Scared for their sacred land, hundreds of Native American tribes have held together and held fast against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

The Dakota Access Pipeline Project sounds like a splendid opportunity. The proposed plan would allow it to transport an estimated 470,000 barrels of crude oil over 1,100 miles away. It would expand the oil market in Illinois, where the pipeline ends, as well as creating a plethora of new jobs (like it already has during its construction) for those willing to work hard to keep oil pumping. However, a Native American group, known as the Standing Rock Sioux, have a serious problem with the pipeline.

The Standing Rock Sioux are a collection of tribes that live within the Standing Rock reservation. They see the Missouri River as a source of life for their people. Additionally, many sites of historical significance find themselves on the banks of the Missouri.

However, part of the Dakota Access Pipeline runs near the Missouri River and, although the Dakota Access company is confident in their ability to construct a safe pipeline that will bring no harm to the environment, the Standing Rock Sioux have still called for a halt on construction.

Protests have been made against the pipeline, with members of the Standing Rock community and their supporters blocking construction. They are known for peacefully praying or dancing during their occupation.

Even outsiders have been contributing to the cause. Notably, actress and activist Shailene Woodley (best known for her appearance in the 2014 film Divergent) was recently arrested while protesting, being charged with intruding.

Police and military response to the protests as a whole have been perceived as unsettlingly aggressive. Many witnesses have reported pepper spray being dropped onto protesters from helicopters, although said protesters were unarmed and peaceful. Others claim to have had guns pointed at them while protesting.

Situations such as these present issues on both sides. The task of the Dakota Access Pipeline Company is certainly noble, even with outsiders (particularly members of the Standing Rock tribes) criticizing the pipeline for increasing America’s reliance on fossil fuels.

However, the Standing Rock Sioux also have a reasonable and peaceful problem with the pipeline. While some dislike the project as a whole, many would be content with the continuation of the pipeline so long as it does not pose a threat to the Missouri River.

With some kind fortune, the controversy behind the pipeline will attract enough attention for some real change to be made. Progress has been at a standstill for months, during which time a solution could have been discovered and both parties satisfied. Nonetheless, protests will likely continue until something drastic happens, for better or for worse.