The protest walk has attracted many participants.
TransCanada’s Proposed Energy East Pipeline, if approved, would become the highest volume tarsands pipeline on the North American continent, moving diluted bitumen from the Alberta Tar Sands to the East Coast of Canada.
The project brings with it concerns among First Nation communities along the pipeline route. The fear is that a pipeline spill would cause risks to local waterways, land, wildlife and people.
To highlight this perceived threat, a week-long Anishinaabe Water Walk was planned and is now underway as of this past Monday.
It was organized by the group Grassroots Indigenous Water Defence and seeks to unite Treaty 3 peoples against the pipeline.
Anishinaabe Water Walk as it moves through Manitoba.
The walk involves about two dozen Anishinaabe women and men and their allies walking the 125 kilometre stretch from Eagle Lake to Shoal Lake in Northwestern Ontario.
The collection of voices from the walk that you are about to hear was recorded by CKUW 95.9 FM News Director Michael Welch who attended the walk earlier this week:
Michael – this is such an important issue. It has received far too little media attention.
Through an omnibus budget bill, the protection of Canada’s waterways has been stripped. Thanks to our Indigenous peoples for showing the courage to march. Thanks to you for telling their story.
I wonder if anyone is making a documentary about the work Maude Barlow and the Council of Canadians have been doing to protect Canada’s waterways. Perhaps it’s out there and I am not aware. There are many admirable people in Canada who are dedicated to safeguarding our future. Thanks for playing your part, Michael, in reminding us what is important.