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John,
The 'Line 5' pipeline, intended to run under the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan, directly infringes upon the treaty rights of the Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Tribes.
These rights, established in an 1836 treaty, allow tribes to fish and protect fish habitats in the Upper Great Lakes. All of Michigan’s 12 Tribal Nations, including the five Tribes of the Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority, stand united in opposition to this pipeline.
For the Indigenous peoples of Michigan, the Great Lakes are more than just a resource, they are a sacred relative, integral to their lifeways and cultures. The construction of the Line 5 pipeline threatens these deep cultural and spiritual connections, furthering the history of disregard for Indigenous values and traditions.
Right now, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers holds the key authority in this matter. They possess the power to approve or deny the federal permit required for the pipeline's construction. It’s up to us to make sure they make the right choice.
Tell the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to respect the treaty rights of Indigenous peoples and deny the federal permit needed to authorize Line 5 now.
In addition to the violation of treaty rights, the Line 5 pipeline poses severe environmental hazards. Enbridge, the company behind this project, has a troubling history of pipeline bursts, including a massive spill of over 840,000 gallons of oil into the Kalamazoo River's headwaters.
The potential for similar disasters in the future cannot be overlooked especially when it’s already known the operation of this pipeline can release 27 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, contributing significantly to the global climate crisis.
The bottom line is that this pipeline represents a step backward in our fight against climate change and undermines our commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
By proceeding with the Line 5 project, we will breach a legal and moral contract made with the tribe over a century ago while also ignoring the need to transition away from fossil fuels.
Help protect the environment and honor our commitments to Indigenous sovereignty. Tell the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deny federal permits for the Line 5 pipeline.
Thank you for taking a stand against the Line 5 pipeline.
- Amanda
Amanda Ford, Director
Democracy for America
Advocacy Fund
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