Today the federal court ruled against the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe but, in a stunning move, three federal agencies have blocked the pipeline at Lake Oahe pending a thorough review and reconsideration of the process.

The Department of Justice, the Department of the Army, and the Department of the Interior today called for a stop to construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline while also calling for national reform to “ensure meaningful tribal input” on infrastructure projects.

The Department of Justice emphasized that “important issues raised by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other tribal nations and their members regarding the Dakota Access pipeline specifically, and pipeline-related decision-making generally, remain.” As a result the Army will not authorize construction of the pipeline “on Corps land bordering or under Lake Oahe until it can determine whether it will need to reconsider any of its previous decisions regarding the Lake Oahe site under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or other federal laws.”

Thank you for supporting the hundreds of tribes and thousands of tribal members who stood up in opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline.

“Our voices have been heard,” said David Archambault II, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, to the press. “The Obama administration has asked tribes to the table to make sure that we have meaningful consultation on infrastructure projects.”

But the fight to protect sacred sites and the water source for 17 million people who rely on the Missouri River isn’t over.

“I want to take a moment and reflect on this historic moment in Indian Country,” said Archambault. “But I know that our work is not done. We need to permanently protect our sacred sites and our water. There are areas on the construction route that do not fall within federal jurisdiction, so we will continue to fight.”

Thank you for being part of this victory and for standing with the Tribe as the fight continues to protect the land.

Sincerely,