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Contact: IMMEDIATE RELEASE Martin Keller, Media Savant Communications
612-729-8585, mkeller@mediasavantcom.com
OR, ONSITE
Nathan Wright
231-622-9063
World Indigenous Environmental Leader Winona LaDuke to Speak May 13
LINE 5 “EVICT ENBRIDGE” EVENTS COMING MAY 12-13 TO MACKINAW CITY AT CONKLING HERITAGE PARK AS GOVERNOR WHITMER’S SHUT-DOWN ORDER LOOMS
MACKINAW CITY – May 7, 2021 -- MackinawOde (Heart of the Turtle) an indigenous-led Water Protection group based in Petoskey, Michigan, will co-host Line 5 “Eviction” events May12 - 13th in Mackinaw City, MI at Conkling Heritage Park as Governor Whitmer’s Line 5 eviction orders against Enbridge goes into effect. Among the two-day events featuring ceremony, live music, food, celebration and anti-Line 5 actions, the World Indigenous environmental leader, Winona LaDuke will be a special Guest Speaker on May 13th.
The event starts at 2pm and ends at 9pm. LaDuke will bring her whole crew and the Honor the Earth Bus to the proceedings.
The co-founder of Honor the Earth, LaDuke is a Harvard-educated economist, environmental activist, author, hemp farmer, grandmother, and a two-time former Green Party Vice President candidate with Ralph Nader. She specializes in rural development, economic, food, and energy sovereignty and environmental justice, and lives on the White Earth reservation in northern Minnesota. She is currently active on the front lines to Stop Line 3 in Minnesota.
Other speakers include:
- Bay Mills Chairperson Whitney Gravelle.
- Dr. Martian Reinhardt Native Studies professor, Indigenous Food Activist, Sault Tribe Citizen. • Fred Harrington, Professor of Computer Science, Indigenous Activist, LTBB Citizen. • Denise Petoskey, Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Indigenous Activist, LTBB Citizen. • Sean McBrearty of Oil and Water Don’t Mix.
- And more.
Camping sites and other visitor information available at http://www.mackinawode.com
Indigenous leader Nathan Wright was inspired to create the Indigenous aspect of the event when he teamed up with Oil and Water Don’t Mix. Wright says, “When I heard the ceremonial eviction notice action was happening, I felt we needed to get more involved as Indigenous people.” Wright then immediately contacted many of his follow Anishinaabe brothers and sisters and put together what should be a memorable – if not an historic event. Wright says it is his belief that if all else fails with getting the Enbridge pipeline out and stopping the tunnel from being built, “it may be our Treaties that can help put an end to this.” When I reached out To Winona LaDuke and she got back to me, I knew that meant this would be a great event, she is an amazing and inspirational speaker!”
EVENTS TIMELINE
On May 12t,th the Great Lakes Water Protectors (a grass roots organization), a group of indigenous and non-indigenous women coming together, will be conducting a peaceful call to action. Please visit www.mackinawode.com to see a flyer, maps and other information that is updated often.
Indigenous Herbalist and Herbal Lodge Owner Nathan Wright will conduct a “Treaty Plant Walk” at 9 am at the Headlines International Dark Sky Park in Mackinaw City. Please register at www.MackinawOde.com (may be recorded for later online broadcast).
The event on May 13th will start out with a pipe ceremony at 8:30 am, followed by a shuttle bus to the ceremony event location where Indigenous people with their eagle staffs and regalia will lead the way. At the final location, an eviction notice will be issued to Enbridge. Holly T. Bird will talk about Missing and Murders Indigenous Women. Then a “grand entry” styles walk with drums will begin down to the
waters of the straits, followed by an introduction speech by Little Traverse Bay Band (LTBB) elders Renee “Wasson” Dillard and Joe Mitchell. Female jingle dress dancers will dance for the water during a water ceremony, followed by a resurrection of a lost tradition -- giving our lakes a blessing, as four men journey into the frigid waters for this ceremony.
People will then be shuttled back to Mackinaw City where they will break for lunch and head to Conkling Park in Mackinaw City. Lunch will be offered by Minogin Market (including indigenous food items and Tamarack Tea) where they will serve food and two food trucks will be available.
MUSIC, ART, VENDORS – AND A NEW LINE 5 MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERE -- DURING THE EVENTS
Conveniently located, all attending can enjoy live music and speakers at Conkling Park as well as many artists and vendors including:
- Artist Irene Kazmer will world premier her new music,” Shut Down Line 5,” a music video which features some of the MackinawOde founders. It was filmed April 10th right near the Enbridge pipeline station.
- The Lake Superior Anishinaabe will be there with Miindoomooaya -- a 12-ft Jingle Dress Dancer Puppet created by communities along the shores of Lake Superior and Madeline island. She represents a healing action through her continuing travels.
- Some of the bands include local artist Caroline Barlow, based in Northern Michigan, Seth Bernard, Singer, songwriter & Environmental Rights and Social Justice Activist.
- Special artwork, T-shirts and stickers created by Water is Life / Thunderbird woman artist Isaac Murdoch will be available from MackinawOde.
- Refer to flyer at www.mackinawode.com for specifics.
For more information – or to interview Winona LaDuke and or other speakers – please see the Contact information above.
More About MackinawOde
MackinawOde is a nonprofit Indigenous led group based out of Petoskey Michigan. Founding member Nathan Wright has been an Indigenous and water rights activist since he was 12 years old. A former US Marine and now a Water protector. He used to fight for his country but now he fights for Mother Earth. A veteran of Standing Rock. He owns a business called Herbal Lodge that utilizes Indigenous treaty rights to ethically wild forage plant and mushroom medicines from the pristine forest of Michigan. He is joined by fellow board members Adam Victor and Christian Nakarado.
More About Winona LaDuke
Living and working on the White Earth reservation in northern Minnesota, Winona LaDuke leads several organizations including Honor the Earth (co-founded with The Indigo Girls 28 years ago), Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute, Akiing, and Winona’s Hemp.
These organizations develop and model cultural-based sustainable development strategies utilizing renewable energy and sustainable food systems. She is also an international thought leader and lecturer in climate justice, renewable energy, and environmental justice, plus an advocate for protecting Indigenous plants and heritage foods from patenting and genetic engineering. She has written seven books including, Recovering the Sacred, All Our Relations, Last Standing Woman, The Winona LaDuke Chronicles, and her newest work, To Be A Water Protector: The Rise of the Wiindigo Slayers.
More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winona_LaDuke
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Established in 1990, The Indigenous Environmental Network is an international environmental justice nonprofit that works with tribal grassroots organizations to build the capacity of Indigenous communities. I EN’s activities include empowering Indigenous communities and tribal governments to develop mechanisms to protect our sacred sites, land, water, air, natural resources, the health of both our people and all living things, and to build economically sustainable communities.
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