ND gov: We won't block supplies to protesters

North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple said Wednesday state officials will not set up road blocks or stop vehicles delivering supplies to the Oceti Sakowin protest camp, despite an emergency evacuation order telling people to leave.

Dalrymple said blocking supplies of food and clothing would be a "huge mistake from a humanitarian" perspective, and he said his executive order issued Monday was meant to warn people about risks to their safety.

"This is the same method we used dealing with the flood threat," Dalrymple said during a news conference. "We believe you are in a dangerous location, there's a threat to your health and safety and we are advising you to leave that area."

Dalrymple said the protesters are on federal land controlled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and he reiterated that it's up to Corps to handle.

"We have not at any time, ever contemplated going to the main camp and removing people from that area," he said, adding that the Corps has not asked the state to do so.

Meanwhile, Darlrymple said he has reached out to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council to reach a resolution. But what a resolution looks like isn't clear.

"I wish I could say to you that I have a great idea or an answer in the back of my mind. I can't honestly say that," he said.