, driven by the security officer, being forced off the highway and T-boned by protester vehicles. BIA takes the security officer, who has a gun, into custody. At 5:55, a protester, Red Fawn Fallis, who drew a gun and fired three shots at law enforcement was arrested. Fires continue to flare up as law enforcement works to clear County Road 134, but they manage to extinguish them and use heavy equipment to clear the road of debris. At 7 pm, the two law enforcement groups meet at the intersection of Highway 1806 and County Road 134 (5). They move south and meet protesters at Backwater Bridge, where another blockade has been constructed. The protesters set the blockade on fire and began throwing Molotov cocktails and rocks at law enforcement as they moved towards the bridge. Law enforcement moves back to be out of range and holds their position north of the bridge. Fire trucks are unable to safely reach the fires on the bridge, so law enforcement places two large trucks at the north end as a temporary barricade. Protesters set the trucks on fire. Law enforcement stays at the bridge all night. 141 protesters are arrested this day. Dakota Access notifies the PSC of an unanticipated discovery they’d made more than ten days earlier. Actor Mark Ruffalo goes on CNN to say that law enforcement was very aggressive. Actor Chris Hemsworth states his solidarity with the protesters. The governors from North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa write to the USACE and ask that the final stretch of pipeline be permitted. The Bundys (Oregon standoff) are acquitted. The National Sheriff’s Association sends a letter to US Attorney General Lynch, accusing Archambault’s sister and a BIA executive of working to keep help from coming to North Dakota.

28 Fires burn all night and into the morning. 50 protesters have stayed on the bridge overnight. By early afternoon, tribal and/or camp leaders try to persuade the protesters to leave the bridge. By 3 pm, all protesters have left Backwater Bridge. Burned vehicles and other debris are cleared from County Road 134 and its bridge. About 70 vehicles are towed from along Highway 1806. Amnesty International sends observers to monitor North Dakota law enforcement, calling on the US Department of Justice to investigate. Labor groups praise law enforcement, thank them, and denounce the protest groups. More dead livestock are found in pastures near the protest. Four bison are found butchered, and two cows are killed and burned. ND Rep. Kylie Oversen (D) condemns the violence at the protest. Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance arrives to protest the pipeline at the Capitol. SRST Chairman Archambault sends a letter to the United Nations requesting assistance, stating that “we are experiencing violence and intimidation from state law enforcement, private security, as well as the North Dakota National Guard, which are moving to forcibly remove us from our encampment located on unceded Treaty lands...” The President of the National Sheriff’s Association, Greg Champagne, arrives in Morton County to observe what is happening with the protest.

29 200 protesters gather at Backwater Bridge. Law enforcement meets with Chief Arvol Looking Horse and Archie Fool Bear to discuss concerns with the blocked bridge. Protesters leave the bridge by 1 pm, when the MN Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance demonstrates at the Capitol. SRST Chairman Archambault, back in North Dakota, holds a press conference with CRST Chairman Frazier regarding Morton County’s policing tactics. Archambault and Frazier state that protesters are being kept in dog kennels. They also express frustration with the federal government for not helping them. A CNN article reports that many SRST members aren’t even participating in the protest and want it to end. Archambault meets with a civil rights attorney from the Oneida Tribe of Indians in Wisconsin to discuss a protester class action suit against law enforcement, saying it was a “suitable vehicle” for challenging law enforcement. Archambault asks Dakota Access to change the pipeline route so it crosses the river at a different location. Journalist David Robert Farmerie tells of a violent experience in the protest camps.

30 (Scheduled date of DAPL completion) At 1 am, a grass fire starts west of the main camp, west of Highway 1806. Mandan Rural Fire Department was dispatched at 1:12 am but couldn’t reach the fire due to the terrain. The fire spreads to the west, not towards the camp. NDNG, using a helicopter, helps put out the fire by 10 am. Protesters say that “outside agitators” had started the grass fire. Protesters continue to arrive at the main camp. Camp leaders state they are trying to get violent radicals out of the camp. Law enforcement is eventually called to the camp to investigate a possible drowning. BIA and search-and-rescue teams from Morton County search the scene but find no one. NDHP clears the ditches along Highway 1806, and Morton County Highway Department clears them along County Road 134. The north camp is completely cleared of all structures. Protesters attempt to cross the water from the south to the north, east of Backwater Bridge, but are turned back. Red Fawn Fallis, a 37-year-old woman from Denver, is charged with firing a gun at law enforcement on October 27, 2016. Today is the date that DAPL was supposed to be completed.

2016 NOVEMBER

01 USACE asks ND law enforcement to arrest protesters who trespass on Corps land north of the camp, but does not offer federal assistance to do so. Protesters set up a small camp on the south shore of Cantapeta Creek just east of Backwater Bridge, calling it Turtle Island. Law enforcement is stationed on the hill across from them on Corps land at the USACE request. The hill is eventually known as Turtle Hill, or Lone Tree Hill. Protesters begin crossing the water using small boats or swimming, but there is no significant confrontation. At 3:30 pm, law enforcement observes protesters seemingly butchering a large animal that looks like a cow in an area east of the protest camps. Various clergy from the Twin Cities arrive to protest the pipeline. The North Dakota State Capitol is vandalized by anti-oil activists, who pour motor oil all over the limestone walls in the entrance area. SRST Tribal Council minutes indicate the tribe is considering suing North Dakota over law enforcement actions during the protest, and has set aside $200K for a class action lawsuit, with assistance from the Oneida Tribe in Wisconsin. During the same meeting, the council approves a monthly retainer for a law firm that employs SRST Chairman Archambault’s sister, Jodi Gillette. The council also votes to expel known violent factions from the protest camp. Protester activity at Backwater Bridge prevents NDDOT from doing an inspection of the bridge.

02 Protesters begin building a wooden bridge across Cantapeta Creek to reach the north bank. Law enforcement tells them to stop, but the protesters continue. Law enforcement, using boats, tows the bridge away. About 100 protesters go into the water and approach law enforcement on the north bank. They begin throwing rocks, bricks, and other objects at law enforcement, who use pepper spray and foam rounds on them to get them to disperse by 2 pm. Elsewhere, protesters tow their burned vehicles from Backwater Bridge. About 150 protesters are on the bridge. The Turtle Island camp continues to grow. In Washington D.C., Sen. Hoeven and the Executive Vice President of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association ask the Obama Administration and USACE to issue the final easement for the pipeline. President Obama, in an interview about the protest, says he will “let it play out.” FBI and BIA investigate reports that camp security detained and hog-tied someone, as well as reports of gunfire in the camp. Anti-police and #NoDAPL graffiti appear in Bismarck on the Memorial Bridge, at the Clem Kelly softball complex, on various utility boxes, on park signs, on businesses in town, and on the steamboat in a park along the Missouri River. The Bismarck Tribune publishes an editorial supporting law enforcement efforts to remove trespassing protesters and questioning the direction of the protest. The Fargo Forum publishes an editorial stating that the protests are failing because of protester behavior, calling out the protest for its violence.

03 At 6:30 a.m., a protester’s vehicle crashes into the burnt vehicles on Backwater Bridge. The occupants refuse medical transport. Later, about 300 protesters gathered at the bridge for a prayer march; it included clergy from various denominations who showed support for Standing Rock, including Karen Van Fossan, a minister at the Bismarck-Mandan Unitarian Universalist Church. The group walks down Highway 1806. Late in the afternoon, some protesters arrive at the Capitol, and some go into the Judicial Wing. The Capitol is put on lockdown. The protesters sit on the floor and refuse to leave when the Capitol closes. They are arrested. The rest of the protesters stay outside, marching to the Governor’s home to protest. The Governor and First Lady are home, but have been moved to a different location. Some protesters cross onto Capitol grounds and are arrested when they refuse to leave. Eighteen people are arrested at the Capitol. Sen. Hoeven and the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association issued a press release about the missing and killed livestock in the protest area, as well as trespassing on ranchers’ property. Deer hunting restrictions go into effect in the protest area for safety concerns. USACE Col. Henderson meets with Rep. Kevin Cramer and tells him that the Corps has decided to evict the protest camps.

04 About 50 protesters gather outside the law enforcement center. Fifteen community members gather to show support for law enforcement on the other side. Morton County begins releasing limited video of what they are experiencing on the front lines with the protesters. Morton County Commissioner Cody Schulz says, in an interview, that he’d had a meeting with Ron Davis with the US Department of Justice, and Schulz realized they were getting their information from national and social media and didn’t understand what was really happening. The ACLU sends a letter to the US Department of Justice asking for an investigation into ND law enforcement. USACE asks Dakota Access to voluntarily halt construction of the pipeline on private land to help reduce protester conflicts. USACE meets with tribal leaders and asks them to move the protest camp off of Corps land and onto SRST, as well as to actively work to reduce protester clashes with law enforcement and help diffuse the situation.

06 About 100 protesters bring a semi-truck near the burned vehicles on Backwater Bridge, and climb onto the burned vehicles. Law enforcement tells them to stay off the bridge for safety reasons. The semi-truck and the protesters return to the camp. About 200 protesters marched from Legion Park in Mandan to the law enforcement center for what they called a love, prayer, and forgiveness event. A group of 50 protesters gathers at Fairview Cemetery in Bismarck, leaving behind some garbage and signs, attempting to “desecrate” the burial grounds. Pro-community counter-protesters are also present across from the cemetery. About 200 protesters gather at Turtle Island and begin using boats, canoes, and kayaks to ferry people to the north bank at the base of Turtle Hill. Some of them begin climbing Turtle Hill, meeting law enforcement at the top. Protesters start a fire in the grass using a flare, but law enforcement puts it out with an extinguisher. By mid-afternoon, most protesters have left. Back at Backwater Bridge, the semi-truck and about 20 protesters come back. As the protester group grows, they approach the blockade and refuse to leave, but finally do. Celebrities from the Avengers films come out publicly in support of the protest.

07 Protesters begin setting up a roadblock near County Road 82 and Highway 10 west of Mandan, near the Precision Pipeline yard. They leave before law enforcement arrives, leaving behind a “sleeping dragon” on the road. The semi-truck and protesters again arrive at Backwater Bridge, and are told by law enforcement to withdraw. Eventually, they do. 300 protesters gather at Backwater Bridge for an hour-long prayer ceremony. On social media, protesters encourage others to do what they can to make costs higher for Morton County and bankrupt the system. A North Dakota teacher, visiting Washington, D.C. with several students, takes a photo of “NoDAPL” spray-painted on the North Dakota pillar of the World War II memorial.

08 (ELECTION DAY) Bismarck Police arrest four protesters who are part of a group hanging anti-pipeline banners from Bismarck overpasses. In the afternoon, the semi-truck and a group of protesters again come to Backwater Bridge, stay about 45 minutes, and retreat. Donald Trump is elected President. Rep. Kevin Cramer retains his seat, defeating Chase Iron Eyes. Doug Burgum becomes the new Governor of North Dakota.

09 Following the election, share prices for Dakota Access go up 15 percent. SRST Chairman Archambault releases a statement indicating they hope President Obama would halt the pipeline before leaving office as part of his legacy. At the camp, the semi-truck pulls a burned car and the NDDOT sign from Backwater Bridge. Protesters placed other items in the road and strung a cable across it to create a new barricade. After an hour, the semi-truck removes the items again. A group of 25 protesters gathered at the intersection of Highway 6 and Highway 21 but left after 2 hours. Fifty people, some on horseback, walk south on Highway 1806, supposedly expelling a man from the protest camp over an attempted rape. The semi-truck returns to Backwater Bridge late afternoon and backs up to the burned trucks. About 45 minutes later, it returns to camp.

10 About 100 protesters gather at Red Warrior Camp on Turtle Island. Using canoes and kayaks, they attempt to get to the north bank, but law enforcement stops them from landing. Native American elders tell protesters to stop their actions and head back to the camp.

11 Protesters put up a roadblock at County Roads 135 and 81, and then began gathering at two construction sites. Law enforcement tells the protesters to clear the road and leave, but they refuse. There are 30 arrests. As some protesters begin to leave, they slash the tires of six nearby squad cars. A veteran’s ceremony, involving about 300 protesters, is held on Backwater Bridge around noon. Twenty-five protesters march from Legion Park in Mandan to the law enforcement center. About 75 protesters gathered on Highway 6 and 21, blocking the highway. Protesters resist law enforcement’s attempt to clear the roadway, resulting in 37 arrests.

12 About 130 vehicles, with 500 protesters, leave the main camp and drive to the Precision Pipeline yard west of Mandan. This is where DAPL equipment is stored. Protesters gather on County Road 82 in front of the yard and at the side entrances. There is a report that a protester was struck by a vehicle while trying to leave the area. Metro Ambulance responds, but the person refuses treatment. There are reports of shots being fired by a construction company employee who was surrounded by protesters. A group of employees had armed themselves with rifles, and law enforcement positioned themselves between the protesters and the employees in the yard.

13 DAPL begins mobilizing its drilling equipment, moving it from Bismarck south to the drilling site. A pro-law-enforcement rally, with a permit, is held on the Capitol grounds, with about 300 people in attendance. Rep. Kevin Cramer, Sen. John Hoeven, and Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley speak to the crowd. The Patriot Guard motorcycle group is also present. Chase Iron Eyes talks about the protest at a TEDx event in Charlottesville, VA.

14 About 100 vehicles leave the camp in the morning and protest at the Capitol without a permit. Then, 150 protesters walk down 3rd Street, blocking traffic, to the federal building. Law enforcement stops them at Rosser Ave. A group of protesters, accompanied by USACE, is allowed to gather in the area of a pipeline easement. USACE delays in making a decision on the easement, issuing a release inviting SRST to “engage in discussion on potential conditions on an easement.” Buffalo ranchers speak to the press about the significant losses they’ve had because of protesters. Montana residents protest at their Capitol because the governor had sent highway patrol troops to assist North Dakota. Protest leader Dallas Goldtooth says, on social media, that the next day would be a day to “shut shiz down” and stop business as usual.

15 Vehicles leave the camps and stop on Highway 10 near Precision Pipeline. They park along the highway, and 300 protesters began blocking BNSF railroad tracks, first using a vehicle and then with other debris. Law enforcement forms a line and makes 25 arrests when protesters do not leave. 100 protesters march from United Tribes Technical College to USACE offices on South 12th Street in Bismarck. A small community counter-protest is present across from the USACE office. Dakota Access asks the courts to make a decision and override the Obama Administration’s “political obstruction.” Robert Kennedy, Jr. visits the protest and voices support for it. The ND Dept. of Health, Emergency Services Section, sends out a press release to warn protesters of the dangerous winter weather coming and provides tips on how to prepare for it. They also create a low-power radio station (1620 AM) to broadcast weather and safety tips for the protesters. A coordinated effort (“NoDAPL Day of Action”) to hold protests against “colonization” and in support of Standing Rock occurs in cities across the country. The Salt Lake City Council passes a resolution opposing DAPL. Six Nations from Ontario, Canada, resurrects a roadblock in support of the protest. On Facebook, Chase Iron Eyes condemns Gov. Dalrymple for the protest, saying that he is protecting a billionaire with North Dakota tax dollars. A reporter from Williston reveals the difficulty she had gaining access to the camp and the restrictions protesters placed on the press by protest camp leaders. Actress Shailene Woodley and Sen. Bernie Sanders go to the White House to oppose the pipeline.

16 Protesters drive to the Bank of North Dakota in Bismarck, then walk to the main gate at Fraine Barracks. Red Warrior Camp takes to Facebook to push back against the SRST vote, which asked them to leave, refusing to leave the camp. Chase Iron Eyes takes to Facebook to suggest support for the Red Warrior Camp. President Obama canceled the oil leases for companies in Montana, which were on the Blackfeet tribe’s sacred lands. Additional NDNG members are called up to help law enforcement.

17 Protesters gather in downtown Bismarck, blocking streets and traffic. They target Wells Fargo and chant “these books must go” near the public library. US Marshals are present in front of the federal building, but are observing only. There are eight arrests in the vicinity of the federal building. Protesters move to downtown Mandan and repeat their protest. USACE hosts a meeting with SRST to discuss the pipeline easement. Protesters attempt to surround a private buffalo herd, the same herd they’d chased and harassed earlier, stating that they were doing a “welfare check” on the animals. On Facebook, Chase Iron Eyes thanks the protest camps for their hard work, including Red Warrior Camp, and suggests that doxing law enforcement is acceptable. The state of North Dakota cancels the tribal address to the Legislative Assembly and moves to in-person meetings instead. Actor Mark Ruffalo comes to Standing Rock and posts a photo on social media that he wants Red Fawn Fallis, who had been charged for firing three shots at law enforcement, to be set free.

18 Photos are released that show the protesters are building permanent structures on Corps land, which is not allowed. A forum to discuss issues is held at Standing Rock, featuring actors Mark Ruffalo, Ezra Miller, and Shailene Woodley. Other activists are present, as is SRST Chairman Archambault. ND Rep. Rick Becker travels to the protest camps and takes photos.

19 About 40 protester vehicles drive to Bismarck and Mandan. Twenty stop at the Capitol. Actress Kristin Wiig wears a “Stand With Standing Rock” t-shirt at the close of the NBC Saturday Night Live show. Chase Iron Eyes takes to Facebook to urge protesters not to discuss planned illegal action online or in public. Photos released show a cow from a pasture near the protest camps with arrows in its side.

20 (“WATER HOSE NIGHT”) At 6 pm, the semi-truck and other protesters pull one of the burned trucks from the Backwater Bridge barricade. Law enforcement tells them to leave, but the protesters refuse. About 500 protesters gather at the bridge, and law enforcement forms a line at the barricade. Protesters begin throwing rocks, logs, nuts, bolts, Coleman propane cannisters, and other objects at law enforcement officers, who in turn begin using pepper spray and foam rounds. Protesters begin starting fires near the bridge for warmth. An explosion is heard from the protester area. Sophia Wilansky, a protester, severely injures her arm. A fire truck, called to the bridge to put out fires, is used to push protesters back with a fire hose. Standing Rock ambulance responds to the protest camp to provide medical services. About 50-75 protesters stay on the bridge. A female protester publishes a video on Facebook talking about why she left the camp, stating the GoFundMe scams and in-camp violence as key reasons. She pulls the video down after harassment.

21 Protesters begin building a new barricade wall on Backwater Bridge using wood, debris, and sandbags. Forty vehicles leave the camp, travel to Bismarck and Mandan, and assemble in downtown Bismarck. They protest at several locations, including the downtown Wells Fargo bank and the KFYR building, yelling “tell the truth!” at the news organization. Outside the federal building, which is on lockdown, protesters yell, “Obama, do your job!” The Capitol is put on lockdown. There is one arrest. They also protest at the law enforcement center in Mandan, sitting on the sidewalk in front of the doors. Law enforcement tells them to move, and they do, but soon return. They refuse to leave a second time, and 16 are arrested. In an interview, Chase Iron Eyes says that “keep it in the ground” (a reference to oil) was not SRST’s agenda.

22 Law enforcement placed additional jersey barriers and other fortifications on the north side of the Backwater Bridge barricade that protesters have constructed. They use a crane to remove the burned truck from the area. CRST Chairman Harold Frazier calls for a boycott of Bismarck and Mandan, asking people to no longer spend money in the cities because “these communities have led the violent law enforcement efforts against our people and we will not support them financially.” Anonymous does a DDoS attack on a munitions provider based on claims that a protester was injured by a flash-bang grenade used by law enforcement.

23 About 100 vehicles leave the camp and travel until they are stopped by a law enforcement roadblock on Highway 1806 and County Road 138A. They protest in that area for an hour before going to Bismarck and Mandan. They protest in front of the law enforcement center and Wells Fargo Bank. The majority of the group spends two hours protesting in downtown Bismarck, but they also drive around the city together, hoping to disrupt traffic. Reports indicate there is an investigation underway regarding the protester’s injury from November 20, 2016. Gov. Dalrymple, Sen. Hoeven, and Rep. Cramer sent a letter to President Obama requesting his approval of the easement. Sen. Heitkamp does not sign that letter, but says she wants the pipeline finished. Employees at local sporting goods stores and community members at other stores report that the shelves are being emptied of propane canisters. A group from Wichita, Kansas, led by David Vance, sends donations of food and yurts to the protest camps. The Bismarck Police Department posts photos on Twitter of another round of food, beverages, and other supplies community members have been purchasing and donating to law enforcement. SRST Chairman says, in an interview, that he’s concerned about how human waste is being handled in the protest camps, and that he’s also concerned about damaged community relationships.

24 (THANKSGIVING DAY) In the morning, two vehicle caravans of about 200 leave the camps and drive to Mandan, where they block Main Avenue between Mandan Ave and 13th Ave NE. Some protesters are wearing holsters, carrying slingshots, and wearing gas masks. There are also a number of young children in the group. Law enforcement begins telling the crowd to leave, and they do so shortly before noon. Two people are arrested. At the same time, protesters back at the camp have constructed a wooden bridge across from Turtle Hill. Protesters working on the bridge yell at law enforcement positioned on Turtle Hill that they were coming and “to remember ‘73”, a reference to the takeover of Wounded Knee by AIM in 1973. By noon, the protesters had grown to about 400 people and began crossing the water on the bridge and in small boats. Law enforcement forms a line to prevent protesters from climbing Turtle Hill, wetting down the hill to make it difficult for protesters to climb. Some protesters climb partway up, but by 2 p.m., begin to disperse. During this confrontation, some protesters were wearing body armor. In a statement, the Morton County Sheriff’s Department questions why peaceful protesters would wear body armor. There are also various protesters at Backwater Bridge during the day. Jane Fonda, who arrives in a private jet and rides in a limousine to Standing Rock, serves a meal to protesters at Prairie Knights Casino. She is part of a 50-person delegation. She also donates five butchered bison and four yurts to protesters. Fonda et al. leave before a winter storm sets in. Maori individuals perform haka against law enforcement at the protest. Veterans begin announcing on social media that they are headed to the protest.

25 Law enforcement uses boats to remove the wooden bridge and protesters’ boats from the shore. They also install security fencing along the shoreline at the base of Turtle Hill. A large caravan of protester vehicles heads into town and gathers at Kirkwood Mall in Bismarck shortly after noon. Protesters flood the mall as shoppers gather for Black Friday shopping. The management has made it clear that the protesters were not welcome on their private property, and so law enforcement arrested 33 protesters. Video shows protesters pushing, shoppers hollering at them, and some running to try to avoid law enforcement. The rest of the protesters disperse. The mall’s Facebook page is flooded with negative one-star reviews by protest supporters. A community member posts a photograph of SRST Chairman Archambault shopping at the mall that day. Protesters also gather along the Bismarck Expressway by the mall, but do not stop traffic. About 30 protesters gather at Turtle Island, and one attempts to use a rope and a grappling hook to pull the security wire down. USACE sends a letter to SRST Chairman Archambault stating that by December 5, 2016, the Corps’ land north of the Cannonball River will be closed to all public access. Archambault responds, saying he is disappointed, and states the best way to protect protesters over winter is to deny the pipeline easement. NDDES requests additional funds to cover protest costs. The Morton County Sheriff’s Department Facebook page has been pulled down temporarily.

26 About 400 pro-law enforcement supporters hold a prayer rally near Memorial Bridge in Bismarck, before standing along the walkway on the bridge with pro-law enforcement signs and flags. SRST Chairman Archambault says the camp will stay on Corps land. Gov. Dalrymple asks for federal assistance in removing protesters from Corps land.

27 About 100 women and children gather at Backwater Bridge. A few hours later, the semi-truck and about 60 protesters gather at the bridge, apparently attempting to remove the jersey barriers. Around the country, “Stand With Standing Rock” concerts are held by various artists, including Dave Matthews, Tim Reynolds, Neko Case, Graham Nash, Ledisi, and Lakota Thunder. A concert at Prairie Knights Casino includes Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Jason Mraz, Joel Rafael, and John Trudell’s Bad Dog. Jason Mraz posts on social media about how peaceful the camp is, but he is staying at the casino, not at the camp. At a concert in the Bismarck Civic Center, singing group Salt-N-Pepa announces they stand with Standing Rock, and the crowd boos. The Standing Rock Rising group calls for a restraining order against USACE, the state of North Dakota, and Dakota Access employees pending a lawsuit against the three, also asking for federal assistance and protection. American Warrior Revolution posts a video saying they are bringing a group of people up to protect community members in Bismarck and Mandan who have been harassed by protesters. USACE announces they won’t forcibly remove anyone from the camps or Corps land. Veterans Stand With Standing Rock (VSSR) sends a letter to North Dakota veterans organizations that have come out against them, asking them to stand down. Morton County contacts Standing Rock to offer help in preparing for a winter emergency by setting up shelters and providing blankets and cots, but SRST indicates they have the situation handled. A winter storm arrives in the evening, bringing about 6” of snow. Community members post photos of protesters parked in campers in Walmart parking lots, checking into area hotels, and pleading for money online to help pay for a room.

28 Snow accumulates overnight. Gov. Dalrymple issues an executive order for a mandatory evacuation of USACE land, including the main protest camp, due to winter weather. The governor clarifies that protesters will not be forcibly evacuated, nor will supplies to the camp be halted. Native American activists post online that white protesters are treating the protest like a hippie festival and are living off of Native Americans. Local charges against Red Fawn Fallis are dropped as the case moves to federal court. On CNN, Chase Iron Eyes and SRST Chairman Archambault state that the pipeline isn’t a for sure thing. Archambault holds a meeting in the Bismarck library to discuss the protest, suggesting that if officials had been willing to listen earlier in the process and communication had been more open, the protest wouldn’t have happened. VSSR raises $500K for their event. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) announces she will travel to the protest as part of VSSR. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) speaks out in favor of the protest on the US Senate floor. A bus of protesters from California headed to Standing Rock is stopped at Casper, WY, for a traffic violation; a drug arrest is made during that stop. Morton County, the sheriff, and other law enforcement agencies are sued for excessive force by the National Lawyers Guild1; that same day, the organization favorably memorializes Fidel Castro, who had just died, on their website. Morton County begins releasing the “Know The Truth” videos. Protest supporters publish lists of phone numbers and personal information as part of a “Standing Rock/Fuck Trump” script.

29 A protester is arrested for trespass for swimming across the water at Turtle Island to get canoes. Law enforcement removes an American flag that was left flying upside down and abandoned in the winter storm. Singer Neil Young and his girlfriend, actress Darryl Hannah, write a letter to President Obama asking him to protect the protesters. A NDNG member is stalked by protesters, followed to his apartment, spit on, and called a “native killer”, forcing him to move to a hotel and avoid his apartment. Two protesters who left the camp give an interview discussing the embezzlement from GoFundMe, camp conditions, and mention that they didn’t think law enforcement was aggressive.

30 Overnight, protesters take down a section of the concertina security wire. Law enforcement replaces the wire. Some protesters gather on Backwater Bridge. A rumor is started about propane tank sales that causes protesters to target Ace Hardware in Bismarck. The owner and his store receive severe harassment. Sen Hoeven speaks on the floor of the US Senate rebutting what Sen. Reid had said a few days earlier. Gov. Dalrymple invites SRST council to meet with him and discuss the protest noting he’d tried communicating with SRST Chairman Archambault in the past with little success. Chase Iron Eyes suggests, on Facebook, that law enforcement and other emergency responders should be doxed.

2016 DECEMBER

01 North Dakota veterans organizations release a joint statement opposing the incoming VSSR movement. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard asks President Obama to halt the pipeline. A federal judge rejects the National Lawyers Guild’s request for an injunction against Morton County. Rep. Cramer speaks on the floor of the US House to talk about the protest and the rule of law. On Facebook, Chase Iron Eyes refers to the area where law enforcement is present as the “militarized zone” and suggests that they, and the NDNG, are mobilizing to take action. Iron Eyes refers to the protesters as today’s Ghost Dancers. Rep. Henry Johnson (D-GA) and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) request that the Department of Defense take back any equipment it has ever given to North Dakota law enforcement.

02 About 30 protesters gather at the law enforcement center, but without incident. The ND Adjutant General and law enforcement meet with VSSR leaders. They reach an agreement that law enforcement will pull back from Backwater Bridge, and protesters won’t go on the bridge. Actress Patricia Arquette arrives at the camp to help build composting toilets. A small group from the International Indigenous Youth Council posts a video of themselves bringing treats to law enforcement. US Attorney General Lynch posts a video statement on Facebook about safety, peaceful protesting, and law enforcement. A Native American elder posts an editorial in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader asking protesters to go home. New security measures are announced at the North Dakota Capitol. The FAA grants a journalist permission to fly a drone in the TFR over the protest. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) wants the US Department of Justice to look into police brutality against protesters.

03 Christian activist Shane Claiborne announces on Facebook that he is joining the protest to stand against police and corporations at the request of Chief Arvol Looking Horse, who has asked all faiths to stand with them. Jordan Chariton, a reporter for The Young Turks network, goes “undercover” to interview community members and create a mocking video about them. Veterans with VSSR and other protesters yell at law enforcement while on Backwater Bridge. Saturday Night Live features the protest in their Weekend Update, mocking law enforcement and North Dakota.

04 Vehicles full of veterans and new protesters pour into the main camp all day. USACE announces it will not grant an easement for DAPL to cross Lake Oahe. In an interview with local television station KFYR, SRST Chairman Archambault says that the “pipeline had every right to go through...” Chase Iron Eyes announces on Facebook that protesters will not be leaving and that the protest is now about negotiating treaty rights and legally imposed poverty. Blizzard warnings are all over the news. ND emergency management officials announce their plans to help protesters when the blizzard sets in. Fargo radio personality Jay Thomas collects a semi-truck full of donations for law enforcement, including food, hand warmers, energy drinks, and more. Tribal elders ask VSSR veterans to avoid confrontations with law enforcement, but some veterans march to the barricade on Backwater Bridge, calling law enforcement “hired entities” who were acting against American citizens, saying they would be stopped.

05 A snowstorm slowly begins, starting around 9 a.m. Protesters and veterans continue to pour into the camp. In the morning, protesters from the camp walk onto Backwater Bridge, cross the barricades, and return, taking photos and videos of the barricades to record the security measures law enforcement has put in place. Law enforcement tells the protesters they need to leave due to trespass and violation of the agreement regarding the bridge. The subjects eventually leave. A protester crosses Cantapeta Creek to private property on the north and is arrested for trespass. At about noon, 100 protesters walk down Highway 1806 and stop just south of Backwater Bridge. They are met by others coming up from the camp, ultimately gathering as a large group of about 1000 at the bridge. By the end of the day, the blizzard starts taking shape as snow and high winds increase. North Dakota officials set up emergency shelters for protesters at Flasher School and the Mandan Braves Center in Mandan. The Mandan site takes in 25 protesters. The Flasher site takes in one. An additional shelter is opened in New Salem and takes in about 25-30 motorists, some of whom are protesters. NDNG has six buses on stand-by to assist protesters who need transportation. Fargo City Commissioners John Strand and Tony Gehrig, and Cass County Commissioner Ken Pawluk, question the cost of Cass County’s help to Morton County. SRST Chairman Archambault tells protesters they can now go home, and that he hopes to meet with President-Elect Trump. Rep. Cramer meets with Trump and talks about the pipeline.

06 The blizzard continues. Law enforcement is informed that camp security is trying to evacuate people because of deteriorating conditions at the camp, but emergency officials have no requests or phone calls to assist the camp or Standing Rock. The SRST Emergency Manager and the Sioux County Emergency Manager have no information on camp conditions. SRST Emergency Manager says there are shelters at the casino pavilion and at Ft. Yates schools. NDDOT snow plows attempt to keep Highway 1806 clear to the camp, and one reaches the camp by 1 pm, plowing up from the south. BIA follows the plow to check on camp conditions, reporting that people are leaving the camp in their own vehicles and there is no emergency. NDDOT would attempt to plow the area if conditions allow. SRST Chairman Archambault releases a video asking protesters to go home and for the violence to end. VSSR leaders and supporters criticize North Dakota for not helping them in the storm, and ask online protest supporters to target a bank that wasn’t releasing VSSR’s GoFundMe money quickly enough. Actress Susan Sarandon encourages people to divest from banks funding the pipeline.

07 The storm continues. NDDOT plows Highway 1806 to the camps again, as well as other roads in the area. About 15 protesters demonstrated outside the federal building in Bismarck for ten minutes before leaving. Later, about 12 protesters went to the Backwater Bridge barricade and began cutting and removing the security wire. Law enforcement arrives at the bridge and tells them to leave. The protesters argue, but eventually comply. Wesley Clark, Jr., makes a statement on Facebook regarding accusations of missing VSSR funds and the general chaos surrounding the event. VSSR veteran Meggan Vroman posts a video of herself in which she tries to bait NDNG members into a confrontation as they wait in a parking lot.

08 In the afternoon, four protesters walk onto Backwater Bridge and begin inspecting the security measures. Three of them cross the barrier, and stand on the north side of it while the other shoots video of the three. Law enforcement arrives and arrests the three for criminal trespass. The Indigenous Environmental Network asks all protesters to leave, per SRST Chairman Archambault’s request. Some do, as protesters arrive in massive numbers at the Bismarck airport, but discover that flights out are full. An airport employee reveals that most don’t have tickets, are using cash, and are very upset when they can’t leave right away. The Bismarck airport normally closes at night, but management keeps it open overnight and pays for overtime security to accommodate protesters who have nowhere else to go. Protesters demand shower facilities and are sleeping all over the airport. Veteran Bonnie Hoppa writes about the chaos with VSSR.

09 Late in the afternoon, a vehicle crashes into the barrier on Backwater Bridge. Law enforcement arrives at the scene, but protesters are there and say the driver will be taken to the hospital. The vehicle remains at the barricade. Wesley Clark, Jr. apologizes on Facebook for what happened with VSSR. Protesters continue to leave the camp, some coming into Bismarck and Mandan to find hotel rooms. Community members report seeing graffiti at some businesses. Black Lives Matter leader Shaun King posts a photo on Facebook stating that supporters gave them $323,643 the previous day to purchase two trucks. Some protesters continue to ask for more donations, while a photo surfaces of a warehouse on Standing Rock with massive stacks of Amazon.com boxes that people have sent to the protest. Jordan Chariton spreads a rumor that USACE is raising the water level of the Missouri to prevent drilling.

10 Red Warrior Camp officially leaves the protest camps, saying they are forming a society to use direct action methods elsewhere to do what they did in North Dakota. Online, protesters verbally attack SRST Chairman Archambault and tribal elders for asking them to leave. Chase Iron Eyes says the tribal council and other leaders don’t have the power to make the protesters leave.

11 Protester Kenny Frost claims that some cash and gift cards sent to Sacred Stone Camp are being confiscated by SRST tribal members. SRST Chairman Archambault releases a video to address all of the accusations leveled against him, as well as other rumors, stating that Dakota Access was not drilling and that people were making things up to create friction and controversy.

12 A protester walks along the barricade at the bridge to the west and climbs over to trespass on the property on the north side. Law enforcement makes an arrest. SRST Chairman Archambault meets with Gov. Dalrymple regarding the relationship between the state and the tribe. Opening Backwater Bridge was part of the discussion. The weather remains extremely cold. ND law enforcement sends a blunt letter to President Obama regarding his lack of involvement with the protest.

13 A meeting is held at the Morton County law enforcement center with SRST Chairman Archambault, Gov. Dalrymple, five members of the SRST Tribal Council, Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley, ND Indian Affairs Director Scott Davis, NDNG Adjutant General Dohrmann, NDHP Col. Mike Gerhart, and Morton County Commissioner Cody Schulz. They discuss the closed bridge and, according to Archambault, the possibility of having the camps cleared by January 1, 2017.

14 Law enforcement announces they will not be holding their annual Christmas shopping event for area children in need due to the drain of the protests and the threats they’ve received from protesters. SRST Tribal Council member Chad Harrison participates in a transition team listening session in New York with President-Elect Donald Trump.

15 About 40 protesters gather south of Backwater Bridge and perform a ceremony. Governor Doug Burgum takes office. Chase Iron Eyes goes to New York City to join Mark Ruffalo, Josh Fox, Eve Ensler, Jon Bowermaster, Amy Goodman, Shailene Woodley, and Deepak Chopra for a Standing Rock event. A new ceremonial fire is lit at All Nations Camp to replace the fire that had been put out by members of the previous camp. Organizations continue to ask for donations for protesters at the camp despite being asked to leave. The FAA lifts the TFR over the protest camp.

17 An 82-year-old woman is removed from the camp due to possible severe abuse and neglect by her daughter.

18 About 50 people gather at Backwater Bridge and perform a ceremony and protest. Some tie ribbons to the security wire and leave two large flags on the south side of the barricade. The weather warms up to the mid-teens.

19 A protester goes onto Turtle Hill and is arrested for trespass. Protesters gather at the courthouse for about three hours. Trials for ten protesters are postponed. Temperatures warm to 30 degrees. Rep. Cramer and Sen. Hoeven meet with SRST Chairman Archambault to talk about the protest.

20 The first trial of protesters occurs, and results in convictions for obstructing a highway and disorderly conduct.

22 NDDOT collects samples from the Backwater Bridge to determine what repairs are needed. Testing the samples will take up to 30 days. Burnt and damaged vehicles are removed from the bridge. SRST Chairman Archambault meets with Sen. Heitkamp to discuss the protest.

25 (CHRISTMAS) A severe blizzard hits, with about 12 inches of snow and strong winds.

26 The blizzard continues through the afternoon. NDDOT struggles to keep the roads clear.

27 About 40 protesters go onto Backwater Bridge. Some vandalize the lights by breaking keys off in the switches. Five protesters climb to Turtle Hill and are arrested for trespass. Thirty protesters gather to protest those arrests. Protesters steal a large “No Trespassing” sign from Backwater Bridge.

28 About 20 protesters stand in a hallway outside of the courtroom at the Morton County Courthouse all afternoon.

29 At Backwater Bridge, protesters cut the light tower support cable. The tower falls, and protesters steal the surveillance camera from the tower pole. Other small groups of protesters cut security wire at the bridge and Turtle Hill. SRST Tribal Council votes to use the money raised during the protest to cover protest-related debts.

30 A protester is arrested for trespass when she crosses a fence onto private property near County Road 135 and County Road 80. She is part of a group of 15.

31 Protesters start a fire on Turtle Island at 10 pm, and another a bit later. The group of protesters grows, and they climb Turtle Hill. By midnight, there are 74 protesters on top of the hill, and 100 at the base. Protesters are carrying knives and slingshots, and shooting fireworks at law enforcement officers. About 15 other protesters are at Backwater Bridge.

2017 JANUARY

01 The action on top of Turtle Hill continues past midnight. Six protesters cut and removed security wire on Turtle Hill and shut off a light unit. When law enforcement arrives, the protesters run. Protesters also cut security wire on Backwater Bridge and shine green laser lights at an NDHP plane. No arrests are made. A snowstorm begins. Protest supporters in Minneapolis hang a banner during a Minnesota Vikings game telling people to divest from US Bank. Morton County Sheriff Kirchmeier wins a Tribune award, based on community votes, that highlights outstanding citizens.

02 About eight inches of snow accumulated through the storm. The weather turns cold.

03 The 65th Legislative Assembly in North Dakota convenes for regular session. Eight protesters gather at Backwater Bridge and cut the security wire before leaving.

04 About 30 protesters gather outside the federal courthouse in Bismarck for an hour in the afternoon, causing the building to go on lockdown. The protest was in connection with a grand jury session regarding Sophia Wilansky’s injury from November 20, 2016. SRST Tribal Council votes to have Sacred Stone Camp removed. Chase Iron Eyes, along with other activists, puts his name on a full-page New York Times ad calling President Trump and Vice President Pence a “fascist regime.”

05 SRST officials meet with camp leaders to discuss flooding concerns and ask them to begin cleaning up and relocating the camps. ND Game and Fish released information on a video showing protesters drowning a deer. Actor Jeff Bridges dedicates his National Board of Review award to the protesters.

06 At about 3 a.m., 50 protesters gather at Backwater Bridge to remove the security wire. Law enforcement orders them to leave, but they refuse. Officers back off to observe the protesters. Some protesters make it across the barricade. About ten protesters are carrying shields. The group proceeds to yell at law enforcement but leaves after about an hour. A green laser light is used on an NDHP airplane. The damaged security wire is repaired by noon. Protesters continue to come to the bridge to look at the security measures throughout the day, sometimes tampering with the wire. Two protesters are arrested for trespassing on Turtle Hill.

07 The Fischer family holds their buffalo auction in Selfridge. Protesters had targeted them and their herd, but the presence of law enforcement and other measures helped the day pass without incident.

09 Two protesters are arrested for trespassing on Turtle Hill. Several protesters examine the security measures at Backwater Bridge.

11 Two large dumpsters are delivered to the main protest camp to assist in the cleanup process.

12 The results from the Backwater Bridge core sample show no structural damage to the bridge, but repairs to the guardrail and surface are needed before it can be reopened. NDDOT will not proceed with bridge repairs until it is assured of the bridge’s security and safety. Protest camp leaders announce camp cleanup will begin, and that they are letting the sacred fire burn down again.

13 Gov. Burgum, Morton County officials, ranchers, and other area citizens meet to talk about what they experienced during the protest.

16 At 4 pm, protesters gather at Turtle Hill and east of the drill site. Within an hour, about 200 protesters are scattered throughout the area. Protesters cut and remove security wire east of the drill site. Law enforcement arrests three protesters at the drill site. By 6 pm, protesters gather at Backwater Bridge and begin removing the security wire and barricades. One protester crosses the barricade and disables the security lights, while others wear gas masks and carry shields. By 10 pm, law enforcement crosses the barricade and pushes protesters to the south end of Backwater Bridge. As they turn to go back, protesters push back toward the barricade and resume removing it. For the next few hours, there is a standoff between protesters and law enforcement, with protesters crossing the barricade and law enforcement crossing the barricade to make arrests. Eleven protesters are arrested. Protesters use a green laser light on an NDHP airplane. Law enforcement uses pepper spray and foam rounds to keep protesters back. Protesters throw items at law enforcement. Protesters leave by 1 am.

17 At noon, protesters gather at Backwater Bridge, with 30 protesters at the barricade. Law enforcement pushes protesters back at about 4 pm and replaces the security items protesters had removed earlier. Officers arrest two protesters and remain in the middle of the bridge while repairs are made. Protesters continue gathering, and by 10:30 pm, there are 75 of them removing wire and security measures from the bridge. Additional law enforcement officers arrive, and a standoff ensues. An NDHP and a commercial airplane are targeted with green lasers.

18 At 7 pm, protesters gather at Backwater Bridge equipped with shields and gas masks. They start a fire at the south end of the bridge and set up tipi poles on the bridge. Offers push protesters back and remove the tipi poles. Protesters respond by reassembling and begin throwing objects at law enforcement, including emergency flares, ice chunks, and frozen water bottles. By 10:30 pm, there are about 185 protesters on the bridge, and they stay past midnight. NDNG removes the Avenger equipment they’d been using for their infrared abilities.

19 Shortly after midnight, law enforcement begins a push, using pepper spray and foam rounds, and arrests 19 protesters. Protesters started two fires on the bridge using tires and gasoline. One protester and six NDNG and police officers are injured. Three percent of the 800 North Dakota landowners involved in the pipeline easement process filed a lawsuit against Dakota Access.

20 President Donald Trump takes office. SRST leaders ask all protesters to leave the camps. Rep. Cramer says the EIS that President Obama had instituted would be quickly rescinded.

23 A protester crosses the barricade on Backwater Bridge and is arrested.

24 President Trump issues an executive memo to approve DAPL and Keystone XL. In the evening, three protesters drive from the main camp to Turtle Island and begin flying a drone. It crashes south of the Cannonball River. Law enforcement attempts to arrest them for trespass, but the protesters run for their vehicle to leave. In the process, the fleeing vehicle strikes a utility vehicle driven by an officer and nearly strikes another in their attempt to get back to camp. The three protesters are arrested. Fighter/actress Rhonda Rousey, fresh off a loss to Amanda Nunes, arrives at the protest camp with supplies.

25 North Dakota creates a new website, NDResponse.gov, where all protest-related information can be found.

26 CRST announce their intent to lease land from SRST to set up a camp for protesters who want to stay. Gov. Burgum meets with tribal and camp leaders.

28 MSNBC reporter Cal Perry airs an erroneous broadcast about “floating buffalo” in the Missouri River.

29 An activist veteran’s group begins raising money to return to the protest camps.

30 SRST brings in equipment for camp cleanup.

31 Protesters demonstrate in front of the Bank of North Dakota in Bismarck around noon. This was to protest the bank’s provision of state funding to cover costs related to the protest. About 25 protesters gathered outside the federal courthouse in Bismarck regarding a hearing that was held involving a protester. Sen. Hoeven’s office releases a statement that says USACE has been directed to proceed with the easement for DAPL.

2017 FEBRUARY

01 Protesters, including Chase Iron Eyes, begin setting up a camp on the west side of Highway 1806, directly west of the main protest camp, on private property owned by Dakota Access. Protesters are using equipment to remove snow and haul in tipi poles and other items. There are about 50 protesters at this camp, and four tipis. At noon, the barricades on Backwater Bridge are moved to allow law enforcement access to the new camp, even as protesters begin placing debris and other items on the highway to reduce access to the camp. At 1:45 pm, eight protesters meet with law enforcement representatives at Backwater Bridge. Law enforcement tells them they are trespassing at the new camp and must leave. The protesters continue to build the camp rather than remove it. At 2:15 p.m., 12 protesters meet with law enforcement at Backwater Bridge. They are told that anyone who remains in the camp is trespassing and would be arrested. There are about 80 protesters in the camp at that point, with 30 more on Highway 1806. At 2:40 p.m., law enforcement begins clearing the camp. Law enforcement informed protesters that they were not taking action against the main camp, just the new camp. Protesters set two vehicles on fire, which were parked along the camp access road, to delay law enforcement. Heavy equipment is used to remove the debris on the road, and law enforcement enters the camp to arrest those who have refused to leave. SRST officials remove the tipi materials. By 6 pm, law enforcement is north of Backwater Bridge with the barricade back in place. Two people, from California, are arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver headed south on a closed portion of Highway 1806 towards Prairie Knights Casino. They have marijuana, drug paraphernalia, $7K in cash, and three high-capacity magazines for AR-15-style rifles.

03 USACE formally notifies protesters that they are closing Corps land, where the main camp is located, on February 22, 2017.

04 Three protesters are arrested by the BIA. The arrest is caught on video and shows BIA using batons on one protester who resisted. BIA officers said the protesters had used pepper spray on them after a resident from SRST had called them to report protesters blocking the access road to their home.

06 NDDOT removes the Backwater Bridge barricade and clears snow from the bridge to prepare for repairs. A barricade is left on the south side of the bridge.

07 USACE alerts Congress that the easement for DAPL is granted. They also recommend that Congress waive the 14-day waiting period. A federal judge denied a motion to stop law enforcement from using “excessive force” that was put forth by nine activists over the November 20, 2016, incident. The judge notes, in the ruling, that it was “undisputed that protesters were yelling profanities and throwing and slinging large rocks, lug nuts, padlocks, frozen water bottles, and other objects at law enforcement.”

08 USACE grants the easement for DAPL to drill under Lake Oahe. ETP states that they will begin drilling immediately.

13 Judge Boasberg denies CRST’s temporary restraining order requesting a stop to the drilling. A leader from the Veterans Respond organization is arrested for drugs and is found with items that could be used to make incendiary devices. Patrick Walsh, from Veterans Respond, posts information on Facebook about how to sabotage pipeline valves.

14 Officials are worried that the unusually warm weather will lead to flooding sooner rather than later. Not much progress is being made on cleanup in the camps, and conditions there worsen as melting snow mixes with trash, debris, and other waste.

15 The barricades on Backwater Bridge are removed. Traffic control points are set up between Backwater Bridge and the north entrance to the main camp. As the barricade was removed, protesters approached law enforcement. Gov. Burgum issues a mandatory evacuation order of the areas near the Cannonball River in Morton and Sioux Counties due to flooding concerns. Anyone in the area is ordered to leave by 2 pm on February 22, 2017. Near midnight, two snowmobiles leave the protest camps and head towards Turtle Hill, driving recklessly and at high speeds, seemingly directed at officers. Law enforcement does not pursue them as they return to camp.

16 Federal and state officials meet with protesters regarding the evacuation order and camp cleanup. Emergency vehicles can travel on Highway 1806 through the traffic checkpoint.

17 Large equipment, under the direction of Incident Command, begins helping with protest camp cleanup, and does so for the next several days. The Prairie Knights Casino reports heavy losses due to the protest, stating that revenue is down by $9M.

19 About 100 protesters erect a tipi in the middle of Highway 1806. They are told to clear the road, but refuse. An ambulance coming from the south (Standing Rock) is unable to continue because of the protesters and has to detour and take a longer route. Protesters finally cleared the road about an hour later.

21 Protesters at the gate of the main camp have been delaying equipment coming in to help with cleanup, stopping it for about 90 minutes each, and searching each vehicle. Because of this, and the extreme mud in the camps, not much cleanup has happened. Some more permanent camp structures have been moved to higher ground, and new construction is still underway. Protesters have put a fence around some of these structures in the camp. North Dakota sets up a travel assistance center and offers protesters a free hotel room, medical checkup, hygiene kit, food vouchers, and a bus ticket out of state for those who voluntarily leave the camp.

22 (EVACUATION DAY) At 7:50 am, three huge fires are started in the main protest camp. Throughout the day, there are more fires started, and even explosions as protesters burn structures and other items. Officials estimate that protesters started about 20 fires. At 8:50 am, protesters deny the cleanup contractors entrance to the camp at the main gate. BIA creates a traffic control point on Highway 1806 south of the camp to stop anyone from entering the camp from the south. North access is controlled by the checkpoint south of Backwater Bridge. At 12:45 pm, about 100 protesters leave the camp and walk south on Highway 1806. They are allowed to leave the area. A few minutes later, officials are notified that two people, a 17-year-old woman and a 7-year-old boy, have received serious burns due to fires and explosions in the camp. Standing Rock Ambulance takes them to Bismarck. At 1:30 p.m., protesters block the north entrance to the camp with a metal gate and barbed wire. They gather in front of the camp on Highway 1806 at 4:10 pm, ignoring law enforcement’s orders to leave. Ten protesters are arrested while the rest run from the officers and head south. Protesters had the option to take buses to a state-funded travel assistance center. Four protesters use the travel assistance center. At no time did law enforcement enter the camp, and some protesters remained there.

23 At 10 am, USACE officials meet with protesters to discuss cleanup and land restoration. Law enforcement prepares to enter the camp. Officers enter the camp shortly after 11 am and are met by about 50 protesters. Law enforcement told the protesters that if they left, they would not be arrested. Some protesters leave the main camp and move to Sacred Stone Camp on SRST land. Officers then go through the camp structures to make sure all protesters are gone. At 2:09 pm, law enforcement announced that the main protest camp had been cleared and secured. Equipment begins demolishing the wooden structures in the camp, while contractors remove structures and items of ceremonial value. A towing company begins removing the abandoned cars. There are a total of 47 arrests. BIA also clears the Rosebud Camp. The travel assistance program has been shut down after protesters vandalized a hotel room. Protesters had gone on social media and encouraged each other to vandalize the free rooms provided by the state of North Dakota. A total of five bus tickets were given out, with three used. Four hotel vouchers were used.

24 Contractors continue to clean up the protest camps; this goes on for several weeks.

25 Sacred Stone Camp founder LaDonna Allard and other key leaders travel to Grinnell, Iowa, to help set up more protest camps. They are not there when Sacred Stone Camp faces eviction.

27 BIA issues a trespass notice to Sacred Stone Camp, telling them they must leave or be arrested.

2017 MARCH

01 BIA announces all protesters have left Sacred Stone Camp, with three arrests. They establish checkpoints to keep protesters from returning to the camp. About ten protesters gathered at the federal courthouse in Bismarck to protest the grand jury process.

03 USACE reveals the cleanup of the main protest camp involved removing over 2,000 cubic yards of waste, and using more than 600 roll-off dumpsters.

06 Cleanup of the Rosebud Camp is completed. Three Affiliated Tribes Chairman Fox says the tribes and the state need to move past this protest.

07 Federal Judge Boasberg rules against SRST and CRST in their request for an injunction under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Pipeline construction continues.

09 The cleanup of the former location of Sacred Stone Camp is finished.

13 CRST appeals Boasberg’s ruling and requests an injunction to stop the flow of oil through DAPL. Activists damage DAPL in Iowa, using a blowtorch.

15 CRST’s request for an injunction is denied. Minnesota sheriffs send a letter to Gov. Dayton accusing him of playing politics with EMAC (shared policing agreements) by preventing them from assisting ND law enforcement.

17 Highway 1806 opens at noon for all traffic. Pilot cars are used to guide traffic through the protest area. “No parking” signs are placed along the road in that area, and there are increased law enforcement patrols.

21 Activists damage DAPL in South Dakota using a blowtorch.

27 ETP announces that there is oil in the pipeline under Lake Oahe.

2017 APRIL

06 The body of protester Damjan Nedelkovski from Glendale, California, is found by a local fisherman in the Cannonball River.

27 The 65th Legislative Assembly of North Dakota adjourns. 2017 MAY 01 Sen. Hoeven announces that North Dakota will receive $15M in federal funds to help pay for the protest response.

2017 JUNE

14 A federal judge rules that USACE did not fully consider the impact an oil spill from the pipeline might have, regarding NEPA, on fishing and hunting rights.

25 North Dakota applies for a federal grant to help cover more than $38M in expenses the protest cost the state.

2017 AUGUST

09 Former Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein pleads guilty to misdemeanor criminal mischief, stemming from spray painting DAPL construction equipment on private property.

14 ND PSC offers a $15K settlement to ETP regarding the October 2016 unanticipated discovery incident.

15 North Dakota gets a $10M federal grant to help with protest costs.

22 ETP sues Greenpeace and other environmental organizations for racketeering.

23 SRST completes the water supply project that connects to the new intake in South Dakota.

2017 SEPTEMBER

28 Dave Archambault loses reelection as tribal chairman to Mike Faith. Several council members are also ousted. ETP gives North Dakota $15M to help with the now $40M costs the state incurred during the protest.

2017 OCTOBER

13 Dakota Access announces a $140K donation to North Dakota first responders. They will give $20K to first responders in all counties along the pipeline, which runs through four states.

23 Members of Congress, including Rep. Cramer, sign a letter to US Attorney General Jeff Sessions requesting answers to a lack of criminal prosecution of environmental extremists who damage infrastructure, such as pipelines, referring to the October 11, 2016, incidents.

This world values physical presence and appearance.

There’s some importance there, given that so much of life has moved online and become virtual. But the twist is different: we don’t value the physical body being in-person as much as we value how it looks and performs. We say ‘wellness’ and ‘health’ when we really mean getting skinny. We establish a variety of standards and numbers and treat people like lumps of meat on a scale that must be crammed into those numbers, whether by pill or surgery or injection, in order to be validated as a healthy, functioning human.

I’m short, fat, and it has always been so, relatively speaking. My friend and I joke about “the volcano” experience in Nicaragua, but it wasn’t really a joke. It has become a symbol of a pattern in my life.

“This is the f’n volcano all over again!” I yell when it happens again.

It was yet another experience of facing a physical body that wasn’t up to speed with those around me, literally, leaving me with the memory not of a fun vacation, but of gasping-out-of-breath catching up, barely able to enjoy the view at the top before I had to start back down.

If you know, you know.

Everyone goes far ahead, and you put all your energy into trying to catch them. Every ounce of your being is funneled into getting your head game right, pulling in oxygen, making shaky muscles move, and not crying. You turn the bend or come over a boulder and see that everyone has been sitting there, catching their breath while waiting for you for ten minutes. Once you appear, they proceed on, refreshed, forgetting that you, more than they, needed the break, leaving you with no chance for a break unless you purposefully decide to accept you will make the trek alone in order to not die of a heart attack.

It is a terrible thing, made worse when no one else in the group realizes what is happening, or cares to say, “Hey, I’ll sit here and wait with you.”

If you know, you know.

I struggle with loathing excessively athletic-fixated people for these reasons. Wardrobes made of Columbia and North Face; vocabulary and social media made up only of outdoorsy, athletic adventures. It is a game that seems—seems, mind you, but in truth this is not so—that is reserved only for a few.

Years ago, when I went hiking in Glacier National Park—yes, I do hike and enjoy it, but only with someone patient with my slow pace, red face, and need for breaks—I was pleased to see they’d created an accessible area for people in wheelchairs or unable to hike. They’d made it easy to get to a lovely little lake/pond and put a broad boardwalk trail around it. In the same vein, I like that they have a cog railway up to Pike’s Peak, and that there are gondola cars, roads, and other ways to reach beautiful natural spots around the world for people who can’t hike or climb.

I’ve heard some people gripe about it, as if you are not worthy of the view if you don’t get there the hard way. As if the simple fact of being human and created in the image of God isn’t enough to enjoy the rest of God’s creation. As if grace and mercy were only relegated to particular spiritual dimensions instead of a way of experiencing all of life. There’s a pride present, one that happens to all of us when we know what our gifts and skills are, a tendency to make what we are good at the thing that matters most in the human experience.

This strange physical fitness be-all-you-can-be-in-your-own-army mentality applied to everyone becomes, in a self-focused and narcissistic world, a choice between aloneness and isolation because you cannot keep up, and no one will lessen their own personal experience to wait for you, or a constant and exhausting struggle to sort of keep up and exist weary behind the curve. That is the choice: if no one will hold back and deny themselves the personal victory in order to encourage you.

Keep up and die, or stay alive and alone.

It is one reason I enjoyed martial arts—fencing, karate—because I did them on my own, without having to keep up with anyone else. My success and failure were mine; it was on my time and my pace. If I took a kick to the head, I would learn to duck next time. They were solitary physical activities, the only ones I could excel at on my own terms. I could kick and slash and stab people. I could use hands and feet and foils and sabers.

It took care of all the inner rage from years of team sports and trying to keep up and run 5Ks with people nagging me to go faster, and me burning through my reserves because I hooked myself to their pace instead of my own. It took care of the anger from the excessive focus on sports in high school, where there was no patience for non-athletes, other than relegation to the bench or teasing, but athletes who struggled with their minds and basic algebra were given lots of help to keep them eligible. It took care of the frustration of realizing that you never leave high school, no matter how old you get, because people live in their glory days, attitudes, and all.

Mostly, it’s fun to kick people.

My knees don’t allow such things anymore, but I’m glad I got it in during my 20s and 30s. I’m glad I broke a board and a few toes so that I can, in my mind, while smiling politely in my lumpy, low-cardio body listening to enthralling stories of people hiking up the sides of steep mountains and water skiing and mucking through a winter storm on the North Shore for funsies, and all of their vacation adventures, only to mostly respond with vacation stories of museums, coffee shops, s’mores around the campfire, and bookstores, envision a solid front snap kick to the chest to silence them (sorry, God) or holding onto the memory of taking a big, sweaty arrogant dude down to the mat and getting him to tap out as a justification for existing in this world of physical prowess only.

I have to remind myself we all find joy and pleasure in different activities, and to allow for different temperaments. But the die is so cast for physical skills and strength in our culture that simply accepting it as fair is not enough to keep it on an even keel, a balance of the athlete and the artistic or intellectual. The world has been weighted toward athleticism, sports, and how the physical body looks and performs. We have the Nobel and the Pulitzer, but we also have the Super Bowl, the Heisman, the Stanley Cup, the gold medals, and all the other athletic awards.

Nevertheless, there is good news for people like me, and it is that we are all dying.

My special power was always brains and various artistic and musical talents, but in the end, all the special powers we have—physical or intellectual—mellow with age into a mushy equilibrium. The physical body betrays us, despite our efforts. The mind forgets the activities of just a few hours ago. We grab at enjoyment where we can, and accept that our goal is to keep the physical body functioning so we can tie our shoes and walk downstairs in the house, not summit Mt. Rainier. The dudebro athlete trying to rip it like he did at age 30 while in his 60s spends a lot of time at physical therapy, the reward for his stubborn disembrace of reality. For some, severe physical illness or disability might make an athletic identity in youth a terrible burden and an identity crisis in later years. For others, it justifies doctors killing patients under the guise of medically assisted suicide; if the physical body isn’t peak, then be rid of it.

I remind myself often that the child prodigy is only amazing until everyone else inevitably catches up. Bad news for you: my slow, wheezing pace will be yours someday, but it’s what I’ve always known and had to accept, while it might be terribly difficult for someone in a new state of being. There is some irony that by the time we cross the finish line, if we do it in old age, we are mostly all at some comparable level of reduced performance.

Well, except Chuck Norris.

Drawings are based on maps provided by NDDES and MCSD, compilations of photographic images to estimate locations, and text descriptions of various locations. These maps are approximations.

Map: Areas of Conflict

This map shows some of the areas of conflict along the pipeline. Red dots indicate protester actions. The yellow line is the approximate location of the Dakota Access pipeline.

Map: Overview of Protest Camp Area

This map shows the protest camp area north of Cannon Ball, ND. The “Last Child Camp” is situated on private property now owned by Dakota Access. The Oceti Sakowin camp (7 Council Fire Camp) included many camps (Highstar Camp, People’s Camp, Red Warrior Camp, et al.). Red Warrior Camp later moved to the noted location. Sacred Stone Camp included Spirit Camp and Eagle’s Nest Camp. Rosebud Camp also included Pueblo Camp.

Map: Protest Area Points Of Interest

This map shows various points of interest. The red dots indicate areas where protesters periodically clashed with law enforcement. The yellow dot is the location of the media area in the main camp, sometimes known as “Facebook Hill.” The orange dots show locations of sacred fires in the main camp. The purple dot is the location of the large domed structure in the main camp

Map: U.S. Army Corps Land

This map shows, in light green overlay, the sections of the protest area that were USACE land. As you can see, most of the protest camps were on Corps land.

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William Least Heat-Moon, who is part Native American, had lost his job and his wife and took to the road, where maybe such losses can lose their sting. The result was the book Blue Highways: A Journey Into America.1

Least Heat-Moon describes his reasoning eloquently: “On the old highway maps of America, the mai…

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Alice Corbin Henderson, the poet whose work often focused on Native Americans, said it. “In the place where the fight was, across the river…” she wrote, and I wonder how she knew.1

The Missouri River winds slow and thick through the rolling hills of western North Dakota. Cities and refineries and pastures can be found on its shores. Bridges go over it an…

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Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. — John Adams, in a letter to the Massachusetts militia on October 11, 1798

It is my opinion that as more Americans (and North Dakotans in particular) have reduced their connection to the land, their understanding of private property rights has diminished.

And also, in as nice a way as possible, we have a generation of parents who have passed this non-understanding to their wild and ill-behaved children in a big, destructive way.

Burleigh County has an ATV (OHV, side-by-side, etc.) problem.

Here’s the situation that led to several Burleigh County Commission meetings in which the public has been testifying.

• Private landowners in Burleigh County have reported that ATVs (OHVs, ATVs, side-by-sides, dirt bikes) have been using rural ditches and the land next to them for recreational riding.

• Landowners have claimed property damage and an emotional toll, along with associated costs, including rutting, erosion, trespass, and harassment.

• ATV riders argue that ditch riding has been a long-standing practice in North Dakota, and that it’s allowed under state rules that provide access if riders recreate responsibly. (Key word: responsibly)

• Landowners have gathered proof through photos and videos that show this current generation of riders, regardless of riders in previous decades, are some real a-holes, and they most certainly aren’t “recreating responsibly.”1

• This problem has been building for years. In 2022, the issue was brought up for a vote on a county ordinance under a home-rule angle.

• In March 2025, the state law changed (HB 1346) with strong bipartisan support, and amended NDCC 39-29-08(4) to allow counties to prohibit ATV use in areas they determined it was appropriate. Counties now had the power to ban riding in the ditches.2

• Complaints in Burleigh County continued to grow, and the commission began discussing a countywide policy.

• On February 17, 2026, a four-hour county commission meeting was held, during which ATV user groups and landowners testified. It was not pretty; the animosity between the two sides was clear.

• On March 16, 2026, the county introduced a draft of an ordinance and a temporary moratorium resolution (Resolution 0020260). Burleigh County Sheriff Leben spoke to the commissioners and discussed working with ND Parks and Recreation on the matter. The moratorium would pause all ATV riding so the county could build a framework, which might include a complete ban along roads (uses home rule and the new state law to be more restrictive than the state), requiring a driver’s license instead of current 12-16 year age access, additional safety equipment and minimum engine sizes and machine width, and so on.

• On March 2, 2026, a public hearing was scheduled, and the packed meeting was held on March 16, 2026 (this is the video I watched).

A variety of arguments against the ban that I have seen online and in these meetings via video include:

• “We shouldn’t let a few bad apples spoil it for everyone.”

• “When I was a kid I used to ride the ditches what’s the big deal.”

• “It’s only a few property owners doing all the complaining.”3

• “What, do you want kids sitting at home playing video games, or outside having fun?”

None of these is valid.

Emotional, sure. False dichotomy and poor logic, yes. But not valid.

I’m all for a trail system, I’m all for kids being outside doing fun activities that don’t involve trespass, I’m all for going directly to a landowner and asking permission and respecting the response, but when it comes down to it, between protecting recreation and private property rights, I’m for private property rights.

Please hear this: I am not against hunting. I am not against recreation on private land. But first, I am for private property rights. These do not have to be mutually exclusive, but will be if people behave like entitled jerks.4 Parents: if your child is disrespectful and you have no control over him and think handing him the keys to an ATV is somehow going to end well, never disciplining when issues arise, but instead joining in with him to fight the landowners and stand up for his disgusting behavior, you are the problem.

Property rights are the most important right to protect.

From them stem all other rights and moral behaviors of a true patriotic citizen. It is not your red MAGA cap or your lewd “FU liberal” stickers on your truck. 5 It’s respecting others and their property. If you cannot respect the property of another person, you cannot respect another person, and you cannot function in a nation that requires moral people, because you are immoral.

Because property rights are so key to freedom, you can see that those who fought the War of Independence died for property rights. The lack of respect for private property was a significant concern in the list of grievances in the Declaration of Independence.

We have no right to recreate—especially on private property—given to us at all by the Founding Fathers. But we do have an obligation to respect and self-restrain. And no, the pursuit of happiness isn’t a blank check to be an a-hole.6

The Importance Of Property Rights

Ten years ago, North Dakota learned what it was like to have a riot on the prairie. The Dakota Access Pipeline protest introduced us to the problems we have with protecting landowners from those who desire to trespass, though I am sad to say that the legislature did very little because it is hard to stand for North Dakota landowners and against the in-and-out-of-state recreation and hunting lobby.7

I grew up on a farm in northeast North Dakota and I have watched my parents buy their farmland over and over and over and over, almost losing the farm save for taking out big loans JUST TO PAY THE PROPERTY TAXES so they could do it all again next year and go further into debt to basically lease their land, and never own it. I have also seen hunters get nasty online when you talk about property rights, saying that since farmers get money through government farm programs, the land is really the taxpayers’. It is at this point that I lead the conversation about the free public schooling their child receives, and how it is paid for by property taxes. I believe we are at sum zero.

My parents’ situation is not uncommon for farmers, particularly those who barely made it through the 1970s and 1980s. Not only were taxes an expense, but they had lawful responsibilities for maintaining their property, dealing with county weed and water boards, federal programs, and the like.

Unlike what the Founders envisioned, owning property is like being the citizenry’s milking cow. You get milked for all you got so the community can enjoy free public education, roads and infrastructure, fire and emergency services, parks and recreation, county and city government operations, and—wait for it—law enforcement and courts.

Property taxes are generally a direct funding mechanism for local communities rather than state-level programs. When you disrespect those who own property, you might as well gouge out your own heart before complaining that you can’t feel your toes.

In light of this, in which just one missed payment or a bad year of health expenses or crop failures has the potential to strip property owners of what they rightfully possess, I will always, first and foremost, stand with the rights of property owners above any other interest. 8

I expect elected officials and law enforcement to do the same, particularly since property taxes often help fund them. Their first concern ought to be protecting property rights.

Look at the list of what property taxes fund. Without property taxes, the government and the public will have to find a lot of other milking cow teats to suckle at. Therefore, the decision-making flowchart of community leaders must always start with how it affects property owners. That is your starting point from which all other decisions are made, because it is a key component of how this nation began. Property is what we all exist on, do business on, and grow on.

The protection of private property and the rights of property owners was one of the central concerns of the Founders’ understanding of human liberty and what a civil government is all about. Not recreation. Property ownership.

The sacred right to property ownership dates back to the Magna Carta. We tend to think of property rights as the government not being able to seize it, but there is more to it than that, even though the Constitution deals with government, not what fellow citizens do to landowners.

James Madison saw property rights as nearly identical to personal rights, and that protecting property rights was necessary to incentivize hard work and innovation. Property rights were seen as both a moral entitlement and a necessity for prosperity. Alexander Hamilton emphasized the need to protect private property from legislative overreach and the tyranny of the majority. Thanks to John Locke, property was treated as a core natural right by the men who founded this nation. Consider the 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights, in which owning property was considered an inherent natural right. Secured property held by individuals was the guardian of all the other rights.

1. Owning property gives us independence from others’ control (which is why I want property taxes to disappear; they negate this).

2. Property gives us the means to exercise other freedoms. Private property is where we have the presses, the buildings, the facilities, the ability to speak freely, share our ideas, worship and express religious beliefs, assemble with others, and even due process. Property isn’t just land; it’s our vehicle, our possessions. Without it, we have no resources to defend ourselves, no income, and so on.

3. Property provides a clear legal and moral boundary that restrains not just the government but also others around us from interfering with our lives or overreaching. No trespassing is the ultimate demand for free people.

We all expect these property rights to function for ourselves. It was astonishing, then, to watch the testimony of recreational groups and individuals who somehow seemed to think they could access someone else’s private property when there is no way they’d allow it on their property from anyone else in these broad terms.

It is also astonishing to me that it took so long to drop the hammer and say no to ATVs tearing up private property after all this time and these complaints.

Why Taking “Small” Property Crime Seriously Is The Most Important Thing To Do

I was watching a rerun of a cold-case show, where a young sheriff in a southern state ran on the promise to reduce serious crime by targeting property and nuisance crimes.

This seemed counterintuitive to people who thought the sheriff should have focused on “big” crimes like drugs and assaults. Who cares about trespassing, vandalism, petty theft, or bad neighbors who don’t control their dogs? Those were minor issues, nothing serious.

The sheriff persisted, and the result was a significant reduction in violent and drug-related crimes, with citizens quickly coming around to support his efforts. He became popular because he radically improved the quality of life for more people than he would have if he had focused only on “serious” crimes.

Why? It’s those “small” property crimes that frustrate people, that aggravate, and in some cases, explode into unfortunate violence after someone snaps. It’s these “small” crimes that affect more people than drug violence. It’s those small property crimes that are the seed or foundation for worse crimes down the road. Big crime and criminals often start small.

When law enforcement doesn’t take property crime seriously, thinking only drugs, assaults, and other crimes really matter, they will be behind the curve in overall crime prevention. Not only does targeting these foundational, smaller crimes make people happier and feel better about where they live, but you tend to find that by targeting them, you come across people with open warrants, or stop people (such as teenagers learning their parents don’t care if they harass property owners) from developing into worse criminals if they were allowed to go unpunished over time.

We’ve seen in recent years what happens when leadership in various cities across the nation refuses to punish criminals and refuses to take “small” property crime seriously. The crime worsens both in rate and severity.

There are a few ways to approach property crimes.

• Situational Crime Prevention: This is the idea of opportunity theory. People without self-control, morals, or any restraint will use the opportunity to commit a crime whenever it presents itself. They might justify it (“Who leaves their door unlocked, unless they wanted to get robbed?”), but crime is crime. The idea here is to reduce the opportunity through measures like locks and surveillance, reduce the reward for the crime, reduce provocation, and remove any excuses (e.g., the door was unlocked). Unfortunately, the burden is on the one who would be the victim. It is up to them to make it hard to be victimized. This is what happens to landowners. In our backwards legal system, the burden is on them to inform people to stay off their land and to invest in fencing, cameras, etc.

• Place-Based Policing: Mixing situational crime prevention with specific places where serious crimes are occurring has notable results. Studies have shown that increased police presence in areas with known issues further lowers property crime rates, even when all situational crime prevention factors are in place.9 By being proactive instead of reactive, i.e., focusing on areas with known issues instead of just reacting to complaints after the incidents have happened, crime is reduced in the long run. For example, the sheriff could assign a deputy to the road when the kids are riding ATVs and keep him there at random for an extended time, so the kids knew they had a chance of being called out, which would keep them from harassing landowners.

• Broken-Window Enforcement. We’ve all heard of broken windows theory, the idea that vigorous enforcement of minor and property-related offenses helps reduce serious crime across the board. What this does is signal to the community what is normal and accepted. It also disrupts potential repeat (and escalating) offenders early, before they level up to more serious crime, putting real punishment in place early to dissuade them. Additionally, it makes public spaces safer and more stable while encouraging people to own, invest in, and improve their private property, knowing it will be protected. People know that if they are harassed, they won’t, for example, have to be paraded in front of the county at a televised meeting and mocked online for standing up for private property rights. Instead, law and leadership will respond immediately and firmly in favor of their Constitutional rights as property owners.

When the public sees that both property and violent crimes are taken seriously, there are real benefits.

1. The perceived risk is such that opportunistic offenders are stopped before they start, and repeat offenders back off. Police disruption early on prevents crime hot spots from forming.

2. When you deter property crimes, you reduce the likelihood of the serious and violent crimes that can come from that (confrontations that turn violent, setting up drug operations in an area no one seems to care about, etc.)

3. Public trust and cooperation grow, and the community is less divisive. (Though this ATV situation has been allowed to simmer far too long.)

All of this seems super obvious, but our laws and practices don’t follow it. Property crimes, particularly if they aren’t felonies but “only” misdemeanors, nuisances, or only require small fines, are easily dismissed by police and, sadly, by citizens.10 Some adults in these meetings almost seemed proud to dismiss the property damage as nothing to get worked up about.

That’s a mistake, and that’s where Burleigh County, good citizenship, the founding of our nation, private property rights, stupid entitled kids that mirror their parents, a decades-old protest and failed property legislature, and terrible parenting all collide.

The Case For Burleigh County Property Owners (Hint: They Are In The Right)

I firmly stand with the property owners and do not care if anyone is allowed to ride their ATV in a ditch ever again. You can call me Karen or something worse a thousand times over, and I do not relent.

These landowners are investing in and maintaining their property for the betterment of us all. They are following state and county ordinances and paying property taxes, yet their property rights are not being protected. They are paying the state what the state demands, but are not receiving the rule-of-law protection the state has promised in return.

The state and county are taking the fruit of the property (taxes) but not providing benefits. They are stealing from property owners, and, in that sense, they are absolutely infringing on their property rights. It’s taxation without representation because they collect taxes on time but do not protect property owners’ rights in a timely manner. Additionally, they are giving the affected property owners’ complaints the same weight as those of people seeking access to their property, even though the latter have no right to do so once a property owner says no.

It gets worse: they are imposing additional costs on property owners (cameras, fencing, mental stress, public shaming). They have removed the incentive for property owners to purchase, maintain, and grow their property. They have fostered division in the community by allowing this to drag on and become more heated.

What’s even worse is that many of these riders are teenagers. The first restraint is parents, then the law. But instead of having parents who lay down the law and demand good behavior from their progeny, we have parents siding with the kids against the landowners.

These are the “small” nuisance crimes that are going to cause someone to snap, and violence will happen. Some day, a kid is going to ride on the wrong property and get a final meeting with a shotgun. And that’s going to be on the parents and any legal wiggle room that was left open.

I have been on trips to the Black Hills and spent days riding ATVs, and yes, it is a blast. But we also did that on state-owned land, with permission and marked trails. We paid to stay in campgrounds and get access to some of these points. At no time did I think we had the right to traipse across private property. This is obvious to me.

I fear we have too many people in North Dakota who are uneducated about what the founding of this nation was all about, what personal liberty requires in terms of the social contract, and are too removed from a connection to the land, neither growing up on a farm nor having family on a farm, and therefore, having no respect for the landowner.

They do not treasure what it is to own a piece of the earth; they just want to grind it under their tires and flip the bird at anyone who says they can’t.

We Have Forgotten Self-Restraint Is Required, And Therefore, Deserve More Laws

I refer you to John Adams’ quote at the start of this article.

The reason we have too many laws is because we are a people who lack self control and morals, preferring to point the finger at our leaders instead of ourselves. We blame the President, we blame Congress, we blame the legislature, but the fact is, it’s the parents, it’s the individual.

It starts in the home.

It’s unfortunate that a few bad apples have spoiled the fun of riding an ATV in a ditch, but spoiled it they have. The parents and kids involved would not restrain themselves, and therefore, liberty has to be replaced with laws.

This is what happens when you let disrespect for other people and their property be normalized and justified. It starts when your kids see you endorse bad behavior, when they hear you bash landowners in conversation at home. It starts when immoral and unreligious people don’t realize they’re immoral and unreligious, and instead think they are good, patriotic citizens fighting for their rights.

There’s a fine balance between small government and personal liberty.

The Founders repeatedly tied the idea of liberty to personal self-restraint.11

Being an American citizen and a patriot is not being selfish, but selfless. The government doesn’t have to restrain you, because you restrain yourself and your desires. No patriot plugged into the core of the founding of this nation wants lots of laws and rules, but that is what they’ll get more of if they cannot exercise self-control and self-restraint in themselves and teach it to their own children.

Yes, parents, I’m calling you out.

If you raised defiant, rebellious, mocking kids—and you did, if they are the ones behaving like this on those ATVs, disrespecting landowners—it’s on you. You are to blame. It is not the landowners who are at fault. You are.

Unfortunately, we are now a culture that is full of people who don’t realize they are immoral, ungovernable, selfish, and cannot behave respectfully without punishment and laws. If people will not self-regulate to respect the rights of their fellow citizens who make up the community, then pain must be used to force them to do so.

Train up your child in the way he should go. Otherwise, I hope he gets a felony trespass.

Pro tip: if you want to go on someone’s land, have the cojones to go up to the door and ask if you may, rather than behaving like a childish twit on social media and mocking anyone who asks you to respect private property rights.

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Some data suggests that about 1/5 of American adults are considered illiterate.1 One model suggests that 130 million adults (age 16-74) read below a sixth-grade level. Based on current population estimates, that’s almost 40%.2 In 2022, not even half of American adults read a book that year.3 Modern adult literacy proficiency seems to have peaked in 2017 by some estimates, but overall, basic literacy and participation in reading for kids in school peaked in the late 1980s.4

Etcetera, etcetera.

The numbers keep falling, both on who can read, what level they can read at, and how many bother to actually read books. We all know the drill.

Obviously, this hurts my business model as a writer.

Is there still anyone out there who wants to read a book?5 Is there room in those models of falling literacy and book interest for allowing books to wander about the world, unfettered and free?

We have to go way back.

Before there were Little Free Libraries, there were coffee shops and hotels that allowed people to use an informal leave-and-take book swap system. There was also BookCrossing.com, which stepped up the game a bit in the early internet years and turned it into an adventure.

Total sidebar here, but according to my BookCrossing account, which I created in 2003, I have only officially released four books:

• What Should I Do With My Life by Po Bronson (and a fair question), released November 10, 2003, in the United Airlines terminal at the Denver airport, which is Satan’s airport. “Didn’t change my life in particular, but I don’t think that was Bronson’s point, anyway. He seemed to be more concerned with tossing the question out there,” I wrote.

• Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs, also released November 10, 2003, in the United Airlines terminal at the Denver airport, which is Satan’s airport, I must reiterate. “This book is OK. Something to read to kill time while traveling,” I wrote in my exceedingly deep review.

• The Testament, by John Grisham, was released on February 26, 2003, in a gas station in Cando, North Dakota, after reading it on a train trip. “It helped to pass the time across Montana,” was part of my review. You can see why I’ve never been awarded a book critic post. I’m no better than the moron reviewer on Amazon who talks about the shipping and box instead of the product.

• The Horse Whisperer, by Nicholas Evans, was released on February 28, 2003, at the Heritage Center in Devils Lake, North Dakota. “The first two-thirds were an OK read, but then Nicholas Evans sold his unfinished script to Hollywood and ended “The Horse Whisperer” in a rather cheesy fashion. The ending (last third of the book) is not in keeping with the rest of the book. Robert Redford did not use this ending in his movie, thankfully. It would have been better if it were more about horses and less about romance. But that’s just me.”

I think I need to get back on BookCrossing and get active.

Since my original foray, I’ve given away about 400 books. The current recipient of what I clear from my bookshelves is the local library. They collect people’s donations, then resell them a couple of times a year as a fundraiser, and everyone who got rid of books stumbles in like an addict to buy more books because it’s just $1 for a bag.

The Little Free Library (LFL) didn’t exist during my mildly active BookCrossing days. I suspect, should I feel so motivated, I could pair BookCrossing with LFL and get a kind of geocaching book thing going.

But let’s get back on track.

LFL got its start in 2009.

Founder Todd Bol created the first Little Free Library, which looked a bit like a one-room schoolhouse, in honor of his mother. My mother would probably be more honored if I mastered the art of putting my socks away instead of leaving them on the floor, so the bar is pretty low for me.

Within just three years, LFL took off.

The original goal was supposedly to build more little free libraries than Andrew Carnegie’s actual library-building record, and they managed to do that by 2012. Granted, it takes less money and red tape to build an LFL than an actual library, but the LFLs tend to take more physical and weather abuse and have less security.

For the record, I can’t get enough of novel ways to get stories and poetry as a physical item into people’s hands. I already wrote about the short story dispenser in the Wichita airport.

But there are also poetry boxes and book dispensers at the state park campgrounds in North Dakota.

“You can just get a book on your Kindle. Lots of free ones,” I’ve been told. This is so much less enjoyable, both to acquire and to read. There’s no sense of a treasure hunt, much like the used bookstore in Mandan, Huntington Books, which was likely a fire hazard but completely glorious.

As if reading was just about the words on the page (or screen). The story about getting the story is part of it.

I take photos of LFLs when on vacation, which is why the condition of some of them is disheartening. If you’re going to be the owner and librarian of such a thing, you gotta take it seriously. You’re the steward of books! Free books! Admittedly, I know you’re fighting against the weather and neighborhood no-goodniks.

It’s not all golden, to be sure, beyond just the structural maintenance. The LFL is good for several things we should have seen coming, but did not.

• Getting rid of books that suck.

• Getting rid of self-published books.

• Getting your self-published book that isn’t selling out into the world.

This list of three could, in some instances, be a Venn diagram that is a circle.

There are other issues, such as spiders. I have found some seriously disgusting spiders in an LFL, but they do not outweigh the treasures I’ve found.

For example, I found an old book about the history of the Red River Valley, the Metis, and ox carts. It was made more interesting by the penciled annotations in the margin in which a highly grumpy reader—someone I can identify with—argued with the author using fine Palmer penmanship. It was like the ancient form of social media, but more perfect: you could yell at the author, and no one would argue, nor would the author care, but you felt better for having won the one-sided argument.

How did we get away from that perfection?

So what could possibly be the controversy around the LFL?

There’s the way people treat private property and their innate desire to ruin anything that’s nice, as well as what kinds of people are attracted to free stuff and how they behave.

I have always wanted an LFL—desperately so, in the worst possible way—in the front yard, but my friend assures me that they attract weirdos.

“I usually stop at an LFL if I see one,” I said.

“My point exactly.”

Let’s not forget the little boy who lives next door to me is also a disobedient hellion beyond belief, with no sense of private property respect, and would no doubt destroy my efforts.

But I still really want one.

There’s also the way people treat anything that is free, too often without self-restraint.

I’ve noticed food pantry versions of LFL, and one fellow in town has placed his LFL in a Little Free Garden for people to help themselves. I don’t know if anyone takes him up on the free vegetables, but the Little Free Food Pantry at a church near where I live often features the same 300-lb guy literally clearing out every last food item into a box he’s carrying. I try not to judge, but clearly I am.

It’s free, yes, but the idea is to take what you need and leave some for others.

Over the years, the other issues with LFLs have been zoning and permitting. Even small libraries have red tape coming for them.

And of course, the permanent “problematic” issues that have infected every part of American life have raised their head here: some think LFLs are performative and inequitable. That is, they are allegedly clustered in wealthier, whiter neighborhoods and have become a sign of gentrification.

Some grumpy pants jerks, who are apparently not aware of the interwebs and all the free books contained therein, have suggested that the LFLs are stealing patrons from local libraries, claiming this is a corporatization of free books and of how literary materials are distributed. (See also: Amazon.) I don’t even understand these concerns. It’s probably mostly HOA presidents who retired way too soon and have a daughter named Karen.

Years ago, when Netflix still sent out DVDs, I was in a bookstore with a friend, and he made the comment that he thought there ought to be a kind of Netflix for books.

“I always thought there ought to be something like Netflix for books,” he said. “You know, where you could get books sent to you in the mail and return them when you’re done.”

I snickered. “There’s already a kind of Netflix for books. It’s called ‘the library’.”

If only there were more little, free ones where, unlike the local library, I wouldn’t have to watch a drug deal go down in the basement while looking on wide-eyed and unarmed from the stacks.

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