White Earth and Honor the Earth Request State and Federal leaders to Honor Treaty Rights

White Earth Reservation Business Committee and Honor the Earth Executive Director Winona LaDuke at press conference July 9, 2021

MAHNOMEN (KDLM) – The White Earth Reservation Business Committee and Honor the Earth Executive Director Winona LaDuke gathered Friday, July 9 at the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen to publicly request that State officials and President Joe Biden honor tribal treaty rights.

The group asked that Enbridge Line 3 be halted and all water permits that allow Enbridge to pump billions of gallons of water out of drought-stricken lakes and rivers in the 1855 Treaty Territory be suspended. The group believes low water levels could cause permanent damage to wild rice beds.

“There has been a total dereliction of trust responsibility duties by the Federal government and State government,” said LaDuke. “There has been mismanagement in the 1855 Treaty Territory.” She said there are rivers at 25% water capacity “and you have allowed Enbridge to take three billion more gallons of water out of already dry rivers, effecting our wild rice, medicinal plants, shelled creatures and fish? That is wrong…”

Enbridge says they disagree with the tribe’s characterization of the situation. The company says groundwater removed from trenching for their pipes is immediately discharged back into the surrounding area and allowed to infiltrate and does not reduce the amount of available groundwater in any given area.

A video of the White Earth Press Conference can be viewed below: