Ten years after widespread protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), tribal leaders and Native American organizers gathered this week at the Standing Rock Sioux reservation to honor the movement and its lasting legacy. The event, held in Fort Yates, a rural part of the reservation, featured a four-day encampment centered around the phrase "mní wičóni," meaning "water is life" in Lakota. Around 150 tribal members and allies participated in meals, drum circles, sacred ceremonies, and memorials. The gathering opened with the lighting of a sacred fire, called "peta waken," using coals preserved from a fire that burned during the 2016 protests. This tradition symbolizes unity among the seven councils of the Oceti Sakowin, or Sioux Nation, and is often used during times of historic or political significance as a sign of hope. The 2016 protests were sparked by concerns that the pipeline, which would run within a mile of tribal lands, could pollute the Standing Rock reservation’s water supply and encroach on burial grounds. Protesters faced violent responses from law enforcement, including being maced, attacked by dogs, and arrested en masse. Despite the resistance, the pipeline was completed in early 2017 after a military-style clearance of the last protesters. Today, it transports up to 750,000 barrels of oil daily from North Dakota to an Illinois refinery. At the recent gathering, Manape LaMere, an original leader from the 2016 protest council and a member of the Sioux Nation, relit the sacred fire with the same coals used a decade ago. He also led a spiritual healing ceremony aimed at helping those who were at the camps find closure from the trauma they experienced. LaMere emphasized the importance of reconnecting with one's spirit after the hardships of the protests. "We need to call our spirit back," he said, acknowledging that many may not have had the chance to do so after the sudden eviction of protesters in 2017. Participants at the event shared stories of both the pain and the strength that came from the movement. Candi Brings Plenty, a member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux nation, reflected on the lingering trauma of the protests but also on the lifelong bonds formed among protesters. Despite the challenges, she said the experience was transformative. "I got the best knowledge and woksape, which is a Lakota word for wisdom, being at Standing Rock," she said. "I would do it again, even with the PTSD." In addition to the spiritual gathering, the People of the Sun event at the Prairie Knights Casino brought together renewable energy groups, activists, and performers for a three-day summit focused on clean energy solutions. Speakers emphasized how the 2016 protests highlighted the need for Native reservations to develop sustainable energy systems that align with tribal values. One group working to make this a reality is the Sage Development Authority, a federally chartered corporation formed by the Standing Rock Sioux nation. The group uses grant funding to build wind farms for tribal district buildings, allowing local leaders to reinvest in their communities. Actor Shailene Woodley, who was arrested during the 2016 protests, supported the event and spoke about the importance of learning the real history of colonization in the U.S. "We need to do our research and learn from a place of empowerment, not guilt or shame," she said. "If we don’t pay attention, we risk repeating the same patterns."