About Native Reservations in North Dakota 2025
North Dakota serves as home to five federally recognized tribal nations and one Indian community, representing some of the most culturally rich and historically significant indigenous territories in the northern Great Plains region of 2025. These sovereign nations include the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation (Three Affiliated Tribes) at Fort Berthold Reservation, the Spirit Lake Nation, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (shared with South Dakota), the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Nation (shared with South Dakota), and the Trenton Indian Service Area. Collectively, approximately 31,329 American Indians live in North Dakota as of the most recent data, comprising 4.9% of the state’s total population and representing the largest minority group in the state.
The demographic profile of North Dakota’s Native American population in 2025 reveals a significantly younger age structure compared to the general population, with nearly 60% of Native Americans residing on or near reservations and over 40% under the age of 20. The median age for American Indians in North Dakota is 26.8 years, approximately eight years younger than the statewide median of 35.2 years, reflecting higher birth rates and tragically lower life expectancy. These reservations face extraordinary challenges including poverty rates reaching 31.3% to 36.5% for Native Americans compared to the state average of 10-11%, unemployment levels significantly exceeding state rates, and an average age at death for American Indians of just 56.5 years compared to 75.3 years for the white population—a staggering 18.8-year life expectancy gap that represents one of the most severe health disparities in the United States.
Interesting Facts About North Dakota Indian Reservations in 2025
| Key Facts | 2025 Statistics |
|---|---|
| Number of Federally Recognized Tribes | 5 tribes + 1 Indian community |
| Total Native American Population (AI alone) | 31,329 residents (4.9% of state) |
| Projected 2025 Population (AI alone) | 59,000 residents |
| Native Population (AI alone or in combination) | 43,167 residents |
| Percentage Living on Reservations | Nearly 60% |
| Percentage Under Age 20 | Over 40% |
| Median Age (Native Americans) | 26.8 years |
| Largest Tribe by Enrollment | Turtle Mountain – 33,276 enrolled members |
| Largest Tribe by Enrollment (MHA) | 17,648 enrolled members (April 2025) |
| Second Largest Enrollment | Standing Rock – 16,000 enrolled members |
| Life Expectancy Gap | 18.8 years lower than white population |
| Native American Poverty Rate | 31.3% to 36.5% |
| Number of Tribal Casinos | 5 major casinos + 8 smaller operations |
Data Source: North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission 2024-2025, U.S. Census Bureau 2020-2024, MHA Nation 2025, Turtle Mountain Enrollment Office 2024
The North Dakota Indian reservations in 2025 present compelling statistics that underscore both the cultural vitality and socioeconomic challenges facing indigenous communities. The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians maintains the largest tribal enrollment with 33,276 members as of July 2024, with approximately 12,879 members residing on the Turtle Mountain Reservation near the Canadian border. The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation (MHA), also known as the Three Affiliated Tribes, reports 17,648 enrolled members as of April 2025, making it the second-largest tribe by enrollment operating on the Fort Berthold Reservation. Standing Rock Nation encompasses members in both North Dakota and South Dakota with approximately 16,000 enrolled members, while the Spirit Lake Nation has 7,820 enrolled members, and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate reports 12,000 enrolled members.
Census projections estimated that North Dakota’s American Indian population (race alone) would reach approximately 47,000 by 2015 and 59,000 by 2025, representing substantial population growth within indigenous communities. The 2010 Census data reveals distinct population characteristics across reservations: Turtle Mountain had 12,879 total population with 96.1% identifying as American Indian; Fort Berthold had 6,341 total population with 71.8% American Indian; Spirit Lake had 4,432 total population with 74.8% American Indian; and the North Dakota portion of Standing Rock had 4,153 total population with 84.1% American Indian. Approximately 12,596 American Indians (40.2%) live off reservations in urban and rural areas across North Dakota, demonstrating significant migration to towns and cities for employment, education, and services while many maintain strong cultural and familial ties to their home reservations.
Complete Overview of North Dakota’s Five Tribes and Reservations in 2025
| Tribe/Reservation | Location (Primary Counties) | Total Enrollment | On-Reservation Population | Land Area | Cultural/Historical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa | Rolette County (Belcourt HQ) | 33,276 enrolled (July 2024) | 12,879 residents | Reduced from original | Ojibwa/Chippewa, migrated from Great Lakes 1400s |
| Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara (Three Affiliated Tribes) | McLean, Mountrail, Dunn, McKenzie, Mercer, Ward | 17,648 enrolled (April 2025) | 6,341 residents (2010) | 988,000 acres (457,837 Native-owned) | Fort Berthold, agricultural earthlodge peoples |
| Standing Rock Sioux | Sioux, Corson (SD) | 16,000 enrolled (2011) | 4,153 ND residents | 2.3 million acres (ND & SD) | Lakota/Dakota, nomadic bison hunters |
| Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate | Roberts, Day, Marshall (SD primary) | 12,000 enrolled | Lake Traverse Reservation | Crosses ND/SD border | Dakota, traditional hunting lifestyle |
| Spirit Lake Nation | Benson County (Fort Totten) | 7,820 enrolled (July 2024) | 4,432 residents (2010) | Near Devils Lake | Dakota Sioux, diverse bands |
| Trenton Indian Service Area | Williams County (West of Williston) | Part of Turtle Mountain | Various members | Service area established 1970s | Maintains Turtle Mountain Chippewa identity |
Data Source: North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission 2024-2025, Tribal enrollment offices 2024-2025, U.S. Census 2010, MHA Nation 2025
The five federally recognized tribes of North Dakota in 2025 represent distinct cultural traditions, languages, and historical experiences. The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (also called Ojibwa or Anishinaabe) migrated to the North Dakota region from the Great Lakes area in the late 1400s, establishing their reservation near the Canadian border at Belcourt with traditional support from agriculture. The 1930s Census estimated the Chippewa Nation population at 30,000, though the Turtle Mountain reservation population is significantly smaller. In 1882, the federal government initially established a reservation, but two years later decided most of the population was from Canada and drastically reduced the reservation size. The tribe finally received $1 million compensation (10 cents per acre) in 1904 for confiscated land, with the Burke Act of 1906 allotting land back to the tribe—though much of it was in South Dakota and Montana, far from the reservation, causing permanent displacement of many tribal members who never returned.
The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, known as the Three Affiliated Tribes, represents a unique confederation of three distinct peoples who historically occupied the Missouri River region. The Mandan and Hidatsa lived in close association at the mouth of the Knife River, engaging in agriculture (corn, beans, squash, sunflowers) and living in semi-permanent earthlodges. The smallpox pandemic of 1786 nearly wiped out the Mandan people, with subsequent epidemics in 1837-1840 reducing the population to an estimated 125 Mandans out of approximately 1,600 total population. The Lewis and Clark Expedition estimated the Hidatsa population at 2,100, including 600 warriors, while the Arikara population was estimated at 30,000 before smallpox arrived 20 years earlier. The three tribes united in 1862 at Like-A-Fishhook Village on the Missouri River, eventually settling on Fort Berthold Reservation since 1870. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, comprised of Lakota, Dakota and Nakota nations, traditionally lived a nomadic lifestyle hunting bison and residing in tepees, greatly influenced by the Northern Plains horse culture in the late 17th century. The tribe gained international attention in 2016 as the site of protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline, with concerns about water pollution for the tribe’s Lake Oahe water source leading to ongoing legal battles and environmental reviews ordered by the Biden administration.
Extreme Poverty Levels on North Dakota Indian Reservations in 2025
| Poverty Indicator | Native Americans (North Dakota) | State Average | National Comparison | Disparity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian Poverty Rate (2016-2020) | 31.3% | 10.5% | 24.1% nationally for AI | 3x state rate |
| Peak AI Poverty Rate (2015) | 36.5% | 11.0% | Higher than national | 3.3x state rate |
| AI Poverty Rate (2018 – lowest point) | 25.5% | Below 11% | Lower than national AI | Still 2.3x higher |
| National AI Poverty Rate (2020) | 24.1% | N/A | 12.8% all races | Nearly 2x national |
| Sioux County SNAP Benefits | 41.6% of households | 0.04% (Mercer County) | Far above state average | 1,040x higher |
| Sheridan County SNAP Benefits | 44.8% of households | State varies widely | Reservation county | Extreme need |
| Average Age at Death (AI) | 56.5 years (2021) | 75.3 years (white) | 70.1 years AI nationally | 18.8 years lower |
| State Poverty Rate (2023) | 10% overall | Down from 12% (2022) | 13% nationally | State below national |
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2016-2020, North Dakota Division of Vital Records 2021, North Dakota Department of Human Services SFY 2021, North Dakota Compass 2024
The poverty crisis on North Dakota Indian reservations in 2025 stands in stark contrast to the state’s overall economic prosperity, with Native American communities experiencing poverty at rates three times higher than the statewide average. During the 2016-2020 period, 31.3% of American Indians in North Dakota lived below the poverty line compared to just 10.5% statewide, representing one of the most dramatic disparities between racial groups within any state. The poverty rate among Native Americans peaked at 36.5% in 2015 during economic challenges affecting oil-producing regions, though it declined to a low of 25.5% in 2018 before settling around 31-32% in recent years. Even at its lowest point, Native American poverty in North Dakota remained more than double the state average and exceeded the 24.1% national poverty rate for American Indians.
Geographic concentration of poverty is evident in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data, which reveals that 41.6% of households in Sioux County (Standing Rock Reservation area) and 44.8% in Sheridan County receive food assistance benefits, compared to just 0.04% in Mercer County, an oil-producing area. Counties with the highest rates of public assistance uniformly have high Native American populations and represent the poorest areas of the state. According to North Dakota Compass, all 12 counties identified as “least healthy” by County Health Rankings are either within tribal reservations or designated as rural/frontier areas. The mortality impact of reservation poverty is devastating: the average age at death for American Indians in North Dakota is 56.5 years (2021 data) compared to 75.3 years for the white population—an 18.8-year life expectancy gap that exceeds even the extreme disparities seen in South Dakota. This gap represents not merely economic hardship but a public health catastrophe rooted in inadequate healthcare access, food insecurity, substandard housing, high rates of chronic disease, substance abuse, and the cumulative effects of historical trauma and ongoing systemic inequities that have plagued Native communities for generations.
Healthcare Access and Disparities on North Dakota Reservations in 2025
| Healthcare Indicator | Native Americans (ND) | State/National Average | Disparity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (AI) | 56.5 years (2021) | 75.3 years (white, ND) | 18.8 years lower |
| Earlier Life Expectancy (AI – 2020) | 54.7 years (2013 data) | 75.7 years (white) | 21 years lower |
| Median Age (AI population) | 26.8 years | 35.2 years (state) | 8.4 years younger |
| IHS Hospitals in North Dakota | 2 IHS hospitals | 52 total hospitals statewide | Limited tribal access |
| Diabetes Rate | Higher rates | Lower statewide | Major health burden |
| Cancer Rate | Higher rates | Lower statewide | Screening/treatment gaps |
| Heart Disease | Higher rates | Lower statewide | Leading cause of death |
| Unintentional Injuries | Higher rates | Lower statewide | Significant disparity |
| Addiction/Substance Abuse | Higher rates | Lower statewide | Critical crisis |
| Healthy Steps (CHIP) Enrollment | Co-pays waived for AI children | Modest co-pays for others | Recognition of need |
Data Source: North Dakota Division of Vital Records 2020-2021, U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020, North Dakota health reports 2023, County Health Rankings 2022
The healthcare crisis on North Dakota Indian reservations in 2025 manifests in life expectancy statistics that rank among the worst in the developed world. The average age at death for American Indians in North Dakota is 56.5 years (2021 data), compared to 75.3 years for the white population, representing an unconscionable 18.8-year gap. Even more alarming, earlier data from 2013 showed the gap at 21 years (54.7 years vs. 75.7 years), suggesting that while some improvement may have occurred, Native Americans in North Dakota still die at ages comparable to residents of developing nations. This mortality crisis reflects the cumulative impact of poverty, limited healthcare access, high rates of chronic disease, substance abuse, and historical trauma that pervades reservation communities.
The health burden facing Native American communities in North Dakota is characterized by disproportionately high rates of chronic conditions and acute health crises. Diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and addiction all occur at significantly elevated rates compared to the general population, with unemployment and poverty compounding health challenges. Unintentional injuries also occur at higher rates, often related to vehicle accidents on poorly maintained reservation roads, inadequate safety infrastructure, and limited emergency response capacity. The healthcare delivery infrastructure consists of 52 hospitals statewide, including 2 Indian Health Service hospitals, 36 Critical Access Hospitals with 25 or fewer beds, and larger acute-care facilities in major cities—but geographic distances, transportation barriers, and chronic IHS underfunding create substantial barriers to care. North Dakota’s Healthy Steps program (the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program) provides premium-free comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage to uninsured children up to age 19 with incomes at 175% of the Federal Poverty Level, with co-payments waived for American Indian children in recognition of federal trust responsibility and the severe healthcare disparities facing indigenous youth. However, this modest accommodation cannot compensate for the systematic underinvestment in Indian Health Service facilities, the shortage of healthcare providers willing to work on remote reservations, and the deep-seated social determinants of health—poverty, food insecurity, inadequate housing, limited education—that drive health outcomes far below acceptable standards for any American community.
Education Attainment and Challenges on North Dakota Reservations in 2025
| Education Indicator | Native Americans (ND) | State Average | Disparity |
|---|---|---|---|
| High School Graduation Rate (White students, 2024) | N/A | 88% | Baseline |
| High School Graduation Rate (Asian students, 2024) | 80% | 88% (white) | 8 percentage points lower |
| High School Graduation Rate (State overall, 2024) | 82% | Down from 89% (2020) | Recent decline |
| High School Graduation (Reservation schools) | Lower than state | 82% state average | Significant gap |
| College Degree Attainment (AI nationally) | Lower | Higher statewide | Substantial gap |
| Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Meals (Reservation schools) | 50-60% (2 schools with applications) | Lower statewide | High poverty impact |
| Reservation Schools Using CEP | 18 schools | Provides free meals to all | Addressing food insecurity |
| AI/AN Students in Public Schools | 11,997 students (10% of enrollment) | State total enrollment | Present in every county |
| Food Insecurity (AI households with children) | Higher than average | Lower statewide | Major barrier to learning |
Data Source: North Dakota Department of Public Instruction 2024, North Dakota Compass 2024, North Dakota KIDS COUNT 2024
The educational challenges facing North Dakota reservation communities in 2025 reflect both systemic barriers and the impacts of concentrated poverty that undermine student achievement. North Dakota’s overall high school graduation rate declined from 89% in 2020 to 82% in 2024, with white students maintaining an 88% graduation rate while other racial and ethnic groups lag behind. Asian students have an 80% graduation rate, the closest to white students, while graduation rates on reservations typically fall below state averages, though specific reservation data is not consistently published. Of 11,997 American Indian or Alaska Native students attending North Dakota public schools (10% of overall enrollment), students live and attend school in every county across the state, with 25 schools located within American Indian reservations.
The intersection of poverty and education creates substantial barriers to student success. In 18 schools on reservations, all students receive free meals through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allows high-poverty schools to provide universal free meals without individual applications, while four additional schools use Provision 2 for the same purpose. In the two remaining reservation schools that require applications, 50-60% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, demonstrating the high poverty concentration. The recent state expansion of eligibility to 200% of the poverty level impacts these schools but has not fundamentally changed the school meal landscape for most reservation students already receiving free meals. Food insecurity remains a critical issue, with historical injustices shaping the food and economic resources available to tribal communities today. Approximately 40,000 children were estimated eligible for the Summer EBT grocery benefit in summer 2024, resulting in $4.8 million in benefits if all eligible families participated—programs particularly vital for reservation communities where food deserts, limited grocery stores, and long travel distances compound food access challenges. Educational outcomes on reservations are hindered not merely by school quality but by the comprehensive impact of poverty: students facing hunger, unstable housing, lack of internet access, family stress from unemployment, and limited exposure to higher education role models struggle to achieve at the same levels as more advantaged peers, perpetuating intergenerational cycles of educational and economic disadvantage.
Tribal Gaming and Economic Development on North Dakota Reservations in 2025
| Gaming and Economic Indicator | Statistics | Revenue/Impact | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Tribal Casinos (Major) | 5 major tribal casinos | Varies by location | Top employer pre-oil boom |
| Total Gaming Operations | 13 tribal gaming operations | Mix of casinos and small venues | Significant reservation jobs |
| Rapid City Region Revenue (FY 2023) | $425.9 million | MT, WY, ND, SD combined | 45 tribal operations |
| Estimated Annual Net Income (ND casinos) | $5-10 million per casino | Good income but stretched thin | 322 jobs (4 Bears in 1993) |
| 4 Bears Casino (MHA Nation) | 700 slot machines, table games, sportsbook | $95 million renovation | 90% tribal members initially |
| Son of Star Casino (MHA – Opening 2026) | 230 slot machines, 6 tables | $37,000 sq ft facility | White Shield location |
| Non-Indian Employment at Casinos | 18% of casino employees | Still 82% Native employment | Regional hiring |
| Total Tribal Casino Payroll (1996) | $29 million | Across all ND casinos | Before oil boom era |
| Four Bears Casino Opening | 1993 | 30th anniversary 2023 | New 7-story hotel 2025 |
Data Source: National Indian Gaming Commission 2024, North Dakota Studies 2024, 4 Bears Casino 2025, MHA Nation 2025
Tribal gaming on North Dakota reservations in 2025 represents the single most transformative economic development success story for indigenous communities over the past three decades, though benefits vary dramatically between reservations based on proximity to population centers. North Dakota’s five tribal nations operate 13 gaming facilities ranging from full-service casino resorts to smaller bingo halls and gaming lounges. The Rapid City region of the National Indian Gaming Commission, encompassing Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota with 45 tribal gaming operations, generated $425.9 million in fiscal year 2023, though this represents all four states combined. Individual North Dakota reservation casinos likely net between $5-10 million annually after expenses, providing crucial revenue for tribal governments but requiring careful allocation across extensive needs including government operations, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and social services.
The 4 Bears Casino & Lodge on the Fort Berthold Reservation (MHA Nation) stands as North Dakota’s premier tribal gaming facility, originally opening in 1993 with 322 employees (approximately 90% tribal members). The casino celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023 with major expansions including a new sportsbook, Cache Marketplace, and groundbreaking for a 7-story, 264-room hotel tower that opened in summer 2025 as part of a $95 million renovation project. The current facility features 700 slot machines, table games, a sportsbook, three restaurants, a 180-room lodge (before the expansion), event center, marina, RV park, water park, and C store/car wash. In August 2024, 4 Bears added the River Willow gaming riverboat on Lake Sakakawea—an 80-foot, 3-deck vessel with 45 slot machines and blackjack tables on the lower deck, offering public cruises twice daily Wednesday through Sunday. The MHA Nation is also constructing the Son of Star Casino in White Shield (groundbreaking September 2023, opening April 2026), a 37,000-square-foot facility with 230 slot machines, 6 table games, poker room, sportsbook, steakhouse, café, gift shop, and campground, named for Chief Son of Star, an Arikara leader from the early 1800s. Remarkably, the MHA Nation has also purchased 23 acres across from the Luxor on the Las Vegas Strip for $115 million, planning a major casino project in Nevada—an unprecedented expansion demonstrating the tribe’s gaming success and ambitions. Other major North Dakota tribal casinos include Sky Dancer Hotel & Casino and Grand Treasure Casino (Turtle Mountain), Prairie Knights Casino and Resort and Grand River Casino and Resort (Standing Rock), Dakota Magic Casino & Hotel (Sisseton-Wahpeton), and Spirit Lake Casino & Hotel (Spirit Lake Nation). Before oil field jobs became available around 2008, casinos ranked among the top employers of American Indians in North Dakota, and they remain critically important sources of employment, revenue, and economic activity in regions with limited private sector development.
Oil and Gas Development Impact on Fort Berthold Reservation in 2025
| Oil/Gas Development Indicator | Fort Berthold Reservation (MHA Nation) | Economic Impact | Challenges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reservation Land Area | 988,000 total acres | 457,837 acres Native-owned | Checkerboard ownership |
| Bakken Oil Formation Location | Underlies Fort Berthold | Major oil production region | Environmental concerns |
| Oil Boom Period | 2008-2014 peak | Transformed reservation economy | Infrastructure strain |
| Tribal Oil Revenue | Significant royalties | Hundreds of millions annually | Boom-bust cycles |
| Employment Impact | Oil jobs available since 2008 | Reduced unemployment | Competition with gaming |
| Population Changes | Influx of workers | Housing shortages | Social disruption |
| MHA Nation Investments | Casino expansions, Las Vegas land | $95M+ in developments | Diversification strategy |
| Road Damage | Heavy truck traffic | Infrastructure deterioration | Maintenance costs |
Data Source: MHA Nation 2024-2025, North Dakota oil production data 2024, Fort Berthold economic reports 2024
The Fort Berthold Indian Reservation (MHA Nation) in 2025 represents a unique case among North Dakota reservations due to its position atop the Bakken oil formation, one of the most productive oil fields in the United States. The oil boom beginning around 2008 fundamentally transformed the reservation’s economy, creating thousands of jobs and generating substantial revenue through oil and gas royalties paid to both the tribe and individual allotment owners. Unlike most reservations characterized primarily by poverty and unemployment, Fort Berthold experienced an economic explosion that brought both prosperity and significant challenges including rapid population growth, housing shortages, infrastructure strain, environmental concerns, and social disruption from the influx of non-Native oil workers.
The MHA Nation has leveraged oil revenue to make unprecedented investments in tribal infrastructure, economic diversification, and future development. The tribe’s $95 million renovation of 4 Bears Casino, construction of the Son of Star Casino (scheduled for 2026 opening), and most remarkably, the $115 million purchase of 23 acres on the Las Vegas Strip demonstrate a sophisticated economic strategy of reinvesting resource extraction revenue into long-term assets and diversified income streams. The reservation consists of 988,000 acres, of which 457,837 acres are owned by Native Americans either as individual allotments or communally by the tribe, with the remainder in non-Indian ownership creating a “checkerboard” pattern that complicates land management and development. This ownership pattern results from the General Allotment Act (Dawes Act) era policies that divided communal tribal lands into individual allotments and opened “surplus” lands to non-Indian settlement. The oil development has brought significant environmental impacts including road damage from heavy truck traffic, air and water quality concerns, and disruption of traditional land uses, though it has also provided economic opportunities unavailable on other North Dakota reservations. The boom-bust nature of oil markets means the tribe faces ongoing challenges in managing revenue volatility, planning for economic downturns, and ensuring that current prosperity translates into lasting benefits for future generations through education, infrastructure improvements, and sustainable economic development.
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Dakota Access Pipeline Controversy in 2025
| Standing Rock Indicator | Statistics/Details | Pipeline Controversy | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reservation Location | Sioux County (ND), Corson County (SD) | 2.3 million acres total | Shared ND/SD border |
| Tribal Enrollment | 16,000 enrolled members | Government at Fort Yates, ND | Sovereign nation |
| ND Reservation Population | 4,153 residents (ND side) | 84.1% American Indian | Part of larger reservation |
| Dakota Access Pipeline | $3.8 billion pipeline project | Runs under Lake Oahe | Ongoing legal battles |
| Water Concerns | Lake Oahe water source | Tribal, scientist, environmentalist concerns | Pollution risk |
| 2016 Protests | International attention | Thousands of protesters | Historic indigenous resistance |
| Federal Permit Status | Judge threw out permit | Biden ordered new environmental review | Future uncertain |
| Tribal Position | Oppose pipeline route | Demand consultation | Sovereignty assertion |
Data Source: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe 2024, U.S. Census 2010, Federal court records 2024-2025, News reports 2024
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in 2025 gained international prominence in 2016 as the site of massive protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), a $3.8 billion oil pipeline designed to transport crude oil from the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota through South Dakota and Iowa to Illinois. The Standing Rock Reservation straddles the North Dakota-South Dakota border along the Missouri River, with 4,153 residents on the North Dakota side (84.1% American Indian) and 8,217 total residents when both states are combined. The tribe has approximately 16,000 enrolled members with tribal headquarters located in Fort Yates, North Dakota, and governs a 2.3 million acre reservation representing one of the largest indigenous territories in the northern Great Plains. The Dakota Access Pipeline controversy centered on the pipeline’s route under Lake Oahe, a major water source for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, with tribal members, scientists, and environmentalists expressing grave concerns about potential pollution of drinking water in the event of pipeline rupture or leak.
Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.