Military vets head to Standing Rock to help camp prepare for winter

Oceti Sakowin camp
People inhabit the Oceti Sakowin Camp, the largest of the encampments near Standing Rock during heavy snow conditions on Nov. 29.
Angela Jimenez for MPR News

About 2,000 military veterans are expected to arrive this weekend at a Dakota Access oil pipeline protest camp to show solidarity with the protesters, who prefer to be called "water protectors."

Once there, the vets plan to help with logistics as the camp prepares for the long winter, including construction and gathering firewood.

At least 100 military medics are bringing supplies to help the medical camp already in place at the camp near the Standing Rock reservation.

Weather may take a turn for the worse next week, said MPR News reporter Dan Gunderson, and not everyone there was prepared for it.

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Earlier this week, there was talk of a blockade to prevent for supplies and food from getting into the camp.

However, state and local officials say that was a misunderstanding.

On Friday, supplies were flowing into the camp steadily, Gunderson said, who hadn't heard of any instances where provisions were being blocked.

To hear more from Gunderson, who's taken multiple reporting trips to Standing Rock, use the audio player above.