The Southern Ute Indian Tribe is formally supporting the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as it protests construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Tribal Council approved a formal letter supporting the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s efforts to protect their natural resources, lands, water, sacred sites and health of their people and their neighbors.

“We were disappointed to learn that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allowed this pipeline to threaten you and your relatives without conducting any meaningful consultation and without appropriate environmental review,” Chairman Clement J. Frost said in a letter to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. “This is particularly troubling in light of the serious concerns raised by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe supports your right to seek appropriate and meaningful consultation on all matters affecting your resources.”

The estimated $3.8 billion, 1,172-mile pipeline would take oil from the Bakken region of North Dakota across four states to southern Illinois crossing numerous waterways including the Missouri River.

According to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the current route of construction takes the pipeline less than one half mile from the their tribe’s reservation border. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe opposes the pipeline saying the pipeline would disturb cultural sites and impact drinking water from the Missouri River.

According to the Associated Press, a federal judge will rule on a request by the tribe to stop construction near their reservation, which straddles the North Dakota-South Dakota border by Friday, Sept. 9.

The Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Public Relations Department will be accepting donations from the community to send to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Donation boxes can be found at the Leonard C. Burch Building, Mouache Capote Building, SunUte Community Center, Farmers Fresh and Thriftway. Public Relations recommends donating the following supplies: blankets, sleeping bags, non-perishable food items, camping gear and first aid equipment. If you have any questions about donations please contact PR Coordinator, Trennie Collins at 970-563-0118.