North Dakota authorities, from the governor, to the director of emergency services, to the Morton County sheriff, have stated they are concerned about the health and safety of water protectors, given the beginning of harsh winter conditions at the resistance encampments, where water protectors numbering in the thousands are lodged in tipis and tents. (Sheriff Kirchmeier was quoted on NPR morning news headlines making such a statement.)
However, these ND authorities were absolutely silent as several hundred peaceful, prayerful water protectors were doused with fire hoses in sub-freezing temperatures, putting them at severe risk of even life-threatening hypothermia (they had no capability of warming themselves after the hours-long dousing). In fact, Sheriff Kirchmeier directed those life-threatening operations. (The fire hose attack took place the same night as a police-thrown grenade critically injured a water protector (she may lose her arm), and a police-fired tear gas canister struck another water protector in the head (she may lose the vision in one eye). All told, more than two-dozen water protectors were sent to hospitals after being attacked by police.)