The Indians in Dakota weren't concerned when the pipeline was planned to cross Indian land and they stood to profit from it. After the Indians jacked the price up to unreasonable levels, the route of the line was changed and does not cross indian property. This is the real reason behind the occupation.  Contrast this occupation with ranchers in rural Oregon surrounded, arrested and charged with felonies and one shot in cold blood on a public highway.  We have racist based protests in this country and the degree of federal response is metered according to who the protestors are and how politically correct they are. Ranchers who have held land for decades are at the bottom of the heap.