Regina woman teaching values to son through Standing Rock

Jessica Laplante has made the trek to the Standing Rock encampment along the Missouri River near Cannon Ball, North Dakotamultiple times.

On Friday, Laplanteand her 8-year-old son made the trip again andjoined the thousands of people who have ralliedtogether to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).

Laplante says it's a learning opportunity for her son.

"I want to teach him that he does have a responsibility to honour his ancestors and to support the cause as well," she said.

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Laplante said the support the water protesters have seen from around the world and supportwithin the camp itself is something he needs to see.

Her son had seen the camp before and wanted to return, she said.

"It's a community now," she said of the thousands of people camping along the river.

"If you're walking throughout camp, there's always open invitations [to eat, pray or visit]," Laplante said.

"It's just this overwhelming feeling of unity and support for one another and everyone helps anyone."

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Donations, whether it be salmon or bison, are distributed throughout the camp equally, Laplante added. Demonstrations of support, such as donating traditional food, are a daily occurrence in the camp, she said.

"Everyone's so quick to provide resources or food or whatever they have, they definitely share," she said of her experiences at Standing Rock.

People are in it for the long haul, according to Laplante. She has seen structures being builtto withstand the snow and North Dakota winter.

"It's a very powerful feeling," Laplante said.