The Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma says the southern route of the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline will cross burial grounds and sacred sites.

The tribe knows of burial sites along the 485-mile route from Oklahoma through Texas. Unmarked graves also could be affected.

"We've been here 171 years," Sandra Massey, the tribe's historic preservation officer, told the Associated Press. "We've been living and dying here. We are all over.

Chief George Thurman met briefly with President Barack Obama last week but didn't have time to discuss the issue. During his visit to Oklahoma, Obama announced he was expediting federal review of the Oklahoma-Texas portion of the pipeline.

Thurman is in Washington, D.C., this week to discuss the pipeline with federal officials. He is worried that the expedited review will leave tribes out of the picture.

The Interior Department gave a statement to the AP, saying the review will take the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act into consideration. Tribes will be consulted about ancestral remains, according to the statement.

Get the Story:
Indian tribe worries pipeline will disturb graves (AP 3/26)
Claims Keystone XL pipeline will destroy Oklahoma historical sites is disputed (The Oklahoman 3/26)

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