Members of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana spoke out against coalbed methane development at a public hearing on Wednesday.

Most of the more than 20 people who spoke were tribal members, The Billings Gazette reported. They said coalbed drilling harms the Tongue River, which they use for fishing and medicinal plants. The river is also home to spiritual beings.

"We need to stand firm and say, 'No, we don't want our Tongue River polluted,'" tribal member Carol Red Cherries was quoted as saying.

The tribe itself is a party to a lawsuit challenging coalbed drilling in the Powder River Basin. The tribe won an injunction blocking new wells pending a ruling before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Get the Story:
Northern Cheyenne fight CBM permits (The Billings Gazette 6/2)
Montana ruling could have little Wyo effect (The Casper Star-Tribune 6/2)

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