- Details
- By Levi Rickert
MACKINAW CITY, Mich. — Under a light drizzle, traditional Great Lakes canoes and a couple of dozen kayaks participated in the Sixth Annual Pipe Out Paddle Up Flotilla on Saturday morning at the Straits of Mackinac in Mackinaw City, Michigan. One hundred other people remained on shore to lend their support for those who participated in the flotilla.
The annual event happens on the Saturday of Labor Weekend to draw attention to the dangers of Enbridge’s Line 5 twin oil pipelines that cross through the Straits of Mackinac. Michigan Indian leaders and environmental allies want to stop the oil flowing through Line 5 because the 68-year-old dual pipelines were built to last only 50 years.
Want more Native News? Get the free daily newsletter today.
Enbridge has proposed to put the pipeline in a tunnel, which the tribes oppose. In June 2021, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced it will conduct an environmental review of the Line 5 pipeline project proposed by Canada-based Enbridge Inc.
As reported by Tribal Business News on June 23, the company wants to construct a tunnel and pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac between St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, Mich. The proposed 30-inch pipeline would be used to transport light crude oil and liquid natural gas. It would replace existing dual submerged pipelines, in place since 1953 without tribal consent. They currently cross the Great Lakes near tribal homelands.
Support news coverage that inspires, uplifts, and informs Native Americans.
On Saturday immediately following the flotilla, participants formed a circle in a local park. The participants heard remarks from Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Chairperson Regina Gasco-Bentley and Sault Ste. Marie of Chippewa Indians Tribe Chairperson Aaron Payment.
Payment said if the pipe would burst during the winter when the Straits of Mackinac freezes over, the spill would be catastrophic to the Great Lakes. Millions of gallons of oil would flow into the fresh waters and the spill would not be reached for at least two weeks.
“This whole notion of a tunnel originated under our previous governor — the same governor who poisoned children in Flint, Michigan, (and) who told us, ‘trust us, just trust us.’ The proposed tunnel is a red herring. We know from our environmental directors from across our tribes that a tunnel is not feasible. It is a smokescreen to allow them to operate as long as they can or until a spill happens. And a spill will happen if we don’t stop Line 5,” Payment said.
Enbridge has a lawsuit pending in the U.S. District Court. A court-ordered mediation, which is normal in federal civil litigation, is due to conclude on September 30, 2021. The lawsuit centers on the State of Michigan seeking to decommission Line 5.
There is no public indication that any agreement between Enbridge and the State of Michigan is likely as a result of mediation. Once mediation concludes, U.S. District Judge Janet Neff is expected to rule on the State of Michigan’s motion to allow the state to proceed in state court with its decision to decommission Line 5.
Meanwhile, Line 5 continues to be a threat to the Great Lakes.
More Stories Like This
Oak Ridge Fire On Navajo Nation Grows to 9,846 AcresOak Ridge Fire Burning on Navajo Nation Grows to 6,300 acres
Charles F. “Chuck” Sams III Joins Oregon Law as Inaugural Oregon Tribes Scholar-in-Residence
Interior Department Moves to Expand Oil and Gas Development in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve
Feds Release Final Environmental Impact Statement on Oak Flat Mine
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
