Standing Rock: Where Land, Spirit, and Identity Converge — David Robert Farmerie / Storyteller. Photojournalist. Documentary Photographer.

Standing rock

I went to Standing Rock as a photojournalist to document the protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. What began as a peaceful, prayerful gathering of Native people and their supporters grew into something far more complicated.

Living within the Oceti Sakowin encampment for several months, I witnessed moments of extraordinary humanity alongside moments of fear, confrontation, and violence. I also encountered people on both sides of the conflict whose actions and intentions rarely fit the stories being told beyond the camp.

These photographs are my record of Standing Rock as I experienced it—not as a political argument, but as a witness to the people, the place, and the complicated human story that unfolded there.

Standing Rock Banner Addressing Police Concerns at Oceti Sakowin Camp

A large banner at the edge of the Oceti Sakowin encampment near Standing Rock, North Dakota, responds to concerns about weapons within the protest camp, reflecting the tensions, messages, and complex relationships between demonstrators and law enforcement during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.

Diverse Structures of the Oceti Sakowin Encampment at Standing Rock

A documentary photograph from the Oceti Sakowin encampment showing the many structures created by participants, revealing a temporary community shaped by shared purpose, cultural traditions, and collective action during the Standing Rock protests.

Permanent Structures at the Oceti Sakowin Encampment, Standing Rock

Some structures within the Oceti Sakowin encampment at Standing Rock were built as permanent gathering spaces, reflecting the commitment, creativity, and community formed by those who came together during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.

Tipis, Tents, and Community at Oceti Sakowin Camp During Standing Rock Protests

Colorful tipis stand among tents, campers, and makeshift dwellings at the Oceti Sakowin encampment during the NoDAPL protests at Standing Rock, revealing the diversity, resilience, and community created by water protectors and supporters.

“Blue Water Not Black” — Standing Rock NoDAPL Protest Camp Message

A hand-painted cardboard sign reading “Blue Water Not Black” reflects the environmental concerns and spiritual connection to water expressed at the Oceti Sakowin camp during the Standing Rock NoDAPL protests. This documentary photograph captures a powerful moment of grassroots activism, Indigenous advocacy, and the movement to protect clean water and sacred lands.

The Medic Tent at Oceti Sakowin — Standing Rock NoDAPL Protest Camp

A medic tent at the center of the Oceti Sakowin camp resembled a MASH triage unit in a combat zone, providing medical care and support during the Standing Rock NoDAPL protests. This documentary photograph captures the urgency, resilience, and community organization that defined the movement as activists gathered to protect water, land, and Indigenous rights.

A Child’s View of Standing Rock — Facebook Hill at Oceti Sakowin Camp

A young boy sits atop “Facebook Hill,” overlooking the sprawling Oceti Sakowin encampment during the Standing Rock NoDAPL protests. This quiet moment captures a child’s perspective amid a historic movement, where thousands gathered in solidarity to protect water, defend sacred lands, and advocate for Indigenous rights. A documentary photograph reflecting the human stories behind one of America’s most significant environmental protests.

Pre-Dawn Stillness at Oceti Sakowin — A Tipi at Standing Rock

A lone tipi stands in the quiet pre-dawn hours at the Oceti Sakowin encampment during the Standing Rock NoDAPL protests. This documentary photograph captures the contemplative atmosphere of the camp before sunrise, reflecting the spiritual presence, resilience, and communal spirit of those who gathered to protect water, land, and Indigenous sovereignty.

Canoes of Solidarity — Indigenous Ceremony at Standing Rock

Tribes from the Pacific Northwest brought traditional hand-carved canoes to the Oceti Sakowin encampment during the Standing Rock NoDAPL protests. In September, Indigenous and non-Indigenous water protectors gathered to participate in a traditional Native ceremony reenacting the arrival of one tribe’s boats at the land of another—an expression of friendship, unity, and shared commitment to protecting water and sacred lands.

“No DAPLing” — Protest Sign Creativity at Standing Rock

A repurposed “No Parking” sign transformed into a “No DAPLing” message reflects the creativity and grassroots expression found throughout the Oceti Sakowin encampment during the Standing Rock NoDAPL protests. This documentary photograph captures the visual language of resistance, where everyday objects became symbols of opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline and the movement to protect water, land, and Indigenous rights.

Protestors gathered on the lower mall of the North Dakota State Capitol to peacefully protest the stoppage of the pipeline.