News Release
Indigenous Environmental Network
BREAKING: Yesterday morning, water protectors with the Giniw Collective have shut down a major U.S.-Canadian tar sands terminal.
Here are some highlights from last week in the movement to stop Line 3. ICYMI …
- “Squad” members Ilhan Omar, Cori Bush, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib traveled to Minnesota to call on President Joe Biden to stop Line 3. (Read: Omar and ‘Squad’ urge Biden to stop Line 3 from the Star Tribune) After visiting the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, the group traveled to Namewag, the non-violent direct action camp hosted by the Giniw Collective on the Line 3 frontlines. There “the squad” met with Indigenous leadership within the movement to stop Line 3.
- “Squad” presser on Line 3 in Minneapolis (link to video)
- Press conference with “the squad” and Indigenous water protectors at Lake Bemidji near the Line 3 pipeline route (link to video)
- 63 state and federal elected officials delivered a letter to Biden asking for “urgent intervention to protect Indigenous sovereignty amidst the construction of the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline in northern Minnesota.” (Read: Omar, McCollum join state DFLers asking Biden to stop Line 3 from the Star Tribune).
- A United Nations committee authored a letter identifying violations of Anishinaabe human rights from Enbridge Line 3 and requested that measures be taken by the United States in response to that query. The letter notes, among other things, that these rights violations would amount to a violation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), which the U.S. has signed and ratified. Winona LaDuke, Tara Houska and Kate Finn hosted a press call in response to the letter.
- An lawsuit filed in White Earth Tribal Court asserting the “rights of manoomin” lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources continues to advance. Although the DNR attempted to file an injunction to halt the lawsuit, a federal judge ruled in favor of the manoomin (wild rice,) and other plaintiffs including the White Earth Nation. Upon hearing the news White Earth Chairman Michael Fairbanks exclaimed “now the Manoomin will have its day in court!” (Read: Advocates hope White Earth wild rice case will boost ‘rights of nature’ from MPR).
- Governor Tim Walz fled the stage at a Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) event when water protectors in the crowd interrupted his keynote speech with questions about the Line 3 pipeline. Walz failed to answer questions such as “Line 3 would result in more carbon emissions than your entire state. How can you still be serious about climate change and let Line 3 be built?” and ultimately water protectors took the stage singing and chanting “stop Line 3!”
Upcoming event:
From October 11-15, organizers from fossil fuel resistance campaigns around the US will gather in Washington DC for People vs Fossil Fuels. Thousands are expected to rally at the White House to demand a fossil free future from the Biden administration.
About Indigenous Environmental Network
Established in 1990, the Indigenous Environmental Network is an international environmental justice nonprofit that works with tribal grassroots organizations to build the capacity of Indigenous communities. I EN’s activities include empowering Indigenous communities and tribal governments to develop mechanisms to protect our sacred sites, land, water, air, natural resources, the health of both our people and all living things, and to build economically sustainable communities.
Learn more here: ienearth.org
