Guest Video: Let the Wave ...

By Samantha Cooper
Published here with her permission

Samantha Cooper (Sam, she/her) became one of over 900 defendants in the struggle to stop the line 3 (93) pipeline this past summer. She was invited to stand with Indigenous leaders upholding their treaty rights and protecting the natural resources guaranteed to them under federal law. This nonviolent stand resulted in a misdemeanor charge, which she will challenge in court with her co-defendants.  (Video © and courtesy Samantha Cooper)

After spending a month in northern Minnesota, Samantha Cooper created an interpolation of a song called "Tomorrow" by Miner. Keweenaw Now appreciates Samantha's permission to share this video, her love note to the rights of manoomin (wild rice).
 
"Let The Wave" features Frank Bibeau -- the Attorney in a historic rights of manoomin case unfolding in Minnesota right now. This track also features Shara Nova (My Brightest Diamond), Jaike Spotted Wolff (Camp Migizi), Holly T. Bird (Attorney and Co-Executive Director Of Title Track), Dan Rickabus (State Of Water Podcast), Seth Bernard (Title Track Founder), and Bryan Heany (37.ENT). Sam edited this video with Jon Stegenga (Humanizing Through Story) and Nathan Wright (MackinawOde).

Please see the YouTube video for full credits and a larger video screen.

This video single was made possible in part by a grant from the Arts Council Of Kalamazoo. Samantha Cooper owns 25 percent of this interpolation; any proceeds will be donated to the Line 3 Rapid Response Fund.

Please consider donating to The Center For Protest Law and Litigation - Line 3 Rapid Response Fund: https://www.protestlaw.org/line3

This project was made to honor the water protectors from RISE Coalition, Honor The Earth, Welcome Water Protector Center, Red Lake Treaty Camp, Camp Migizi, Giniw Collective, Stop The Money Pipeline, MackinawOde, Native Roots Radio, Friends Of The Headwaters, The Bay Mills Indian Community, MI Cats, Bad River Band, Up Hell’s Creek Camp, Indigenous Environmental Network, MN350, Kalamazoo Remembers, Great Lakes Water Protectors, Oil and Water Don’t Mix and beyond.
 
Special thanks to Lee Sprague, Yebishawn Oldshield, Daniel Hinmon, Kara Wiltstone, Bia, Nathan Wright and Gerardo Reyes for having me out on the water, and for sharing your joy in this video.
 
#StopTheMoneyPipeline #COP26 #StopLine3 #ShutDownLine5NoTunnel #WaterIsLife #RightsOfNature #RightsOfManoomin #WeAreAllTreatyPeople #FrankBibeau #HollyTBird #JaikeSpottedWolf #SharaNova #SamanthaCooper #HumanizingThroughStory #EarthworkMusic

Battle Heats Up Over Enbridge Pipelines in the North

John Bolenbaugh, Enbridge whistleblower, speaks to a full house at the Black Cat Café in Ashland, Wis., Jan. 9, 2017. (Photo © and courtesy David Joe Bates)

By Barbara With*
Posted Jan. 12, 2017, on Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative
Reprinted here in part with permission

ASHLAND, Wis. -- Enbridge whistleblower John Bolenbaugh recently made a series of appearances around Lake Superior, speaking about his experiences with an Enbridge oil spill in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 2010.

Bolenbaugh’s truth-telling forced Enbridge to re-clean several dozen areas that had been approved as 100 percent clean by Enbridge, the EPA and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. His exposure forced Enbridge to re-clean the cover-up areas and re-dredge the river at an estimated cost of $600 million.

Bolenbaugh traveled through the Chequamegon Bay region for three days, bringing his message to packed houses. From the Bad River Lodge and Casino Conference Center, to Blue Wave and Black Cat in Ashland, through Washburn, Bayfield, and Red Cliff, people crowded into venues to hear his first-hand account of the Enbridge oil spill that happened in his back yard, and his efforts to bring it to light.

Bolenbaugh brought the documentary videos he made during the oil spill in Kalamazoo showing the oil company not just covering up the damage from the spill, but harassing him as he attempted to bring the truth to light. He stressed to audiences that all pipelines leak, no matter what the oil companies say, and that the oil running through the pipelines is being shipped overseas and is not for domestic use. ... CLICK HERE to read the rest of this article and see a video interview with John Bolenbaugh.
See also: "Bad River Band Denies Renewal of Enbridge Line 5 Grant of Easement," posted Jan. 5, 2017, on Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative.

* Author Barbara With is a citizen journalist from La Pointe, Wis.