Water Protector warriors continue Black Snake battle
On the eve of what our nation refers to as "Thanksgiving" which they Say is a day we should stop and be Grateful for all the good we have, and too, to show our support and Appreciation for those who help to get us through. In the Spirit of that concept, we as Kautantowit's Mecautea feel it most fitting if we focus our attention to the Water is life movement and show honor and gratitude to our warrior defenders out there on the front lines.
Beings we have a dear friend, brother and elder emissary member and warrior out there keeping the fire at Camp Makwa, we felt Creator s leading us to focus our attention there as many people don't realize that the movement continues on while our mecautea remain in need of awareness and support as this battle between what is right verses financial gain is far from over.
Camp Makwa is a Front Line indigenous camp from Oceti that continuing the battle trying to stop Enbridge Line 3 pipeline because those from the Anishinaabe reservations like Fond Du Lac know all too well how these pipelines affect our land, the animals, and the water in a majorly Bad medicine way. Makwa (Which means bear) is an Anishinaabe led group of water protectors dedicated to shutting down the construction of the Line 3 pipeline using non-violent direct action. This is one of 20 camps currently operating in defense of the black snake (oil pipelines).
The issue is that the state of Wisconsin has violated the treaty rights of the Anishinaabe by allowing the Enbridge corporation to destroy wetlands, animal habitat, and their sacred rice lakes for a pipeline that the Minnesota department of commerce has deemed unnecessary and hazardous.
The Line 3 Replacement Project is a 7.5 billion dollar pipeline project proposed to carry dirty crude oil from Alberta, Canada through the sacred lands, waters, and wild rice lakes of the Anishinaabe people to refineries in Superior, WI. Apparently Enbridge has planned this new pipeline to replace the existing 50 year old Line 3 Pipeline, which according to Enbridge Integrity Supervisor Laura Kennett is in “the deterioration stage…as external corrosion growth is increasing in an exponential fashion.” Enbridge plans to leave the old line 3 in the ground to rot and contaminate the water and soil, while simultaneously building a larger pipeline on the same easement that can far more polluting than the old one proved to be because unlike the old Line 3 this new pipe is permitted to carry tar sands oil, the dirtiest oil on the planet and almost a million barrels of it.
You might remember this particular pipeline from back on March 3rd of 1991 as this specific pipeline caused the largest inland oil spill in US history, rupturing in Grand Rapids Minn. and spilling 1.7 million gallons of oil into the Prairie River!
Front line defenders say "Line 3 is violating our treaty rights by polluting our waters, killing the animals, and destroying the habitat for our sacred plant medicine." this camp formulated after seeing a bear that was killed on the highway a mile from where much land destruction was going on in effort of installing the illegal pipeline. "The Makwa Initiative started one day in august. We were driving down the road and came across a bear lying on the shoulder. Its fur was matted with blood, guts hanging out on the gravel, with a long split gaping down its side. It had clearly been hit by a large vehicle. Less than a mile away we happened upon a construction site. We stopped and watched as huge machines cut down trees, slashed at the soil, and with engines roaring, spitting exhaust, dug a long gash in the side of mother earth. One of the workers told us they were digging the easement for the Line 3 Replacement Pipeline. Animals are forced to go around the construction and are killed on the road. As the pipes leak the forest becomes quieter and quieter around it. You can even tell how much its leaking by seeing how far from the pipe the silence begins."
On Fond Du Lac one pipeline company has even planted invasive parsnip on the land of the easement. When animals and people touch these noxious weed plants they get horrible rashes that burn and itch the skin profusely. These parsnips are spreading all over the land threatening the habitat and food supplies long depended on by both animals and humans to survive.
"The Anishinaabe people were told by the creator to protect the minowan/wild rice. We are standing up against this pipeline and by doing so we are standing up for our wild rice. We want our children and grandchildren to be able to practice the ceremony of the minowan harvest."
“Wild Rice Is Life. That is more than just a statement, it is our way of life. Wild rice – manoomin, the food that grows on top of the water, wild rice is part of an Ojibwe prophecy, it is our culture, it is our food, wild rice is life, water is life. I stand for the water and our manoomin because it’s what our ancestors would have done for us and we take this stand for all of our decedents.” Stuart Perkins – Red Lake Band Of Ojibwe.
We must all unite and support everyone fighting this cause.
The camp is at 3868 Brevator Rd, in the Brevator Township in Cloquet, Minnesota, zip code 55720. Donate to them if you can, reach out to them, be present with them. "We cannot accomplish all the we need to do without each other. Individually we are one drop, together we are an ocean."
For those of you willing, we highly encourage you to please check out the supply request list they have humbly provided and see what you can do to support and fulfil their immediate needs, especially as we approach the coldest time of winter. www.youcaring.com/makwacampsupplies
As always, we thank you for your continued interest, contributions and support, please stay tuned, blessings to you all, and an extra special prayer with thanks to all our brave warriors fighting for the entire web of life, you are appreciated and have our continued respects and support, stay safe and warm and kick that black snakes Ass!
