On Indigenous Peoples Sunday, Oct. 13, the Anti-Racism Team and the Earth Justice Ministry sponsored a showing the documentary film, Bad River. It powerfully and unambiguously depicts how the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa have been forced to defend their small reservation in northern Wisconsin. The Goliath that wants to ruin their land is Enbridge, the giant Canadian company whose pipelines, include Line 3 which cuts across the Mississippi headwaters, and the Dakota Access Pipeline, of 2016 infamy.
Line 5 is the issue in Bad River; it carries tar sands from Canada across the Great Lakes region, and back into Canada. When EJMers began to care about Line 5, more than a decade ago, it was an environmental issue – a very, very old pipeline running underneath the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan meets Lake Huron, with extremely rough currents. It’s right in the middle of the world’s largest supply of fresh water, no less – a catastrophic spill waiting to happen!
Now the issue is environmental injustice, too. The film powerfully shows how the pipeline crosses the Bad River Reservation in a manner typical of how Native Americans have been mistreated for centuries.
A post-film panel discussion brought home the mistreatment. Now we are faced with the question, how can we help end this mistreatment? First step: tell Governor Evers to stop the line 5 reroute.
Terry Wiggins, Co-Chair, Earth Justice Ministry
Bad River Gratitude
The Anti-Racism Team would like to recognize the good work of the Earth Justice Ministry. They co-sponsored the screening of Bad River and invited members of the Bad River Band to participate in a panel discussion after the screening.
The film and talk offered meaningful learning and connection to the ninety people in attendance. Additionally, the donations from the film and Share the Plate proceeds offer financial support to the “Defend Bad River” fund. Thank you, First Church!
Rev. Kimberlee Tomczak Carlson, Minister of Religious Education