Photo credit: Giniw Collective
Two self-proclaimed water protectors reportedly locked themselves to each other inside a Line 3 pipe segment Thursday morning near Backus.
According to a release, the action was meant to halt work on the project.
The Court of Appeals has yet to rule on tribally-led lawsuits concerning the project.
The protesters expressed concerns that the pipeline poses a threat to the Minnesota’s water and sacred sites.
“I’m here today to protect the treaties that my ancestors failed to uphold,” said protester Andrew Lee.
“I’ve learned over the course of this year that Tim Walz isn’t going to protect us, the government of Minnesota isn’t going to protect us, and the federal government isn’t going to protect us. I believe it is my duty, as a colonizer and as a person with the privilege to do so, to put my body on the line to stop the Enbridge Corporation from building this pipeline.”
Enbridge’s current project involves replacing and, in some places, creating a new route for the Line 3 pipeline. Once completed, the line would be able to transport 760,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
The pipeline would transport Canadian oil to the terminal facility in Clearbrook before making its way to the Superior, Wisc. terminal.
The route traverses portions of Clearwater, Hubbard and Cass counties.
