For months, there have been hundreds, even thousands of Americans at Standing Rock in North Dakota protesting the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, a pipeline that would damage the environment and endanger the drinking water of thousands of Native Americans and other Americans as well.

It started out with the Sioux Nation tribe protesting the pipeline, which would most directly affect them and their wellbeing. Then, slowly, more and more Native American tribes starting coming to North Dakota to help protest and protect their brothers and sisters in there struggle. Then, many environmentalists heard about the pipeline, and joined the fight. The word spread further and thousands of regular people joined the protest, seeking to protect the environment and the basic human rights of Native Americans. And then, last week, thousands of U.S. veterans gathered together with no weapons and headed to North Dakota to stand with the Native Americans, joining in the fight against the pipeline and performing a ceremony to apologize and ask for forgiveness for our endless subjugation and exploitation of natives. Many soldiers said that they joined the army to protect the sacred rights of people across the globe, and noticed that the rights of these Americans have been completely disregarded and violated.

At the start of the protests, and even up until this Sunday, people thought these protestors had no chance; how could they defeat a massive corporation with all the power in the world? Last month, the CEO of Dakota Access said without a doubt that they would build the oil pipeline the way they wanted.

But despite all of this, despite the fact that for months, there was very minimal media coverage of the issue, despite the fact that for months, the militant police have been brutalizing and jailing these protestors, despite the fact that for months, President Barack Obama has been completely apathetic to the problem, falling asleep at night while allowing Americans to be maimed by his police force, the people won.

This Sunday, December 4, the Army Core of Engineers and President Obama announced that it would seek other routes for the pipeline and would not allow a crucial section to be drilled under the Missouri River just upstream from the tribe’s reservation, where there were worries it could pollute their drinking water and cross near sacred burial sites.

This historic victory is a powerful and symbolic example of the power of the people, a power that overcame the government, a gigantic corporation and all expectations. While the fight against this pipeline is not over, especially because president-elect Donald Trump supports the construction of the pipeline, this is a massive step forward for environmentalists, Native Americans and activists in general. If we can continue this passionate activism over the next four years, we will discover our true power as the people. Who knows what we can accomplish?