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As the #NoDAPL movement gains massive attention on social media, the struggle of Indigenous communities in North Dakota protesting the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline has finally entered the mainstream.

The fracking project -- which would create a pipeline capable of carrying 570,000 barrels of light crude oil per day through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois -- is a proposal the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and others say violates their rights to the land where they live.

For those just learning about the situation, figuring out how to support the ongoing movement can be difficult, especially when you're physically removed from the protests.

If you're passionate about supporting the #NoDAPL movement, here are a few ways you can have an impact. We'll update this list as more options to take action become available.

1. Understand the history.

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There is a deep history of violence against Native communities in the United States, much of which revolves around rights over land. Indigenous communities were here first, but have struggled to maintain their rights to that land through a long history of violence and genocide. Understanding the importance of land rights, respect and preservation in Native communities is the first step to standing in solidarity with the movement at Standing Rock.

The pipeline is not only a threat to the environment and water where the Indigenous communities live. It's representative of a longer struggle against white expansion into Native territory without consent. The initial mainstream silence around the struggle at Standing Rock -- though now breaking, as media attention grows -- has also been reflective of the silence around Indigenous genocide in classrooms around the nation, according to many Native communities.

Indigenous communities are at the center of the conversation around the Dakota Access Pipeline for a reason. They have long been defenders of the environment, deeply invested in curbing climate change and preserving the nation's land. This investment in environmental protection has historical roots that need to be respected -- especially now.

2. Donate to Indigenous-led support efforts.

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Several Native tribes and organizations have set up support funds to help maintain protest efforts. Learn more about the various funds that could use monetary support below.

• The Sacred Stone Camp

Native activists have set up an official supply fund for protesters on the ground at Sacred Stone Camp. The money collected will help purchase water, propane, food, blankets and other supplies for the camp. You can donate to the camp through its GoFundMe campaign, or send specific items directly through its Amazon WishList.

• Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Dakota Access Pipeline Donation Fund

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is at the forefront of protests in opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline, as the construction deeply threatens their community and their land. The tribe says all donations collected by the fund will be used for legal, sanitary and emergency purposes. You can donate via Paypal here.

• The Sacred Stone Legal Defense Fund

Due to mass arrests and brutality from law enforcement, Indigenous activists have set up a legal defense fund for people arrested and charged in connection to the protests. To support the legal defense fund, donate here.

3. Call government leaders to vocalize opposition.

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Indigenous leaders from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe have asked supporters to call the following government officials, to show support for the #NoDAPL movement and ask for a peaceful resolution.

• Call North Dakota governor Jack Dalrymple at 701-328-2200

Indigenous activists say the governor has an obligation to represent the best interests of the citizens and land of North Dakota. They are also critical of the governor's seat on the State's Industrial Commission, saying the relationship is causing direct conflict between the best interests of the People of North Dakota and Big Oil.

• Call the Morton County Sheriff’s Department at 701-667-3330

Indigenous communities are critical of the force used on protesters by police, stating the tactics used by the Morton County Sheriff's Department are military-like and don't serve to protect citizens of North Dakota. Native communities are asking callers to request that the department, which is in charge of police on site, "refrain from mass arrests, macing, clubbing, hooding, strip searching and armed confrontation with UNARMED peaceful water protectors engaged in constitutionally protected civil disobedience."

• Call the White House public comment line at 202-456-1111

Indigenous activists are asking supporters to call the White House to urge President Obama to deny a permit for the Dakota Access Pipeline. Native communities say the pipeline goes against the administration's commitment to tackling climate change. They also say an approval of the pipeline by the president would violate the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which states Native communities must give consent for any projects that may impact their communities.

• Call the Army Corps of Engineers at 202-761-5903

Activists want supporters to call the Army Corps of Engineers and ask them to reverse the permit for the pipeline. Protesters say the Army Corps of Engineers, which serves to protect and preserve the nation's environment, has an obligation to deny the pipeline, as it would have adverse impacts on Native communities.

4. Go to Standing Rock.

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Though not an option for many, making a trip to Standing Rock to show your solidarity and support in person is an act Indigenous communities are welcoming. While the peaceful protests have occasionally turned violent due to law enforcement intervention, activists from around the U.S. are traveling to Standing Rock to protest the pipeline alongside Native communities.

For more information about how you can join the movement on the ground, contact [email protected].

5. Stay vocal on social media.

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Mass attention has turned to Standing Rock largely due to the role of social media, with activists and other users spreading awareness about the protests and violence. Supporters outside Standing Rock can help protesters on the ground by keeping that attention and outrage in social conversations.

Use the hashtags #NoDAPLand #StandWithStandingRockto help spread information and stay up-to-date on the latest news to come out of Standing Rock. Supporters can also amplify the voices of Indigenous communities by retweeting or reposting posts from Native activists that populate with the hashtag.

6. Sign the official White House Petition.

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An official petition to the White House for comment on the Dakota Access Pipeline has been circulating online since Aug. 15. The petition, titled "Stop construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline which endangers the water supply to Native American reservations," already has the 100,000 signatures needed to require a response from the White House within 60 days. But showing organized solidarity via petitions still makes an impact, especially on the government level.

To sign the petition and get notified on an official response, visit here.

7. Listen to Native communities.

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Though turning mass attention to the struggle at Standing Rock is necessary, it also comes with the risk of taking away the protest narrative from Native communities. Indigenous leaders have been at the forefront of the struggle for months, and they deserve to continue to steer the protests in the ways they believe are most productive for land preservation and peaceful resistance.

Supporters have an obligation to let Native people -- those most impacted by the projected pipeline -- maintain their rights to dictate their own protesting methods, needs and resolutions. In the coming days and weeks, make sure you and those around you invested in the #NoDAPL movement are listening to Native communities as they assert their needs. Active listening can lead to meaningful action.

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