The âProphecy of the 7th Fireâ says a âblack snakeâ will bring destruction to the earth. For Winona LaDuke, the âblack snakeâ is oil trains and pipelines. When she learns that Canadian-owned Enbridge plans to route a new pipeline through her tribeâs 1855 Treaty land, she and her community spring into action to save the sacred wild rice lakes and preserve their traditional indigenous way of life. Launching an annual spiritual horse ride along the proposed pipeline route, speaking at community meetings and regulatory hearings. Winona testifies that the pipeline route follows one of historical and present-day trauma. The tribe participates in the pipeline permitting process, asserting their treaty rights to protect their natural resources. LaDuke joins with her tribe and others to demand that the pipelinesâ impact on tribal peopleâs resources be considered in the permitting process.
