On Friday, more than 500 people gathered and marched in St. Paul, Minnesota with chants of “Water is Life” and “Stop Line 3.” We stood together for the land. We spoke as one for the water. We demanded bold action on climate change. We honored the treaties. And we asked Minnesota’s elected officials to do the same and reject Enbridge’s dangerous Line 3 pipeline.

The Line 3 pipeline would ship more than 760,000 barrels of dirty tar sands oil across Minnesota waterways and through Anishinaabe treaty lands every day. It would violate treaty rights, endanger Minnesotan livelihoods and threaten water systems—including the Great Lakes, source of one-fifth of the world’s fresh drinking water.

Minnesota’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has the power to approve or deny the Line 3 tar sands pipelineand they’re going to make their final recommendation this June. If they don’t hear from us, the PUC may not do the right thing and stop this hazardous project.

If you’re in the area, you can speak out against Enbridge and Line 3 at PUC meetings June 18-19 and 26-27.

Photo Credit: Fibonacci Blue

From Standing Rock to St. Paul, the fossil fuel industry is playing dirty. But together, we are fighting back for what is undoubtedly right: clean drinking water, Indigenous rights and a safe climate.

We can beat Big Oil here on Anishinaabe and Dakota territory in Minnesota. Line 3 is such a bad idea that even the Minnesota Department of Commerce—a government agency that has never taken a public stance against a pipeline before—recommended the state reject the project. Turns out those jobs and economic benefits Big Oil promises are nothing but talk.

As we strike down oily fictions and stand up for a just transition to clean and renewable energy here in Minnesota, we are also holding hands with Indigenous communities fighting tar sands mega-projects across North America: the TransMountain pipeline in British Columbia and the Keystone XL pipeline in South Dakota, Montana and Nebraska.

You are part of this historic fight. Sign-up to join or host an action as we rise for climate justice on September 8.

We know what we need: a renewable energy economy that respects human rights and provides safe, family-supporting jobs for everyone. And we know oil executives won’t give it to us—so together, let’s claim what we deserve.

After we marched down Minnesota Street in St. Paul on Friday, we joined in a round dance just outside the offices of the public commissioners who will make a final decision on this tar sands mega-project next month. But just because they make the decision, doesn’t mean they get the final say.

For a full 24 hours, we sung, danced and prayed, sharing food and protest chants. “Love Water, Not Oil” was a favorite.

I think they heard us.

If you’re in Minnesota, join a public meeting June 18, 19, 26 and 27 to make sure state commissioners do not ignore our movement.

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