Tribal leaders, landowners and environmental activists praised a long-awaited announcement from Canada-based TC Energy to halt development of the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline.

“On behalf of our Ponca Nation, we welcome this long overdue news and thank all who worked so tirelessly to educate and fight to prevent this from coming to fruition,” said Larry Wright Jr., chairman of the Ponca Tribe, whose homelands in Nebraska would have been impacted by the pipeline.

“It’s a great day for Mother Earth,” Wright said on Wednesday.

BREAKING: Nebraska Landowners, Tribal Nations, Rejoice as @TCEnergy Says #KeystoneXL Pipeline is Terminated: https://t.co/uIUeVKJHhm#NoKXL #NoKXLPledge #WaterIsLife #HonorTheTreaties #ActOnClimate #neleg @janekleeb pic.twitter.com/zxLGBngeYm

— Bold Nebraska (@BoldNebraska) June 9, 2021

The announcement was hailed in neighboring South Dakota as well. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe sued the federal government after the Donald Trump administration approved the pipeline over Indian Country’s objections.

“This is great news for the tribes who have been fighting to protect our people and our lands,” President Rodney Bordeaux said. “The treaties and laws guarantee us protections, and we are committed to see that those laws are upheld.”

And in Montana, President Andy Werk of the Fort Belknap Indian Community was “thrilled” with the development. His tribe also has been part of the litigation with Rosebud Sioux.

“The TransCanada announcement is a relief to those of us who stood in the pipeline’s path,” said Werk. “We were not willing to sacrifice our water or safety for the financial benefit of a trans-national corporation. We are thrilled that the project has been canceled.”

BREAKING: On Wednesday, TransCanada (TC Energy) announced that it will terminate its Keystone XL Pipeline, removing the imminent threat to the tribes, people, and sacred place that stood in the pipeline's proposed path. #KXL #HonorTheTreaties
READ MORE: https://t.co/g8BfAwtiiM pic.twitter.com/voBmfGlRaz

— Native American Rights Fund (@NDNrights) June 9, 2021

Tribes have been joined on the frontlines by Native activists who have been fighting Keystone XL through three presidential administrations. The Indigenous Environmental Network could hardly contain its glee after learning about the cancellation of the project, which would have carried up to 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day from the tar sands of Canada to oil refineries in the Gulf Coast of the United States.

“After more than 10 years of organizing we have finally defeated an oil giant, Keystone XL is dead!” the organization said in a statement. “We are dancing in our hearts because of this victory!”

“From Dene territories in Northern Alberta to Indigenous lands along the Gulf of Mexico, we stood hand-in-hand to protect the next seven generations of life, the water and our communities from this dirty tar sands pipeline,” the statement continued. “And that struggle is vindicated.”

The fight against #KXL is not completely over. There are water protectors who still face charges for standing against the dirty tar sands pipeline.

Donate what you can to Oscar High Elk's legal fund. https://t.co/AQ9PTozwLK pic.twitter.com/NlNBCTaz7M

— Indigenous Environmental Network (@IENearth) June 9, 2021

TC Energy said on Wednesday that it had made the decision after conferring with the provincial government of Alberta in Canada. The company lamented U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to cancel its permit on his first day in office on January 20.

The company said it will coordinate with regulators, stakeholders and Indigenous groups to meet its environmental and regulatory commitments and ensure a safe termination and exit from the project.

“We remain grateful to the many organizations that supported the Project and would have shared in its benefits, including our partners, the Government of Alberta and Natural Law Energy, our customers, pipeline building trade unions, local communities, Indigenous groups, elected officials, landowners, the Government of Canada, contractors and suppliers, industry associations and our employees,” said TC Energy President and CEO François Poirier.

Jane Kleeb, founder of Bold Nebraska, which fought the pipeline in Nebraska, urged the Nebraska Public Service Commission to prepare an order revoking the state permit it granted to TC Energy. Until that happens, she said, farmers and ranchers will continue to face the company’s attorneys in court in order to protect their property from eminent domain proceedings.

Kleeb also praised the efforts of pipeline fighters.

“Pipeline fighters never gave up, even after President Biden stood with us and we knew locally the fight was not over until TransCanada waved the white flag,” Kleeb said.

One of those pipeline fighters is Art Tanderup, a farmer near Neligh, Nebraska, whose land would have been impacted by the pipeline’s development. He also expressed relief at the company’s announcement.

“This action provides proof that the stewards of the earth and the water; the farmers, ranchers, and tribes know how to respect what the Creator has given us,” he said. In 2018, Tanderup and his wife Helen returned land to the Ponca tribes of Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Over in the nation’s capital, Democrats welcomed the demise of Keystone XL. Rep Raúl Grijalva (D-Arizona) credited the “victory” to tribes and environmental groups that opposed the pipeline.

“The rushed approval of the Keystone Pipeline by the previous administration was a terrible idea,” said Grijalva, who serves as chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, the legislative panel with jurisdiction over Indian issues.

“I’m grateful for the tireless efforts of Native American communities, environmental justice groups and advocates that fought this dangerous pipeline for years,” Grijalva added. “This is their victory.”

“This is a win for the American people and I will continue advancing forward looking energy policies that will benefit our nation and spare communities and our environment from harm,” he said.