Summary Report: 2018 Midwest CW Faith & Resistance Retreat and Witness at Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline yard, Duluth MN ... message from Michele Naar-Obed
Frank Cordaro
From: Michele Naar-Obed <hildegardho...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Apr 11, 2018 at 3:29 PM
An estimated 60 catholic workers from 8 different states as far east as Ohio and south as Missouri participated in this year's faith and resistance retreat held in Duluth MN on April 6-9. The retreat was focused on standing in solidarity with our Native relatives to protect our Sacred Water and Mother Earth from destruction by the corporate-run, fossil fuel industries.
Our particular region is faced with an expanded pipeline project by Canadian based, Enbridge Energy Partners which is intent on shipping tarsands oil from Canada into a Wisconsin refinery. The current portion of the Line 3 pipeline is corroded and outdated so instead of shutting it down and removing the corroded pipe, they intend to expand the line with wider pipe along a new route and increase the amount of oil that will be pumped through to the refinery. Their expansion project route goes through ceded territory in which the Ojibwe Nation have treaty rights to hunt, gather, live in and defend that land. The land is alive with wild rice lakes, traditional medicines, fish, game and other traditional foods. An inevitable leak or oil spill will amount to cultural genocide and Enbridge Energy Partners has a dismal track record of spills and safety violations.
Over the weekend, the catholic worker communities heard from local Ojibwe Spiritual leaders, Tribal lawyers, Fond-du-Lac Reservation members, and members of water protector camps. We were led through a beautiful, sacred water ceremony where the living water healed each of us and we, in turn, promised to protect and defend her. We spent an afternoon at one of the sugar bush camps on the Fond-du-Lac Reservation and helped construct a traditional lodge for elders. We got a little bit of an opportunity to see, smell, feel, and hear the land and culture that is in the cross-hairs of this poisonous attack.
On Monday, April 9 the catholic workers made their way to one of the 11 staging areas where Enbridge Energy Partners is storing the pipes for their new route illegally. They fraudulently applied for the permits and brought in 300,000 million dollars worth of pipe. The yards are also located on Treaty land and are therefore trespassing on Ojibwe territory.
27 catholic workers entered the yard and hung banners along the fence, set up a table for all the sacred objects that had been collected over these past months, and placed glass jars filled with water and prayers inside the stacked pipes. We held a presence there for 12 hours (9am-9pm). Throughout the day, there were reports from the local sheriff's department that we would be arrested for trespass in groups of 2-4 but that never materialized. By late afternoon, the police and Enbridge representatives told us that we would not be arrested. At this point, we were joined by our Native friends and water protectors. The Enbridge security set up flood lights and surveillance cars and were prepared for us to stay the night. A port-a-potty was even brought in. At 9pm, those of us remaining in the pipeyard left the space.
The catholic worker action was never intended to be a long term encampment or occupation. We came to bring our prayers and Spirit into the yard. We were willing to risk arrest in order to do that. Our Ojibwe friends and water protectors will continue leading the struggle against the “black snake” and we hope that we will join with them as accomplices and friends in the struggle. Water is life for all of us.
We have set up a new facebook page that has lots of live feed and media reports that were taken throughout the day. We also hope to use this page for ongoing organizing and resistance activity. Please like the page and follow along at:
The Midwest Catholic Worker Faith and Resistance Retreat Duluth 2018.
Peace.
Michele Naar-Obed, Hildegard House Catholic Worker.
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Pre Retreat Postings:
March 21 - 5 new updates on the April 6-9 F&R Midwest CW Retreat, Dultuh MN .... message from Hildegard House and Loaves and Fishes CWers
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#label/18-04-06-F-R-Retreat-Duluth/1624a0be38bd8fea
March 2 - Finalized April 6-9 CW Faith&Resistance Retreat, Duluth info and schedule "the tar-sands oil line 3 pipeline resistance"
Oct 22 - Update Midwest CW faith and resistance retreat, April 6-9, 2018 ... message from Michele Naar-Obed , Hildegard CW House, Duluth
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#label/18-04-06-F-R-Retreat-Duluth/15f473c3a536331a