A large group of Manitobans are standing in solidarity with protesters at Standing Rock.
Hundreds rallied on the front steps of the Manitoba Legislature Thursday night, as a sign of support for those south of the border, protesting against the North Dakota Access Pipeline.
Their message is simple: “we care,” said Bear Rodericks.
As a Manitoban, he’s travelled to the front line of the dispute between Native Americans and law enforcement.
“It’s eye opening,” Rodericks said.
Now, he’s back in Winnipeg to gather support.
"What I see here is that every person cares about the person next to them, that's exactly we are trying to spill onto everyone else," he said.
With the banging of the drums, a song and dance those at the local protest made it loud and clear they are standing firm with Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.
The community is against the pipeline and says it threatens drinking water and ancestral lands.
"It’s so important now more than ever for everybody to stand up and do what's right for the water, talk for the water, protect the water," Edee Omeara said.
She said her family lives along the pipeline route.
"I pray for them every day," Omeara added.
Many local students were also at the protest, including Magean Crouchene from the University of Manitoba.
"We hear you, we respect you and we are going to contribute to the best abilities that we can," Crouchene said, to those she has been watching protest from a far.
The company behind the pipeline says it plans to move forward with construction.
