Editor’s note: Correspondent Paul Cmil spoke with Candace Winkler about her recent participation in the North Dakota pipeline protest. Since her return home, the Army Corps of Engineers has denied a permit to construct the protested segment of the pipeline under the direction of President Barrack Obama. However, it is understood President-Elect Donald Trump could reverse that decision when he takes office in January. Cmil’s interview took place before the permit was denied.

Catasauqua resident Candace Winkler hooked up with fellow activist Shawna “Shae” Faust, of Fogelsville, and headed to central North Dakota to check out the pipeline protest on Sioux nation treaty lands.

“This is a free speech issue as well as a violation of the treaty agreement,” Winker told The Press when she returned home.

In 1951, the government entered into a treaty with the Sioux that allowed small tribes unfettered access to lands considered sacred by the tribe. These are treaty lands, but they also are considered public lands.

“The place is pretty isolated, so it is mainly the Sioux tribes that use the land,” Winkler said of the area near Cannon Ball.

It was isolated, that is, until Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners designed a pipeline to go under Lake Oake, a reservoir created by a dam on the Missouri River. The Army Corps of Engineers owns a spit of land along the lake that would allow access to a drilling machine.

The 1,200-mile pipeline routes oil to refineries on the Texas/Louisiana coast. It is complete, save for the connection under Lake Oake.

The center of the protest activity is Oceti Sakowin.

“The Sioux nation is a collection of tribes under one tribal council,” Winkler said. “In this area, there are seven local tribes. There are other camps on private land, but this is the one on the public lands.”

The protests started when LaDonna Brave Bull Allard protested a disturbance at her son’s hilltop grave.

“The natives don’t believe in digging up the land. They consider it sacred,” Winkler said.

With the violations to the land and the pipeline, the tribes say they are protecting the American and Indian land.

“It’s a coming-together time for them. Some of the rituals and prayer services have not been performed for centuries,” she said.

The protest is in its seventh month. North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple has called for protesters to evacuate, but protest activities continue. Law enforcement is exasperated.

“What is so impressive is how well everything is organized,” Winkler said. “The camp is clean; every morning the area is cleaned up. Even the port-a-potties are spotless.

“Everything is provided for free,” she said. “There is enough food to eat; supplies are available. Everyone shares everything with their neighbors. Natives always lived like this, so our life is so strange to them.”

There are ceremonies all day long.

“Everything was peaceful,” she said.

There is a country road that goes through the lands, but the protesters have not tried to block it. The main “street” in the camp is lined with flags representing all the nations supporting the protest.

“There were people here from all over the world,” Winkler said.

Anyone new to the camp had to go through newcomer orientation. The rules are strict - no drugs, no violence, no weapons, nothing to bring dishonor to the tribe. Another big no-no is taking photos.

“Pictures of the ceremonies are forbidden,” she said. “The area is sacred to the natives, and they expect everyone there to honor the land.”

Any infraction and the violator is out of the camp.

Training also is offered on how to peacefully protest.

“I’ve been through these before, so I was familiar with the steps. No one wants the protesters looking like an angry mob,” she said.

The introduction included how to handle a strip search and cope with tear gas and sound cannons.

Meanwhile, law enforcement has used water cannons mounted atop military armored vehicles and sprayed water in below-freezing weather. Donated supplies have been delayed.

Protestors were arrested for baseless reasons, she said.

“Someone was arrested for blocking the road while walking to a ceremony,” she said. “Yet, a local rancher fired a handgun into the air and was not charged.”

At night, light aircraft and helicopters flew overhead.

“It was a great experience to act on something that I really believe in,” she said. “We are building these pipelines to get oil to the refineries, and the refineries run at capacity now. Why are we doing all of this and violating the treaty we made with these people?”

Winkler and her companion weren’t prepared for the harsh weather.

“Our tent couldn’t hold up to the wind, so we wound up sleeping in the back of the truck,” she said. “I felt safe as long as I was around the camp ... but law enforcement was threatening. There were 40 people arrested before we got there, and another 100 were arrested later. They get released, but the idea is to harass and end the protests.”

There are about 10,000 protesters in camp now.

The governor asked for the protesters to leave for safety reasons and the approaching cold.

“The natives struck back, saying they have lived on the land for millennia, and they knew how to deal with the weather,” Winkler said.

Following the denial of the permit earlier this week, Winkler commented on the development.

“The events of the last few days seem like a victory of sorts,” she said. “The Army Corps of Engineers has pulled the permit. The confrontations have relaxed. Maybe there can be a settlement that respects the rights of the Sioux and protects their water.”