The Guardian: Enbridge’s Line 3 has taken a toll on watersheds in the region

September 20. 2021

The Anishinaabe people of the White Earth Tribal Band are rallying to save their lakes and their traditional wild rice harvests. The effects of Line 3 construction on wild rice are at the center of a lawsuit brought by the White Earth Band of Ojibwe in which wild rice (manoomin as it is also referred to) is itself the plaintiff. Will Parrish of The Guardian explores the latest rights of nature work being done in “They screwed up our lake’: tar sands pipeline is sucking water from Minnesota watersheds”.

The local indigenous communities of Minnesota utilize manoomin as a sacred resource that is central not only to spiritual expression but also to community identity. It is also an economic resource for them. Wild rice harvesting brings in money that will economically elevate the tribes. The DNR of Minnesota (Department of Natural Resources) has permitted Enbridge to excavate trenches that would draw nearly five billion gallons from groundwater sources. Ongoing protests and the legal work within the tribal courts are a reflection of the advocacy of the Anishinaabe people to protect their culture. Please read the article for more information here.