Residents of Kahnawake demonstrated on Tuesday to protest the Dakota Pipeline.
Protesters said they were showing support for their aboriginal brethren with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota, where people have been protesting the development of a pipeline since April.
Throughout Tuesday morning demonstrators gathered on the side of the road in Kahnawake, holding signs to show drivers they were opposed to the Dakota Access pipeline.
Around 10:30 a.m. about 100 people, including students at the Kahnawake Survival School, blocked the road at an intersection for two minutes.
They held signs saying "Water is Life," "No Oil," and showed the flag of the Mohawk Warrior Society.
Protesters said they had concerns about the environmental impact of a spill.
"What happens if the pipeline breaks? With the water, that's their drinking water. That's their life. What happens?" asked Glenda Deer.
One student from Kahnawake Survival School echoed those sentiments.
"It's a nice experience to be doing this because water is life. You can't be doing anything without that," said Santana Cross.
“My mother, my grandfather my grandparents, everybody's been struggling to keep our land clean and give us a place to hunt and fish peacefully,” said Kashennonte of the Kahnawake community.
Ken Deer said the protest movement in Standing Rock has been drawing support from across North America.
"The Sioux of Standing Rock are looking for international support for the struggle over there and we're more than happy to show our support and also at the same time educate people about how sacred water is," said Deer.
In a joint statement, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Department of the Interior called for more discussions with the Sioux Nation before allowing the $3.7-billion project to proceed.
“You have to think about the people that aren't here yet,” said teacher Dave McComber. “Because if we just do everything greedily for ourselves, then what are we leaving for our grandchildren?”
