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"Communications are greatly improved and we"re consistently receiving a message that the Corps is going to cooperate," said tribal attorney Mary Wynne today.

Late this afternoon tribal representatives will be meeting with Corps of Engineers officials over the mapping and collection of remains at the sacred burial site at White Swan.

Talks between the two parties have continued since negotiations broke down on Monday, resulting in today's meeting. Todd Kapler, an archeologist hired by the Yankton Sioux Tribe who was earlier denied access to the site, has been invited to participate and possibly oversee the joint mapping effort of the site.

Representative Pat Kennedy wrote to the Chief Engineer of the Corps, General Joe Ballard, "As a founding member and vice-chairman of the Native American Caucus, I ask you to immediately contact the Corps of Engineer leadership and ask for immediate intervention in this situation. The reports I have heard and the stories I have read describe a deplorable and disrespectful situation." Representative Kennedy also called General Ballard today and spoke with him about the matter.

Corps Chief of Public Affairs Kevin Quinn, of the Omaha office, said today, "Our number one goal is the respectful handling of the remains. We have good weather so far, no snowpack, and low precipitation, so there is no impact on the other dams over the short term."