For weeks, Ogichidaa and white allies camped on the railroad tracks conducting ceremonies and protests. Initially, the focus was put on the condition of the Wisconsin Central Ltd. tracks themselves. The activists insisted they were unsafe, though the state had authorized their use provided the speed of the trains did not exceed ten miles per hour. Wisconsin Central insisted that the Ashland County sheriff arrest the protestors, but with the events taking place on the reservation and involving Native religious practices, the sheriff's office declared it a treaty issue and federal matter and therefore took no action. The protesters, in the meantime, also demanded to see the reports stating the railroad was safe to be used for hazardous materials. The United States government made a failed attempt at mediating between the two groups involved; as a result of these attempted mediations, the US government launched a full investigation of the railroad. Following the beginning of this investigation, protestors allowed two trains that did not contain sulfuric acid through to their destination. On August 19, the protest formally ended, the Ojibwe allowing all trains not containing sulfuric acid through to their destination.