On February 8, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago heard arguments in the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s fight to shut down Enbridge Line 5. Last year, a federal judge in Wisconsin determined that the massive pipeline company is trespassing on tribal lands after the tribe declined to renew their easement in 2013. The issues raised in this case also resonate with Michigan tribal nations, as explained by Bay Mills Indian Community President Whitney Gravelle in an interview on WBEZ in Illinois. The appeals court has indicated that a decision could be issued in a month, but has asked for additional information from the Biden administration regarding their interpretation of a 1977 treaty with Canada that applies to cross border pipelines.
On March 15, Bad River: A Story of Defiance, an extraordinary documentary recounting the story of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, will be released nationwide, including at the AMC theater in Sterling Heights. Make a plan to view this important film exploring the history of the people who are fighting to remove Enbridge’s Line 5 oil pipeline from their land and the watershed of Lake Superior. Bill McKibben shares his thoughts in a piece on Substack which discusses the film and the efforts of the Bad River Band members and their allies.