"We belong to the river"

Gallery: Construction of the Dakota Access pipeline continues north of Almont, northwest of Cannon Ball.

Gallery: The Red Warrior camp hosts hundreds of protesters and continues to maintain a sizable population. Some protesters have vowed to remain until pipeline construction is permanently halted.

Gallery: Activists drive by a construction site northwest of Cannon Ball, where construction of the Dakota Access pipeline had progressed recently.

Gallery: A Native-themed version of the American flag stands near a standard one (hung upside down as a sign of distress) at the camp across from where confrontations have taken place between the pipeline company and protesters.

Gallery: Carla Clah is a Navajo community organizer from Chicago. "I am here for my grandfather," she said. She is holding a copy of the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851, one many that has been ignored by the U.S. government.

Gallery: Brian Grandbois, 59, is Denesuline native from Cold Lake in Alberta, Canada. Back home, he cannot drink the water because of pollution from the Alberta Tar Sands. "When you violate one nation, you do it to all of us," Grandbois said.

Gallery: "I want clean water because there are going to be seven generations who come after me," says Thecla Two Bears, a Lakota from Kyle, S.D., on the Pine Ridge Reservation. She came to the protest with her children and her horse Old Gray.

Gallery: On the other side of the Cannonball River is the Rosebud Sioux camp site.

Gallery: Environmentalists such as Bernie Zabel and natives join forces to march to the site where graves have been disturbed during construction, according to Standing Rock Reservation leaders.

Gallery: Tom Barrett Jr., a member of the Red Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota rapped in protest of the Dakota Access pipeline. He encouraged his fans to use video and social media to promote the #nodapl cause. Red Warrior Camp is hosting hundreds of protesters intent on stopping the pipeline project.

Gallery: Protesters gather in a circle near the kitchen in a sign of unity. The Red Warrior Camp, which hosts hundreds of protesters, continues to maintain a sizable population with supporters coming and going.

Gallery: Sandy Louis, an Ottawa Indian from Michigan, and Dennis Jordan, a member of Standing Rock Reservation, tied the knot in a Native American Church ceremony in the early evening. Jordan had prayed for someone special before he came down to the camp. Two weeks later they are married.

Gallery: With fist raised in a power salute, a medicine man gathered protesters near the site where Standing Rock Reservation leaders said graves were desecrated.

Gallery: Rain Swan,13, is Crow/Lakota and dances to the drumming of Iron Bull, a group from the Standing Rock Reservation. I am "trying to save the kids who are coming into this world so they can have clean water," she said.

Gallery: A bald eagle staff from the Blackfeet delegation from Montana is held aloft during the welcoming ceremony at Red Warrior Camp near Cannon Ball, N.D.

Gallery: Kevin Brown, left, of Spirit Lake Nation in North Dakota won his heat and eventually the finals of the 200 meter horse race."Don't need no car. Don't need no grass. The only gas you need is grass," he said. Horse races, integral to the culture of many Native Americans, were held at Red Warrior Camp in Cannon Ball.

Gallery: Thecla Two Bears, a Lakota from the Pine Ridge Reservation, had her horse, OId Gray, a 5-year old gelding, painted with war paint to protect the people.

Gallery: Children swim in the Cannon Ball River, which feeds into the Missouri River a few hundred yards away. Protesters vow to stop the Dakota Access pipeline because they say it threatens the Missouri River and its aquifer.

Gallery: The main camp fire has been continuously lit while protesters are staying there. It is considered sacred. Tobacco is occasionally sprinkled on the fire as an offering to the Creator.

Gallery: Ray Skip Sandman is a member of the Fond du Lac Tribe in northern Minnesota. He is a Navy veteran who did two tours of duty form 1971-1974. "Too many times" people take water for granted, says Sandman.

Gallery: Delford Bob Jr., 45, is an Ottawa Ojibwe from Canada who came to the Red Warrior Camp to dance. "I am against people poisoning the water," he says. He is wearing a headband that features a thunderbird, which brings water to the people.

Gallery: Construction of the Dakota Access pipeline continues north of Almont, northwest of Cannon Ball.

Gallery: Sandy Louis, an Ottawa Indian from Michigan, and Dennis Jordan, a member of Standing Rock Reservation, tied the knot in a Native American Church ceremony. Jordan had prayed for someone special before he came down to the camps. Two weeks later they are married.

Gallery: Marcie Garay, a Blackfoot from Browning, Montana, says, the Missouri River "is their future and we need to keep it as pure as we can." Red Warrior Camp near Cannon Ball on the Standing Rock Reservation is hosting hundreds of protesters.

Gallery: Gideon Eugene Beard checks to see when activist and relative Marcus Frejo will be released on bail for trespassing on the Dakota Access pipeline. Beard was concerned about the delay.

Gallery: Activist Marcus Frejo is arraigned on trespassing charges at the Morton County Courthouse in North Dakota. The well-known rapper and activist was able to post bail and be released. He is leading a group of protesters, many from Oklahoma at the Red Warrior Camp.

Gallery: Activists who were booked by the Morton County Sheriff Department are arraigned on trespassing charges for trying to impede construction of the Dakota Access pipeline.

Gallery: Heather Milton Lightning of Saskatchewan, Canada, is arraigned on trespassing charges for tying herself to an excavator. "It's about the bigger picture," says Lightning. She says she is not only fighting for indigenous rights but also against abuse of the environment.

Gallery: Gideon Eugene Beard gives activist/relative Marcus Frejo some advice after being released on bail for trespassing on the Dakota Access pipeline.

Gallery: Marion Spotted Elk, 8 months, happily drinks formula made with tap water drawn from the Missouri River. Her father, Travis, and mother, Dusty Ayutapi, are concerned about the impact of the Dakota Access pipeline. "We use water for everything," says Ayutapi.

Gallery: Dusty Ayutapi, 28, carefully washed the bottle for her 8-month old, Marion. She is happy with the current water, which is drawn from the Missouri River, but is worried about the impact of the Dakota Access pipeline on their water.

Gallery: Sandy Louis, an Ottawa Indian from Michigan, and Dennis Jordan, a member of Standing Rock Reservation, embrace after tying the knot in a Native American Church ceremony at the camp.

Gallery: "I felt the ancestors when I was here on Aug. 22 ... All I could do was tear up when I went home," says Raymond Uses, a Cheyenne River Sioux who has been on the tribal council for 24 years. He returned this past week for another visit.

Gallery: Justin Marshall is Rosebud Lakota who helps tend the main camp fire. "The creator called me to protect what is sacred to my people," he says.

Gallery: Chenae Bullock, 28, is a Long Island Shinnecock. "I am protecting mother earth. I am making sure my relatives out here are secure for the winter," she said.

Gallery: Desirae Paypompee, her husband Wes Nelson, daughter, Jessica, and son, River, are Ojibwes from Treaty 3 territory, two hours east of Winnipeg, Canada. "We want (River) to understand a sacred way of life. There is a sacred connection between us and water," says Wes. "We have to do what we can for future generations," added Desirae.