SLEEPY EYE — A Sleepy Eye and Fairfax United Methodist Church pastor — who traveled to the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota to join clergy in prayer and peaceful protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline last month — commented on the recent news that the Army Corps of Engineers denied a project construction permit Sunday.

“I’m very thankful that this has happened,” said Pastor Clint Evans. “But I am also cautious because I am sure that Energy Transfer Partners (ETP), the company behind the pipeline, will be seeking litigation as this affects their bottom line.”

Evans said he is praying a way can be found to re-route the pipeline without too many issues, “so we can move forward.”

“I understand why ETC wants to build the pipeline and can appreciate the economic boon and jobs it creates, but the fact of the matter is there are environmental concerns and it is putting an entire group of people at risk,” Evans said.

He said original project plans were to run the pipeline through Bismarck, N.D., but citizens there were against it due to water concerns, much like the Standing Rock Tribe (SRT).

“With oil spills and accidents that have occurred over the years, I understand why the Standing Rock Tribe is upset,” said Evans. “The fact that our government favored a private corporation over a group of people appalled me.”

Evans said the pipeline goes through private land outside the reservation but it goes under the tribe’s only water supply.

“They (the tribe’s people) used to live on that land before our government moved them to the reservation,” Evans said. “We should not be surprised they still believe the land is sacred, and artifacts continue to be found there.”

Evans said the tribe fed and offered clergy places to sleep if they needed them.

“There was a strong sense of camaraderie there, even though there were people of different faiths and backgrounds,” Evans said. “They said how grateful they were for our presence. An elderly Native American woman told us she had been praying to God for a long time, asking for us to come.”

Evans said police and military constantly patrolled camp activities with helicopters and drones but remained in their vehicles.

He said the protest was much more peaceful than the media depicted it.

“Of course there are people, mostly outside the tribes, who are so frustrated about the situation that they try to take matters in their own hands,” Evans said. “The tribe stressed a peaceful resolution is necessary because they will continue to live there, long after all the protesters leave and the situation comes to an end. I pray that people would truly see what is happening in Cannonball, N.D. And that God will bring about a peaceful resolution that will not endanger the Standing Rock Tribe in any way.”

Veterans Stand for Standing Rock’s GoFundMe.com raised more than $1 million to buy food, transportation and supplies for people at the camp.

Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.