This week brings the annual United Tribes Pow-Wow – and the annual Tribal Leaders Summit – to Bismarck.
But with the ongoing protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline, the organizers actually considered moving, delaying or cancelling this year’s events.
"We had an emergency meeting last week, and that was the discussion," said Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa chairman Richard McCloud, who also chairs the United Tribes board. "Some communities requested we cancel."
Some Native American leaders called for a boycott of Bismarck-Mandan, because of incidents at the site of the Dakota Access Pipeline protest.
"We believe the energy and effort are misplaced in trying to punish the city of Bismarck and to boycott the Pow-Wow," McCloud told the opening session of the Summit. "The Pow-Wow is not sponsored by this city. This is a United Tribes event, a tribal event for Native people."
McCloud said United Tribes would be the one hurt.
Also in his speech, McCloud expressed the tribal leaders' support for the protest.
"The board stands in support of our tribal relatives and friends," McCloud said. "They are peaceful protectors."
The Pow-Wow begins Thursday.
