The tribe is suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over permits issued for the pipeline, and hundreds of self-described “water protectors” from Standing Rock and tribes across the nation are camped out on corps and private land north of Cannon Ball in protest.

A hearing also is scheduled Thursday in federal court in Bismarck on Dakota Access LLC’s request for an injunction against Archambault and other protesters, after the judge granted a temporary restraining order on Aug. 16 to keep them from interfering with construction. Thirty-seven people have been arrested on misdemeanor charges during several nonviolent protests since mid-August.

This week’s summit segues into the 47th annual United Tribes Technical College Powwow Friday to Sunday, which typically draws upward of 1,000 Native American dancers and singers and 10,000 or more people when counting spectators, McDonald said.

“We’re hopeful that they come up and maybe take a little break and enjoy a good powwow,” he said, adding the theme of both events, “Empowerment Through Unity,” is “a good fit for what’s happening down at the camp there with all the tribes coming together on one issue.”