Enbridge Line 3’s COVID Preparedness Plan has no teeth

On Dec. 2, the day after Enbridge started construction of its Line 3 pipeline, the company updated its COVID Preparedness Plan with state regulators.

The plan was part of a compliance filing for Line 3’s Route Permit, approved by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

The plan seemed deficient, lacking transparency and enforcement. Healing Minnesota Stories wrote the PUC to ask why it didn’t require a stronger plan.

PUC Executive Secretary Will Seuffert wrote back: “the Commission did not require Enbridge to file any plans related to COVID-19, and did not approve the COVID-19 prevention plan.”

‘Healing in these traumatic times’ essay, ‘This is Dakota Land’ yard signs, and more

In this blog:

• ‘Healing for these traumatic times’ essay
• “This is Dakota land” lawn signs available
• Line 3 update: Beltrami County Sheriff seeks reimbursement for weapons under the guise of personal protective equipment
• DAPL decision delayed

Federal court rejects Line 3 injunction, exploring Black Elk’s Catholic and Indigenous worldviews, and more

In this blog:

• Federal court denies the request for a stay in construction on Line 3
• Bilingual mini film festival exploring pipeline resistance
• Webinars on Black Elk and the intersection of Indigenous and Christian worldviews

Line 3 updates: Watch the Line trainings, t-shirt fundraiser, a digital rally, another pipeline accident, and more

In this blog:

• Next ‘Watch the Line’ trainings set
• Protect the Sacred Water digital rally Wednesday
• Update on Biden’s pipeline stance
• Cool t-shirt fundraiser for front line resistance
• #DefundLine3 Campaign Launch Event Feb. 16
• Pipeline worker trapped underwater inside his heavy equipment

How the U.S. stole the sacred Pipestone quarry from the Ihanktonwan

In researching the history of Indian Boarding Schools in Minnesota, I came across the story of how the U.S. government stole the sacred Pipestone quarry from the Ihanktonwan people. (The federal government calls them the Yankton Sioux Tribe.)

In Dakota, Ihanktonwan means “People of the End Village People,” according to the Ihanktonwan Community College. “The Ihanktonwan are also known as the ‘Land of the Friendly People of the Seven Council Fires,'” known in Dakota as the Oceti Sakowin.

Historically, the Ihanktonwan’s role included protecting the sacred Pipestone Quarry, Wikipedia says,

The U.S. government took away that sacred duty.

This Day in History, Feb. 6, 1850, a broken treaty sets in motion the Sandy Lake Atrocity

Minnesota leaders still disregarding treaties today

The Red Lake and White Earth nations are suing in the Minnesota Court of Appeals to stop the Enbridge Line 3 tar sands pipeline, arguing it violates their long-standing treaties with the U.S. government. The treaties of 1854 and 1855 guaranteed them the right to hunt, fish, and gather in lands they ceded, they say. Line 3 construction and future oil spills threaten those rights.

The state of Minnesota has turned a blind eye, approving Line 3 permits and allowing Enbridge to begin construction before courts resolve the treaty rights dispute. The failure goes all way up the ladder to Gov. Tim Walz.

It should come as no surprise. Minnesota was born of broken treaties.

On this day in history, Feb. 6, 1850, President Zachery Taylor signed an executive order that broke several treaties with the Chippewa. Taylor took that action at the behest of Minnesota’s Territorial Gov. Alexander Ramsey and other Minnesota leaders.

This executive order — and a corrupt scheme by Ramsey to advance his own financial and political fortunes — would lead to the deaths of 400 Chippewa people.

News and Events: MMIW virtual events, Migizi gets new digs, Line 3 frontline fundraisesr and more

In this blog:

• MMIW virtual events Feb. 11-14 (instead of the annual Feb. 14 march)
• Film screening to fight Fossil Fuels – Necessity: Oil, Water, and Climate Resistance, a two-week long fundraiser for Line 3 frontline resistance (Feb. 5-21)
• Workshops on Parallel Trauma and Line 3, Feb. 8-10
• Latest round of Line 3 law enforcement bills under $4,000
• Miigizi gets news digs!
• New info graphic: Map the Blake Snake

As the end of the internal combustion engine comes into focus, ongoing pressure to stop Line 3 and DAPL

In this blog:

• Car caravan to Stop Line 3 Friday, Feb. 5 in Hill City
• Decision day for DAPL next Wednesday
• Reason #476 to reject Line 3 and DAPL: Gas is becoming worthless
• Hiding behind the “trade secret” label
• LaDuke’s annual missive of mockery to Monaco: ‘Do you miss me? It’s hard not to miss you.’
• Line 3 Hot Potato: The Video

Indigenous organization seeks church partners for truth telling, healing, around Indian boarding school trauma

Part of an ongoing series on healing and reparations

Can you remember when you were 8 years old, somewhere around third grade? Put yourself in that frame of mind.

Imagine adults you don’t know come to your door. They grab you and take you away from your family. Your parents are distraught, weeping and seem powerless. You don’t know what’s going on.

You are taken to a place you have never been before. Nothing is familiar. You are immediately scrubbed with lye soap as some aggressive adult snaps about “filthy savages” to no one in particular.

MN Court of Appeals rejects stay in Line 3 construction

The Minnesota Court of Appeals Tuesday rejected an appeal by the Red Lake and White Earth nations to stop construction of Enbridge Line 3 until all the legal challenges could be heard.

While a big disappointment, Line 3 opponents still have a separate request for an injunction on construction pending in federal court.