Bennett Freeze Navajo Nation Ban

In 1966, U.S. Indian Affairs Commissioner Robert L. Bennett imposed the Bennett Freeze on 1.5 million acres of Navajo land to cool a dispute with the Hopi, which barred the Navajo reservation from even basic repairs like fixing roofs or adding gas and water lines. The freeze halted development for 43 years and left communities unable to build homes, pave roads, or install utilities. In May 2009, President Barack Obama signed a repeal, lifting the moratorium and allowing long-delayed rebuilding to begin.

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