The construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline through the native land of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe has recently caught the attention of the nation after an array of protests led to a federal judge halting the pipeline's construction. Although the story feels small in comparison to the the magnitude of the presidential election, there are a multitude of reasons for why everyday Americans should be invested in the standoff.

1. It's an environmental issue. Allowing for the construction of the pipeline is further enabling American dependency on destructive sources of energy. Additionally, the pipeline raises concerns about the drinking water on the reservation. There could be serious health effects for locals should the pipeline be completed.

2. Allowing the construction of the pipeline sets a worrying legal precedent. Legally speaking, the land belongs to the Sioux. If the federal courts allowed the pipeline to be completed, it would open the floodgates for future cases in which the sovereignty of native tribes in the United States will be infringed upon in the future.

3. The diversion of the pipeline illustrates a larger issue surrounding how we treat Native Americans. The Dakota Access Pipeline was originally meant to travel through a nearby town until the townspeople complained about the potential of contaminating the water. If an American town deserves better than to have the pipeline harming them, then what does our indifference towards the reservation say about our respect for native tribes?

4. We should be concerned about how much power businesses have in these standoffs. The Texas corporation leading the charge on the pipeline, Energy Transfer Partners, has dumped cash into the pockets of local police departments in order to have an ally against the protests. Over 140 protesters have been arrested for organizing peacefully to protest, while the local law enforcement has had to spread itself thin and in the process reduce their presence over matters of public safety.

Indifference to the issues ongoing at Standing Rock is allowing for some frightening consequences to loom over our justice system, our legal system, our friends who share the land with us, and our environment. I personally can see few good reasons to defend the construction of this pipeline.