Six months ago a shooter opened fire in the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, killing 49 people and wounding 53 more. The tragedy spurred some to action while others struggle to understand why it happened.

As winter settles in, the leader of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe has asked many of the pipeline protesters to head home. Here are the stories and portraits of some of those who joined the protests.

Crowds swelled over the holiday at a Native American protest over an oil pipeline in North Dakota, but encounters with police remained peaceful.