Marcel Lewis of Michipicoten First Nation has coordinated a protest/demonstration that will create traffic delays on Highway 17 just south of the Wawa Goose Monument (Pinewood Drive) from 12 to 1 p.m. today, December 5th, 2016. It joins many other demonstrations planned across Ontario at that time, including on at the intersection of Highway 17 and Highway 17B at the east boundary of the City of Sault Ste. Marie; and on Highway 17 east of the town of McKerrow.
This event is a show of support for the water protectors at Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North Dakota, and is inspired by 12-year-old Autumn Peltier from Wikwemikong First nation. Autumn is reaching out to all First nations to shut down highways across North America at 12 noon for 1 hour to raise awareness of what is happening in Standing Rock.
Information supplied by Marcel Lewis states, “There has been a media blackout to suppress the awareness of the Dakota Access Pipeline trying to forcefully build a pipeline through their lands/burial grounds and water sources. The water protectors have been peacefully demonstrating to stop the pipeline from going through their lands for several months now and have been subjected to numerous atrocities by police and military.” He suggests that readers search YouTube for ‘Standing Rock protest’.
The concern is that the proposed pipeline can contaminate water for over 17 million people when it begins to leak. There have been over 200 leaks on the pipelines in North and South Dakota over the last 3 years, so it will leak.Treaties are not being honored when these events are allowed happen and supported by the government.
Marcel explains, “This is a protest to protect the water for everyone including future generations and not just Standing Rock.”.
Yesterday, a statement was released by The Department of the Army saying that they will not approve an easement that would allow the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under Lake Oahe in North Dakota. “Although we have had continuing discussion and exchanges of new information with the Standing Rock Sioux and Dakota Access, it’s clear that there’s more work to do,” Darcy said. “The best way to complete that work responsibly and expeditiously is to explore alternate routes for the pipeline crossing.” Read the entire statement here.
At 11:05 p.m. Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. announced the statement by The Department of the Army “is a purely political action – which the Administration concedes when it states it has made a “policy decision” – Washington code for a political decision… As stated all along, ETP and SXL are fully committed to ensuring that this vital project is brought to completion and fully expect to complete construction of the pipeline without any additional rerouting in and around Lake Oahe. Nothing this Administration has done today changes that in any way.” Read the entire statement here.
The Superior East Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has issued a media release warning area motorists to be aware of potential traffic delays during their travels on Highway 17 near the Pinewood Drive entrance south of the town of Wawa, Monday, December 5, 2016 between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.
“Protest activities will be occurring and may periodically delay or interrupt the normal flow of traffic in the area.
The OPP’s objective is to maintain the safe flow of traffic and, when delays occur, restore traffic flow in the safest manner possible. The OPP is also working with those who may organize protest events to provide a safe and peaceful opportunity to exercise their lawful rights while minimizing the impact on the traveling public, where possible.
Motorists should check in advance for road advisory information and monitor local media for the latest updates. The OPP appreciates everyone’s cooperation and patience during these occurrences.”
Autumn Peltier’s Speech at GlobeDays, a Children’s Climate Conference held in Sweden, November, 2015.
Aanii, Bozhoo,
Mskwaageezo-kwe Ndishnikaas, Migizi Ndodem, Wikwemikong Ishkoonigong Ndoonjibaa. My English name is Autumn Peltier, I come from the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve located on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada.
I would like to take share my thoughts about the importance of water. Our water is very important because it brings new life. We see this when babies are born when the water breaks. The reason I’m talking about the water is because our water is getting sick. The people/factories of the world are making the water sick. If we as Anishinaabe/fellow humans don’t do anything now, the sick water will make mother earth sick. Imagine a world without water? Our animals would die, our insects would die, our medicines would die, all life as we know it would die. This makes me very sad. Some countries have very little water. In my own territory there are First Nation families that can’t drink the water. I have an auntie Joesphine Mandamin “Biidasige-kwe”, she prays for the water everyday, she understands the importance of water. The woman of the world must continue to support her, we need to heal the earth, now is the time for the future of humanity following behind us.
I would like to offer up a water song to pray for our water and our woman of the earth. (Sings water song 4x through)
Miigwech (Thank you)
Autumn Peltier, Ojibwe/Odawa
Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve
Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada
