Standing Rock Water Protectors Bring in New Year with Fireworks

CANNON BALL, NORTH DAKOTA – New York City had its famous ball drop in Times Square at midnight to say goodbye to 2016 and hello to 2017. At the encampment at Standing Rock,many of faithful water protectors kept warm with a bonfire and enjoyed fireworks at midnight on Turtle Island.

Hundreds of water protectors remain at the encampments at Standing Rock after last month’s U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ announcement it would not grant an easement for further construction of the Dakota Access pipeline under the Missouri River.

Water protectors are waiting it out the encampments to see what the Trump administration will do after President-elect Donald Trump assumes the presidency on January 20, 2017.

But in the meantime, it was time to celebrate 2017 on this New Year’s weekend at Standing Rock.