An agreement to end a decades-old land dispute between the Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation moved forward on Tuesday.

The Navajo Nation Council voted 75-3 in favor of the intergovernmental compact. The tribes have been working on the deal for four years

The agreement lifts the "Bennett Freeze" that has prevented construction on land that was part of the dispute. It also preserves the religious rights of Navajos and Hopis.

Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. said he will sign the compact. It also needs approval from the Hopi Tribe, the Interior Department and a federal court.

Get the Story:
Navajos take step toward ending decades-old Hopi land dispute (AP 9/27)

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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