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John, we need you to take action right now.
All 12 of Michigan’s Tribal Nations are currently fighting to stop the relocation of the “Line 5” crude oil pipeline. If relocated, the pipeline would run under the Straits of Mackinac, infringing on the sacred fishing and land rights entreated to these Native communities in 1836 and irreparably damaging the environment.
Not only that, but Line 5 already has a long history of causing devastating environmental damage. In the past 50 years, it’s been the site of 29 spills, and released a total of 1.1 million gallons of toxic oil into nearby farmland, tribal land, and freshwater sources. A federal judge recently ruled in favor of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, agreeding that the proposed pipeline would illegally fracture the Bad River Band's reservation land.
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) has granted Enbridge Energy a permit to build the relocated pipeline. The final step before construction can begin is a federal permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACE). Thankfully, the public comment period has been extended until August 4th, and we need to make sure our voices are heard.
Join us as we send a message to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and President Biden: You must respect local Indigenous peoples’ treaty rights and deny the federal permit for Line 5 now.
“Our very lifeways and cultures hang in the balance... The disturbances go deeper than you are hearing. That water is our relative, and we will do whatever it takes to protect our water, our sacred relative.”
— Jannan J. Cornstalk, citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, on the cultural and spiritual importance of the impacted areas.
Our last line of defense against this desecration of our environment and violation of Indigenous rights is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They still have the power to stop the project by denying the federal permit for the Line 5 pipeline.
Send a message to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers & President Biden: We must respect the treaty rights of Indigenous peoples and deny the federal permit for Line 5 now.
Thank you,
Democratic Values
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