C064 Support of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in Opposing Enbridge Line #3
Resolved, the House of ________________ concurring,
That the 79th General Convention reaffirm the 76th General Convention’s Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery; and be it further
Resolved, That the General Convention continue to support and encourage the Presiding Bishop and Staff, the Executive Council and its Committees and each of the Dioceses of the Episcopal Church to continue that repudiation with actions, statements, prayers and witness that are consistent with the recognition of Tribal/First Nation Sovereignty in their stewardship of water, land and mineral resources found within their various historic and treaty territories; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention add its voice to echo the concerns of Faron Jackson, Sr., Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Chairman, who expressed his opposition to the placement of crude oil pipeline known as Enbridge Line #3 because of its threat to land, water and minerals, “The Lake Reservation will always be our home. Unlike a house, however, we can never rebuild or move if a disaster were to happen.”; and be it further
Resolved, That the Episcopal Church provide its historic moral standing among the indigenous peoples of Minnesota to stand with our congregations St. John’s in Onigum and St. Peter’s in Cass Lake, the Episcopal Church in Minnesota, our ecumenical partners and tribal governments to oppose the threat of pollution to sacred lands and the manoomin (wild rice) that has been given to these people to sustain them and provide a sovereign food source that nourishes body and soul; and be it further
Resolved, That the Episcopal Church encourage the State of Minnesota to refrain from responding to those exercising their First Amendment Right of Free Speech by using a militarized police presence, refrain from escalating and inciting violence, and develop and maintain a continued open dialogue with Tribal Authorities, Church Leaders and leaders of any Camps established along the proposed route of Line #3; and be it further
Resolved, That the Episcopal Church learn from its engagement as allies of the Standing Rock Nation, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and other times of solidarity with indigenous people by collecting and examining our history, theology, tradition, liturgy, and financial commitments. This examination will be conducted by the Advocacy and Networking Committee of the Executive Council, the Presiding Bishop’s Staff of Ethnic Ministries, the Office of Government Relations and those diocesan bodies and congregations that are relevant to the work. This reflection is to strengthen the good that has been done and reform our beliefs and actions as needed.
Explanation
The Episcopal Church has a powerful story of Bishop Whipple standing with the Ojibwe and Dakota people in Minnesota. He continued his advocacy for the Dakota people as they were exiled into the Dakota Territory and called on the House of Bishops to elect William Hobart Hare for mission among the Great Sioux Nation and he became known as the Apostle of the West. Today the Episcopal Church continues to be known as an ally to the Indigenous Nations in Minnesota and the Dakotas. Most recently it was known to Stand With Standing Rock in the confrontation with the Dakota Access Pipeline that runs through treaty land (1851 & 1868) and adjacent to the Standing Rock Sioux Nation. The Bishops of North and South Dakota, Bp. Smith and Bp. Tarrant, together with Presiding Bishop Curry were counted among those that supported Standing Rock in its stand against the risks brought to its water. Now, Minnesota, has given its permission for Enbridge Line #3 to develop a route through the waters and land of Northern Minnesota. Bishop Prior of Minnesota has spoken in support of Ojibwe sovereignty and their responsibility to protect the water. When the State and County officials in North Dakota placed themselves in opposition to the Standing Rock Sioux Nation, and Standing Rock’s call for the Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation) to come to its aid, a sometimes violent standoff with Law Enforcement ensued against the Water Protectors that gathered at the Backwater Bridge. As a church we support prayerful, peaceful and non-violent approaches to express our concerns of the risks to the environment and the people of these territories. As a church we call on all elected officials to guide and direct their conduct to be above reproach. As a church we call upon all levels of government to support and honor treaty obligations. We believe the Ojibwe Bands of northern Minnesota are right to assert their opposition to the pipeline under the treaties that were made on their behalf by their ancestors.