In southwest Minnesota, a source of a rare stone spiritually significant to Native Americans from over 20 tribal nations, a proposed oil pipeline has sparked concern among local communities and environmental groups. Magellan Pipeline Co. is seeking permission from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to rebuild a petroleum pipeline between Marshall, Minnesota, and Sioux Falls, which would narrowly circumvent the Pipestone National Monument.
Background
Native Americans from 23 tribes have cultural ties to Pipestone, where a rare soft stone called catlinite is harvested. The stone is used to make ceremonial pipes, a vital part of Indigenous spirituality. In 2022, the federal Interior Department declined to renew Magellan’s right-of-way permit, and the pipeline has been closed for over four years.
Magellan applied for a new pipeline in 2023, citing demand in the region, and initially won approval in 2024. However, tribes across the Midwest objected, advocating for either no reconstruction of the pipeline or a route that would take a longer detour around the monument. The PUC rescinded its approval in January 2025 and ordered Magellan to engage with 14 tribal governments and one Native American organization about two potential routes.
Controversy and Concerns
Tribal governments and the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MIAC) argue that Magellan hasn’t complied with orders to conduct thorough archaeological surveys and didn’t consult with the MIAC to select their contractor. Mark Tilsen, a pipeline organizer with the Bemidji-based Indigenous Environmental Network, is calling for the PUC to reject Magellan’s application, citing the pipeline’s potential impact on the sacred site and the environment.
The rock is highly porous, and any oil leak that spreads through it would likely be impossible to restore, according to the Brave Heart Society. The organization, which has treaty rights to the land around Pipestone Monument, was required by the PUC to coordinate with Magellan for its archaeological work.
Climate change, driven by fossil fuels, is another concern. The government shouldn’t be approving new petroleum infrastructure, especially in a sacred place, Tilsen said. The White Earth Nation in northern Minnesota has formally opposed the pipeline, demanding the PUC find Magellan’s archaeological and cultural survey as non-compliant.
Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.
