DEBAHJIMON January 2017 | Vol. XXXIII No. 6 The newspaper of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Nation Building Page 3 Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline Native Nations Institute hosted a 2 Day workshop on Nation Building strategies at the Palace Casino. Replacement Meeting Held Zebra Mussels Page 4 MN DNR reports that they have found zebra mussel larvae in two sampling areas on Leech Lake. Year in Review Page 8-9 Check out a summary of major events that occurred within the past year! PAID By Michael Chosa PRSRT STD PRSRT US POSTAGE US BEMIDJI, MN BEMIDJI, ore than 120 community members to existing pump stations at Clearbrook, permits." If Line 3 isn't replaced by Dec. 31, PERMIT NO. 68 NO. PERMIT braved the frigid temperatures in Donaldson, Plummer and Viking; and con- 2017, Enbridge will be saddled with addi- early January to attend an infor- struction of new pump stations at Backus, tional safety requirements, according to the Mmational meeting regarding the upcom- Cromwell, Palisade and Two Inlets. See map settlement agreement. ing Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline Replacement on Page 5. Project. The State of Minnesota announced Upon completion of the project, Enbridge in December that it was preparing an The meeting was hosted by the Leech Lake proposes to permanently deactivate the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Band of Ojibwe (LLBO) in conjunction with existing Line 3 pipeline and leave it in place. the project which includes "Unique trib- the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (MCT). It This is a major concern for the tribe and al concerns (e.g., cultural resources, treaty was held to offer community members a community who would like to see the aging rights, wild rice areas)". The State's Draft EIS preliminary chance to discuss their concerns 1960's era pipeline removed and the land is scheduled to be issued April 3, 2017 and and seek answers to specific questions they returned to its original condition. public meetings for review and commentary had ahead of the upcoming official public will be held in April and May 2017. hearing/ comment periods in February. In July of last year, the U.S. Department of Justice signed a consent decree with The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe initially Enbridge’s proposed 337-mile long route for Enbridge Energy which resolved claims elected to perform their own EIS after pass- the project would cross Kittson, Marshall, from oil spills in Michigan and Illinois in ing Resolution 30-17 at their November 3rd Pennington, Red Lake, Polk, Clearwater, 2010. Enbridge agreed to pay $177 mil- Meeting. This first, informal meeting was a Hubbard, Wadena, Cass, Crow Wing, Aitkin lion, improve pipeline safety and replace direct result of that action. and Carlton counties in Minnesota. The Line 3 "as expeditiously as practicable after proposed project also includes upgrades receiving required regulatory approvals and Continued on Page 5 2 Gichimanidoo-giizis • Great Spirit Moon January 2017 | Debahjimon Vol XXXIII No 6 Community Skating Rink Bad River Band Denies Renewal of Enbridge Line 5 Easement The Debahjimon is a free, Set to Open in January monthly publication of the Leech Tribe calls for decommissioning and removal at Bad River, WI Lake Band of Ojibwe ODANAH, WI- The Bad River Chairman Robert Blanchard. He Leech Lake Tribal Tribal Council passed a formal remarks in the Tribal Council’s Council resolution Wednesday evening, decision, “We will work with our January 4th that established the native and non-native communi- » Faron Jackson Sr., Tribes decision not to renew its ties to make sure that Line 5 does Chairman interests in the grant of easement not threaten rights of people living for rights-of-way of Enbridge in our region, and we will reach » Arthur “Archie” LaRose, Energy’s Line 5 crude oil pipeline out to federal, state and local offi- Secretary-Treasurer through the Bad River Reservation. cials to evaluate how to remove Furthermore, it calls for the Line 5, and we will work with the » Penny DeVault, District I decommissioning, and removal of same communities and officials to Representative the pipeline from all Bad River continue developing a sustainable lands and watershed. economy that doesn’t marginalize » Steve White, District II indigenous people” Representative Formerly known as Lakehead Pipeline Company, Enbridge The Band has directed Tribal staff (L to R) Natalie Lovelace, LL Youth Division, Brian Brunelle, » LeRoy Staples Fairbanks III, sought renewal of rights of way to begin planning for the Line 5 District III Representative LLBO Health Director, Frank Schaaf, Construction Manager, with the Band for the existing removal project development and Gary Charwood, LL Youth Division, Amanda Shongo, SHIP line that is now 64 years old. 15 the environmental issues/hazards Staff Coordinator and Mikele Finn, Health Division stop for a photo Individual grant of easement rights that exist with removal of old pipe- at the future site of the skating rink, of way for Line 5 expired in 2013, lines including hazards response Michael Chosa, Editor however, Bad River had reacquired and health study, pipeline contents Starr White, Graphic Design CASS LAKE, MN- A new outdoor skating rink in Cass Lake is sched- interests in 11 of the 15 parcels recycling and disposal, and sur- uled to open by mid-January. Funding for the project was secured by of land within the grant of ease- face restoration. “These environ- Submissions the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Youth Division through a grant with the ment rights of way. “As many other mental threats not only threaten MN Department of Health’s Statewide Health Improvement Partnership communities have experienced, our health, but they threaten our The submission of pictures, (SHIP). even a minor spill could prove to very way of life as Anishinaabe. articles, announcements be disastrous for our people. We We all need to be thinking of our and letters is encouraged. The money will be used to construct a 100 x 50 foot outdoor skating rink depend upon everything that the future generations and what we All submissions are subject with perimeter boards, rink liner, warming house and lighting. A collec- creator put here before us to live leave behind for them.” Says Tribal to editing for spelling, tion of ice skates will also be purchased and will be available for check out mino-bimaadiziwin, a good and Council Member Dylan Jennings. grammar, length and libelous through the Youth Division and the Boys and Girls Club of Cass Lake. healthy life.” said Bad River Tribal content. Submission does The skating rink will be located next to Dreamcatcher Park, in the same area that a former rink existed over 30 years ago. not guarantee publication. Mille Lacs Band Divests from Wells Fargo The Editor reserves the The Youth Division also received funding for a Lacrosse project in this ONAMIA, MN- The Mille Lacs ect where peaceful Native American right to reject any material grant. They plan on purchasing sticks, helmets, pads and other safety Band of Ojibwe Indians has ended protestors have been taunted and submitted for publication. gear for their summer activities. LLBO Health Director Brian Brunelle its investment advisory services physically harmed. We will not do envisions using the rink site as a lacrosse and soccer area in the summer relationship with Wells Fargo. The business with a company that finds Debahjimon months. decision, made unanimously by the these practices acceptable.” Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians 190 Sailstar Dr. NW The project was successful due to the successful collaborations between Band Assembly and Chief Executive The proposed 1,100 mile pipeline Cass Lake, MN 56633 various entities. “We couldn’t have done this without the assistance of Melanie Benjamin, is in response would pump more than a half million everyone,” Brunelle said. Levi Brown with the Land Management office to Wells Fargo’s unethical business barrels of crude oil per day across the [email protected] at DRM was able to provide the land at the site for this to be built on. practices and the financing the Missouri River just upstream from Natalie Lovelace from Youth Division was instrumental in doing the leg bank provides to Energy Transfer the mouth of the Cannon Ball River, Ph: (218) 335-8225 work along with Mikele Finn at Health Division. LLBO Construction Partners. The Mille Lacs Band ter- which flows through the Standing Fax: (218) 335-8309 Manager Frank Schaaf coordinated the site preparation, purchasing and minated the relationship effective Rock Sioux reservation. upcoming assembly of the rink. SHIP Coordinator Amanda Shongo was January 6th, 2017. Deadlines very helpful throughout the entire process. LL Housing will also be con- “Divesting from Wells Fargo is a structing the warming house and installing the lighting. Cass Lake Fire “Wells Fargo has promoted ini- meaningful step we can take to February Issue........01/20/2017 Department has committed to filling the rink with water. Finally, the Boys tiatives that have hurt Native make it clear that this is unaccept- March Issue............02/17/2017 and Girls Club of Cass Lake are and will continue to be a vital partner in Americans across the country and able corporate behavior. The Mille April Issue...............03/24/2017 this success. Miigwech to all involved! the Mille Lacs Band will no lon- Lacs Band understands the nature ger associate ourselves with them,” of finance and lending practices MN Department of Health’s SHIP is working to create healthier com- said Mille Lacs Band Secretary- by U.S. banks. In many instances, munities across Minnesota by expanding opportunities for active living, Treasurer Carolyn Beaulieu. “In banking relationships are unavoid- healthy eating and tobacco-free living. SHIP, at its core, is a locally driven addition to preying on customers able.