The Sacred Stone Camp near Cannonball has been housing demonstrators who oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline since late May.

The tent city has quickly grown with representatives of approximately sixty tribes at the site along with individuals from all over the world.

The size of this gathering has come as a surprise to many, but for some Native Americans, this assembly has been anticipated for Seven Generations.

Dakota Goodhouse is one of those who sees coincidences between the past and present.

He teaches a course on Native American Studies at United Tribes Technical College. He's very familiar with the Seventh Generation prophecy, attributed to Black Elk and other tribal leaders in the late 1800s.

Black Elk's dream is that this illusion of many hoops will go away and we'll all see one hoop again," said Goodhouse.

Goodhouse says, the vision Black Elk foretold depicted a great coming together of Native Americans.

He says the dream also included a reuniting of all races of people.

The Lakota Holy Man saw races represented by hoops and in Seven Generations he saw all hoops becoming one.

"I have to wonder if we're living in that time now? I do see a resurgence in language and culture in history; it's nice to see the illusion of many hoops being broken," said Goodhouse.

The students in his class believe the Sacred Stone Camp is the fulfillment of the Seventh Generation prophecy.

"I think it's really awesome to see all our different tribes coming together and putting their difference aside. This time, right here, right now is where we all need to come together," said Katrina Her Many Horses, of Pine Ridge, S.D.

Melvin Miner of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe agrees.

"I think what's going on with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Dakota Access Pipeline conflict, you could say there has been an awakening and awareness that the prophecy is coming to light," said Miner.

The belief that the Sacred Stone Camp is part of a 125-year-old prophecy elevates the cause for which the water protectors have come together.