"We gotta protect our reservation, our sovereignty, protect our people, our lands and our water and all of that," Seki said.
The Red Lake Tribal Council has voted to rescind a deal to sell Enbridge Energy reservation land where oil pipelines cross.
In a 5-3 vote, the council opted to pull out of a deal the tribe approved in 2015, which called for Enbridge to pay $18.5 million for less than a half acre of land.
Enbridge operates four pipelines that cross the parcel, but the tribe never gave the company permission to access the land. The half acre is about 20 miles south of the main Red Lake reservation.
Red Lake chairman Darrel Seki said that while tribe will lose out on money targeted for economic development, he supports the council's decision.
"We gotta protect our reservation, our sovereignty, protect our people, our lands and our water and all of that," Seki said.
An Enbridge spokesperson says the company worked hard to negotiate the agreement with the Red Lake Nation.
It's still unclear if Enbridge will have to reroute the existing lines.
Red Lake is the most isolated reservation in the United States. In 1934, after the Indian Reorganization Act that year encouraged tribes to restore their governments, the tribe rejected joining six other Chippewa bands to organize the federally recognized Minnesota Chippewa Tribe under a written constitution. Its leaders did not want to give up the tradition of hereditary chiefs for an elected government or give up any control of its land to the Tribe. By 2007, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe reported a total enrollment of more than 40,000 members.
Source
The Red Lake Tribal Council has voted to rescind a deal to sell Enbridge Energy reservation land where oil pipelines cross.
In a 5-3 vote, the council opted to pull out of a deal the tribe approved in 2015, which called for Enbridge to pay $18.5 million for less than a half acre of land.
Enbridge operates four pipelines that cross the parcel, but the tribe never gave the company permission to access the land. The half acre is about 20 miles south of the main Red Lake reservation.
Red Lake chairman Darrel Seki said that while tribe will lose out on money targeted for economic development, he supports the council's decision.
"We gotta protect our reservation, our sovereignty, protect our people, our lands and our water and all of that," Seki said.
An Enbridge spokesperson says the company worked hard to negotiate the agreement with the Red Lake Nation.
It's still unclear if Enbridge will have to reroute the existing lines.
Red Lake is the most isolated reservation in the United States. In 1934, after the Indian Reorganization Act that year encouraged tribes to restore their governments, the tribe rejected joining six other Chippewa bands to organize the federally recognized Minnesota Chippewa Tribe under a written constitution. Its leaders did not want to give up the tradition of hereditary chiefs for an elected government or give up any control of its land to the Tribe. By 2007, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe reported a total enrollment of more than 40,000 members.
Source
thank you! water is life!
I am glad they want to protect their land and water.
Chi Miigwech Red Lake.
Good call.
Good for them! That not only sets a good example for other reservations to follow, but also protects the land, people, and waters in which surround the reservation.
idiots
most of the buks refus8jg this dont know wjat work is and the inportance of a pipeline
do some research get your shit together idiots .
most of the bums refusing this dont know what work is and the inportance of a pipeline
do some research get your shit together idiots .
guess what, anonymous? pipelines are only important when they get removed and stop destroying our planet. the oil age is over. better get your shit together and go back to school so you can get a higher education, you don't want to miss out on the great paying jobs that will happen when hemp production starts.
Only 18.5 mils.. lol Come on if your gona make a deal, think Billions! Because this Land is not for Sale. And not to give again..😩 your ruining it by your pollution and politics.
Thank goodness they made this choice. So many great reasons NOT to deal with the devil! We all need to divest from oil. This is a company that has caused damage to Native lands everywhere they operate. This is a company with a long track-record of operating in bad faith. And once in bed with them, they will almost certainly abuse any contract they make, and take far more than was allowed, and then use the contract to leverage for eminent domain. There is NOTHING good about taking money from these planet-killing greedy bastards.
so proud of you! so proud of you!
Love how the idiots who support the pipeline post as "Anonymous". Typical.
well done,thanks for your sacrifice, good health to you
Wonderful and inspiring news!
Miigwech Red Lake Nation, That is how you set examples to these other tribes that are selling out tradition, history and land. Don't even respond to the meathead who calls itself anonymous.
Now just to put the nails in the coffin on line 3.
Miigwech Red Lake Nation. You rock.
Miigwich!! Thank you!! This is the kind of brave stand we all need to take as we work toward healing Mother Earth. She is here for all beings, not just for rich CEOs to plunder into oblivion.
Thank you for loving mother Earth rather than craving to the those that would poison your water!
The Red Lake elders are correct. For more than 200 years we have been abusing the planet that sustains us. Please watch the Duluth News Tribune for my op-ed that supports the Grand Rapids valve turners which should appear by February 22.
George Erickson www.tundracub.com 218-744-2003