Catherine Frank is at the water protectors camp in North Dakota, lending support and bringing donations from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation
Catherine Frank of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation arrived in North Dakota Sunday, Nov. 27, carrying the prayers of her family with her to the water protectors camp, the site of an often violent stand-off over the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Tear gas, dogs, water cannons, rubber bullets and percussion explosives have been turned on the ‘protesters’, sending many to hospital with terrible injuries.
Catherine and her friend Jade McTaggart, who works at Tin Wis, were also carrying a donation from a fundraising event with them that will help purchase much needed supplies for the camp.
The winter has come to North Dakota, and people are digging in for a long cold stay, despite an executive order delivered last night, signed by the governor of North Dakota, demanding a mandatory, immediate evacuation of the #NoDAPL camps.
There has been no activity on Catherine Frank’s Facebook account since Nov. 27, but that’s not unusual. Communications from the camps have been blocked and water protectors are surrounded by a large military-style private security presence.
The last post from Catherine was that her progress was being slowed, having had to take an alternate route because of police blockades not allowing people in.... She said she would “update when we reach Sacred Stone Camp.”
Catherine’s uncle, Francis Frank, said the women were expected to stay at the camp for at least two weeks.
“She was inspired by a group I created called TFN and NTC Support NoDAPL…. The purpose was to create awareness and also plan to come together in solidarity to show our support,” Francis said.
The main plan of the group continues to be to send a caravan of supporters to the camp, but other individuals are heading out in advance of that caravan. Tla-o-qui-aht will continue to send donations down, including winter clothing and blankets, and to help with supplies of food.
“Water is such a precious commodity,” said Francis. “It’s very disconcerting to see how the protestors are being treated down in America. We worry if the North Dakota experience is a fore shadow of what's to come with Kinder Morgan. Canada has already approved Site C, and LNG against First Nations' wishes.
And today, the federal government is also set to announce its decision on other pipelines, including the much reviled Northern Gateway project.