Neither Stone nor Couture knew what the white powder in their dreams was until the EPA's announcement of the sulfide shipment. The Anishinabe Ogichidaa activists made a point of carrying out the blockade in a way that was consistent with their beliefs. They had prepared throughout the prior year with sweats and prayer. Before blockading the tracks, they and other Ogichidaa members consulted with spiritual leaders and tribal elders. On arriving at the tracks to begin the blockade, they prayed, and then laid out sacred ground in a way specified by spiritual leaders, to add strength to their actions, including a sacred fire near the tracks, singing and drum sessions on the tracks, tobacco placed in the four directions and eagle feather lances in the four directions on and near the tracks. Before the blockade Stone and Couture vowed to Gichi Manidoo (Great Spirit) that they would be willing to sacrifice their lives if need be to stop the train from going through.