<P> The mining companies wanted more land but the joint ownership of the land made negotiations difficult . At the same time, Hopi and Navajo tribes were squabbling over land rights while Navajo livestock continuously grazed on Hopi land . Boyden took advantage of this situation, presenting it to the House Subcommittee on Indian Affairs claiming that if the government did not step in and do something, a bloody war would ensue between the tribes . Congressmen agreed to pass the Navajo - Hopi Land Settlement Act of 1974 which forced any Hopi and Navajo people living on the other's land to relocate . This affected 6,000 Navajo people and ultimately benefitted coal companies the most who could now more easily access the disputed land . Instead of using military violence to deal with those who refused to move, the government passed what became known as the Bennett Freeze to encourage the people to leave . Under the Bennett Freeze, 1.5 million acres of Navajo land were banned from any type of development, including paving roadways and even fixing roofs . This was meant to only be a temporary incentive to push tribe negotiations but wound up lasting over 40 years until 2009 when President Obama lifted the moratorium . Still, The legacy of the Bennett Freeze still looms over the region as seen by the nearly 3rd world conditions on the reservation - 75% of people do not have access to electricity and housing situations are poor . </P> <P> The construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, a 1,172 - mile pipeline that delivers crude oil from North Dakota to Iowa, has been in contest with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, who claim that construction and usage of the pipeline threatens native lands, sacred burial grounds, water supplies provided by Lake Oahe, and environmental health . The pipeline was originally proposed to be built through the northern area of Bismarck, but was rerouted to an area near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation with push back from members of the Bismarck community afraid of the damages the pipeline may bring to their water supply . Bismarck has a 92.4% white - alone demographic, and opponents of the pipeline have been cited in saying that the rerouting of the oil pipeline to the area that may impact indigenous land is racist . </P> <P> Beginning in April 2016, native and non-native protesters gather on land near Dakota Access Pipeline construction sites to protest the pipeline . Conflict between the tribe members and the government have been occurring since the signing of the Fort Laramie Treaty in 1868, which created the Great Sioux nation and followed with later contention regarding ownership of The Black Hills . In December 2016, the pipeline was temporarily halted and denied easement under President Obama, but President Trump signed an executive order on January 24, 2017; which allowed for continuation of construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline . Currently, after the forced evacuation of Oceti Sakowin, the Standing Rock Sioux are continuing to contest the construction and continued usage of the pipeline within the United States court system . </P> <P> Many Native Americans who live on reservations deal with the federal government through two agencies: the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service . </P>

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