Enbridge Line 5 is a 645-mile oil pipeline constructed in 1953 that carries crude oil and natural gas liquids from Superior, Wisconsin, through Michigan and into Ontario, Canada. The pipeline cuts directly through the Bad River Reservation, home to the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and traverses fragile wetlands and waterways that feed into Lake Superior.

The pipeline poses significant environmental and cultural risks. At over 70 years old, Line 5 has exceeded its intended lifespan and has a history of spills, including the catastrophic 2010 Kalamazoo River spill. A rupture on the Bad River Reservation would devastate the local ecosystem, poison critical water sources, and threaten the livelihoods of the Ojibwe people, who rely on these lands and waters for sustenance and spiritual practices.

The Bad River Band has taken legal action to remove Line 5 from their land, citing violations of treaty rights and environmental hazards. The fight against Line 5 is emblematic of broader struggles for Indigenous sovereignty, environmental justice, and the protection of water resources for future generations.

Shutting down Line 5 is not just an environmental necessity—it is a call to honor treaties, respect Indigenous sovereignty, and safeguard one of the world’s most vital freshwater systems.