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BISMARCK, N.D. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in the wake of complaints, changed the format of oral testimony for public comments on a draft environmental review of the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline.

The Corps held two meetings in Bismarck, on Wednesday and Thursday, for public comments on the document that will help determine whether the federal government grants the easement for the pipeline’s crossing under the Missouri River near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s reservation. The tribe has long opposed the pipeline due to the risk of an oil spill.

Pipeline opponents had criticized the Wednesday meeting because oral testimony was only accepted in private to stenographers in a curtained area in a hotel ballroom. Many people spoke to the room outside of the curtained area, but what they said was not included as official testimony. For example, one man made a demonstration of challenging Corps officials to drink from a cup in which he had poured oil and water.

On Thursday, attendees were given the option to include what they said to the public as their official comment, The Bismarck Tribune reported.

The slight change in the meeting format was due to a smaller public turnout; only 20 people had signed up to make oral comments at Thursday’s meeting, Corps spokesman Steve Wolf told The Associated Press.

“Both meetings essentially operated in the same fashion. People who wanted to make oral comments in private or openly in front of the entire assembled attendees were able to do so. Those who wanted their oral or written comments to be officially entered into the administrative record were able to do so both nights,” Wolf told AP.

The pipeline has been transporting oil from western North Dakota since 2017, after months of protests with hundreds of arrests.

The public comment period closes Dec. 13. — Associated Press

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Native American Open draws top golfers

SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M. — Before the second round of The Native American Open golf tournament, Emmett “Shkeme” Garcia of the Santa Ana Pueblo led the crowd in a Keres blessing.

“On behalf of this current tribal chief and the humble people of the homeland of Tamaya,” he said, first in Keres and then in an English translation, “we pray you watch your words, be mindful of the homeland, remember you came carrying your ancestors and family and friends. Be safe, be strong and be blessed on this special day in this special place. Have a great day and go hard.”

Then Chairman Jay Garcia offered an acknowledgement of the Twin Warriors — Masewi and U’yuyehwee — who long ago showed the Tamaya the path to the upper world along the banks of the Rio Grande River.

With that, a slate of Indigenous golfers headed to their carts after final hugs and good luck wishes from family and friends. Game on.

In its third year, The Native American Open at Santa Ana Pueblo on Oct. 21-22 featured 160 golfers from 71 bands, nations or tribes, with 17 states and Canada represented. Sponsors included AMERIND insurance, WM, Taylor Made, and many other top-flight organizations.

And for the third year in a row, the club had to turn golfers away. That’s not surprising for the well-run competition, with prize money and bragging rights — and the publicity that might bring sponsorships — all in play. READ MORE — Mark Wagner, Special to ICT 

A man accused of obtaining money in exchange for bringing people to an Arizona Medicaid-funded health facility has been indicted in Phoenix, the state’s top prosecutor said Thursday.

A state grand jury indicted 41-year-old Corey Beckhum on charges of conspiracy and unlawful consideration for the referral of patients, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a statement.

Beckhum allegedly kept prospective patients in four unlicensed sober living homes across metro Phoenix, according to the indictment. It said he solicited a behavioral health facility for “per-person, per-day payment” between Sept. 29 and Oct. 16.

Investigators with Mayes’ office raided the homes and reported finding 16 people in all living in unsanitary conditions. Beckhum was arrested earlier this month.

Authorities say those people have since been able to move into licensed facilities.

Richard Jones, a Maricopa County public defender, has been assigned to represent Beckhum. He did not immediately respond to a message Thursday seeking comment. — Associated Press

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Matika Wilbur, Swinomish and Tulalip, is an undeniable force. Listening to her is like trying to track a whirling dervish who’s had too much coffee. Her joyous laughter carries like the wind and needs no mic.

Exuberant, truth-telling, spiritual, hilarious, Wilbur – a former teacher and the keynote speaker at the annual National Indian Education Association conference recently – slayed her audience of 500 educators with a synopsis of her book, “Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America.”

Home is Tulalip, Wash., but Wilbur traveled 600,000 miles to federally recognized tribal nations across the United States, a storytelling-collecting journey started in 2012 with a Kickstarter campaign, to showcase the diversity and richness of varied Indigenous cultures.

Wilbur may be on the New York Times bestseller list with her stunning oversized coffee table book replete with extensive photos capturing 562 tribal people across the United States and long-listed for the prestigious Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in nonfiction.

But those accolades do not faze her, as she has more important work to do: share her visual learning guide and well-traveled wisdom with educators-turned-fans in Kiva Auditorium of the Albuquerque Convention Center recently. READ MORE — Renata Birkenbuel, ICT

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We want your tips, but we also want your feedback. What should we be covering that we’re not? What are we getting wrong? Please let us know. dalton@ictnews.org.