SAULT STE. MARIE, MI— The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s approval of a permit for the Line 5 tunnel is a “betrayal.”
Canadian company Enbridge received the permit to construct the tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac on Wednesday.
In a press release Thursday, Sault Tribe Chair Austin Lowes condemned the decision. He says the tunnel threatens to unearth and violate the bodies and spirits of tribal ancestors, all for the benefit of a corporation worth billions of dollars.
He says, “On Monday, following short notice, the Sault Tribe was granted one hour of virtual consultation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Our subject experts voiced concerns about the tunnel, the permitting process, treaty rights, our ancestors, and the cultural and environmental consequences of this project. Following that consultation, we were given just 24 hours to submit written comments. We made our position clear. There should not be oil pipelines underneath the Straits of Mackinac.”
Enbridge says it’s committed to protecting the Great Lakes.
