The Navajo Nation Council is meeting this week to consider an agreement that seeks to end a decades-old land dispute with the Hopi Tribe.

The tribes fought over the same parcels of land in northeastern Arizona. An act of Congress divided the land between the two tribes and instituted a relocation program but some outstanding issues remain.

The proposed deal would ensure Navajo and Hopi tribal members can continue to use the land for religious purposes without a permit. It would also lift the "Bennett Freeze" that has prohibited construction on certain parcels of land.

Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) is sponsoring a bill that would end the relocation program but Navajo leaders oppose it.

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Navajo Council to consider Navajo-Hopi land agreement this week (AP 9/26)
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Senate Bill:
Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Amendments of 2005 (S.1003)

Relevant Documents:
Hearing Before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on S. 1003, Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Amendments of 2005 (July 20, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Hopi Tribe - http://www.hopi.nsn.us
Navajo Nation - http://www.navajo.org
Black Mesa Indigenous Support, Navajo family support site - http://www.blackmesais.org

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Deal reportedly near on Hopi-Navajo dispute (8/18)
Navajo Nation moves to fight land dispute bill (07/27)
Navajo-Hopi land conflict still stirs hard feelings (07/07)
Hopis, Navajos divided over land dispute measure (06/23)
Listening Lounge: Hearing on Navajo-Hopi land act (6/21)
House Resources hearing on Navajo-Hopi land bill (6/20)
Navajo woman refuses to leave home on Hopi land (02/06)
McCain prods tribes, government on tribal land dispute (07/22)
Senate hearing on Navajo-Hopi land settlement bill (7/21)
Navajos oppose McCain bill on Navajo-Hopi settlement (7/15)