The Water Protector Legal Collective was born at #StandingRock to provide legal support to water protectors defending land, water, and Indigenous rights. We continue to honor this legacy and stand with all communities resisting extractive projects threatening our lands and waters. #NoDAPL #MniWiconi

Nine years later, this same fight is not over. There is still ongoing litigation stemming from the same concerns: the shutdown of a pipeline that desecrated sacred sites in its construction and continues to operate illegally without proper permits or a full Environmental Impact Statement.

“This case has highlighted the need for a serious discussion on whether there should be nationwide reform with respect to considering [T]ribes' views on these types of infrastructure projects,” the agencies said.

That same day, the DOJ, DOI, and DOA issued a joint statement calling on the pipeline company to voluntarily halt construction near Lake Oahe, a site of immense cultural and spiritual significance to the Standing Rock Sioux.

The Tribe had argued that the pipeline’s construction threatened sacred sites, water, and Treaty rights, but despite acknowledging the long history of injustices toward Indigenous Nations, Judge Boasberg ruled against the Tribe.