Tribal members call on Biden to stop Line 3

Tribal leaders and Native activists warn that pipeline threatens sacred waters, violates treaty

PARK RAPIDS, MN—Tribal members from the Red Lake Band of Chippewa and Native organizers called on President Biden Sunday to take immediate action to shut down Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline.

In an event held as part of the Red Road to DC, a cross-country tour highlighting Indigenous sacred sites at risk, tribal members and Indigenous activists said the pipeline is a violation of the Treaty of 1855 and a threat to their sacred waters. Organizers of the Red Road tour stopped in Minnesota to display a totem pole by Lummi Nation carvers to highlight sacred sites at risk due to development and infrastructure projects.

Construction of the Line 3 tar sands crude oil pipeline faces active and growing resistance led by Indigenous groups who see the project and the risk of a spill as a violation of treaty rights, as the project endangers wild rice lakes in treaty territories where the Anishinaabe have the right to hunt, fish, and gather.

“The Trump administration railroaded the permitting process and allowed the pipeline construction to proceed despite state findings about the devastating environmental impacts,” said Sasha Beaulieu, founder of the Red Lake Treaty Camp who was hired by the Red Lake Band of Chippewa to monitor Enbridge’s construction. “President Biden must take immediate action to stop construction and require a full, federal environmental impact statement. Every day that passes is a violation of our treaty rights.”

The Treaty of 1855 was signed by several bands of Chippewa and Ojibwe people, permitting fishing, hunting, and gathering in traditional territories in exchange for ceded lands.

“My people have lived here for 10,000 years,” said Winona LaDuke, Executive Director of Honor the Earth. “Now a Canadian company wants to come in and threaten our waters and our wild rice. Just one spill would devastate our waterways. It’s time for President Biden to finally step up and take action to stop Line 3. His inaction is putting money in the pockets of Canadian billionaires who want to profit off of running poison through our treaty-protected territory.”

 

(Contact: Brad Angerman of Pyramid Communications by email at bangerman@pyramidcommunications.com or by phone at 702-218-4490)

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