Stephen Yang, Getty ImagesCampers set structures on fire in preparation of the Army Corp's 2pm deadline to leave the Oceti Sakowin protest camp onFeb.22, 2017 in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Activists and protesters have occupied the Standing Rock Sioux reservation for months in opposition to the completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Stephen Yang, Getty ImagesO'Shea Spencer, 20, stands in front of the remains of a hogan structure. Campers set structures on fire in preparation of the Army Corp's 2pm deadline to leave the Oceti Sakowin protest camp onFeb.22, 2017 in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Activists and protesters have occupied the Standing Rock Sioux reservation for months in opposition to the completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Stephen Yang, Getty ImagesCampers set structures on fire in preparation of the Army Corp's 2pm deadline to leave the Oceti Sakowin protest camp onFeb.22, 2017 in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Activists and protesters have occupied the Standing Rock Sioux reservation for months in opposition to the completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
James MacPherson, AP PhotoDakota Access pipeline opponents burn structures in their main protest camp in southern North Dakota near Cannon Ball, N.D., on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, as authorities prepare to shut down the camp in advance of spring flooding season.
Stephen Yang, Getty ImagesCampers set structures on fire in preparation of the Army Corp's 2pm deadline to leave the Oceti Sakowin protest camp onFeb.22, 2017 in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Activists and protesters have occupied the Standing Rock Sioux reservation for months in opposition to the completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Stephen Yang, Getty ImagesCampers set structures on fire in preparation of the Army Corp's 2pm deadline to leave the Oceti Sakowin protest camp onFeb.22, 2017 in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Activists and protesters have occupied the Standing Rock Sioux reservation for months in opposition to the completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Stephen Yang, Getty ImagesCampers set structures on fire in preparation of the Army Corp's 2pm deadline to leave the Oceti Sakowin protest camp onFeb.22, 2017 in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Activists and protesters have occupied the Standing Rock Sioux reservation for months in opposition to the completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
James MacPherson, AP PhotoA couple embraces as opponents of the Dakota Access pipeline leave their main protest camp Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, near Cannon Ball, N.D., as authorities were preparing to shut down the camp in advance of spring flooding season. The Army Corps of Engineers ordered the camp closed at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
James MacPherson, AP PhotoA fire burns in the background as opponents of the Dakota Access pipeline leave their main protest camp Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, near Cannon Ball, N.D., as authorities were preparing to shut down the camp in advance of spring flooding season. The Army Corps of Engineers ordered the camp closed at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
James MacPherson, AP PhotoA man who did not want to be identified loads a teepee canvas to his vehicle as he leaves the Dakota Access pipeline opponents' main protest camp Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, near Cannon Ball, N.D. as authorities were preparing to shut down the camp in advance of spring flooding season. The Army Corps of Engineers has ordered the camp closed at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Blake Nicholson, AP PhotoPeople push belongings up a hill at the Dakota Access pipeline opponents' main protest camp in southern North Dakota near Cannon Ball, N.D., on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, as authorities prepared to shut down the camp in advance of spring flooding season.
Blake Nicholson, AP PhotoDakota Access pipeline opponents burn structures in their main protest camp in southern North Dakota near Cannon Ball on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, as authorities prepare to shut down the camp in advance of spring flooding season.
James MacPherson, AP PhotoDakota Access pipeline opponents burn structures in their main protest camp in southern North Dakota near Cannon Ball, N.D., on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, as authorities prepare to shut down the camp in advance of spring flooding season.
Blake Nicholson, AP PhotoRefuse remains in the Dakota Access pipeline opponents' main protest camp as a fire burns in the background in southern North Dakota near Cannon Ball, N.D., on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, as authorities prepare to shut down the camp in advance of spring flooding season.
James MacPherson, AP PhotoA structure is seen at the Dakota Access pipeline main protest camp in southern North Dakota near Cannon Ball, N.D., on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, as authorities prepare to shut down the camp in advance of spring flooding season.
Stephen Yang, Getty ImagesCampers prepare for the Army Corp's 2pm deadline to leave the Oceti Sakowin protest camp onFeb.22, 2017 in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Activists and protesters have occupied the Standing Rock Sioux reservation for months in opposition to the completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Stephen Yang, Getty ImagesCampers prepare for the Army Corp's 2pm deadline to leave the Oceti Sakowin protest camp onFeb.22, 2017 in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Activists and protesters have occupied the Standing Rock Sioux reservation for months in opposition to the completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Stephen Yang, Getty ImagesNorth Dakota Governor Doug Burgum holds a press conference announcing plans for the clean up of the Oceti Sakowin protest camp onFeb.22, 2017 in Mandan, North Dakota. Protesters and campers against the DAPL pipeline, at times numbering in the thousands, are now down to under a hundred.
Stephen Yang, Getty Images
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Campers set structures on fire in preparation of the Army Corp's 2pm deadline to leave the Oceti Sakowin protest camp onFeb.22, 2017 in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Activists and protesters have occupied the Standing Rock Sioux reservation for months in opposition to the completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
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By The Denver Post | newsroom@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
Most of the Dakota Access pipeline opponents abandoned their protest camp Wednesday ahead of a government deadline to get off the federal land, and authorities moved to arrest some who defied the order in a final show of dissent.
The camp has been home to demonstrators for nearly a year as they tried to thwart construction of the pipeline. Many of the protesters left peacefully, but police made some arrests two hours after the deadline.
Earlier in the day, some of the last remnants of the camp went up in flames when occupants set fire to makeshift wooden housing as part of a leaving ceremony. Authorities later said about 20 fires were set and two people — a 7-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl — were taken to a Bismarck hospital to be treated for burns.
The Associated Press