Enbridge statement on independent film Bad River

March 15, 2024

Enbridge recognizes that certain laws and policies—in both Canada and the United States—have had destructive impacts on Indigenous cultures, languages, and the social and economic well-being of Indigenous peoples. The historical trauma and personal cost of these impacts is a central theme in the independent film Bad River. Enbridge is committed to building positive and sustainable relationships with Indigenous peoples, based on trust and respect, and focused on finding common goals through open dialogue.

We continue to work diligently to find an equitable and amicable solution to our dispute with the Bad River Band that recognizes the Band’s sovereignty and addresses their concerns while also allowing the continued delivery of vital energy that millions of people rely on every day throughout the Great Lakes region.

Enbridge offered to work with the filmmaker who unfortunately did not show much interest in telling a balanced story. The resulting film does not accurately reflect Enbridge’s attempts to work with the Bad River Band and ignores important facts about Line 5.

Notably, the film says nothing about Line 5’s essential role in propane production for consumers in the upper Midwest, including Wisconsin and Michigan, and the millions of Americans who rely on the pipeline for energy to heat and cook as well as provide transportation fuels. Nor does the film talk about the 50-year agreement signed by the Bad River Tribal Council in 1992 which stated that the Band would work with Enbridge to ensure the operation of the pipeline until 2043. The Bureau of Indian Affairs granted Enbridge a 50-year easement with the Band’s consent—which is still in effect today. These and many other facts that don’t align with the film’s message about Line 5 have simply been ignored.

Since the Band withdrew from mediation discussions and sued Enbridge in 2019, we have been seeking the necessary permits to relocate the pipeline off the reservation. At the same time, we have proposed over a dozen Line 5 maintenance projects to address erosion near the pipeline. Unfortunately, the Band has arbitrarily denied each proposal.

The Band’s inaction has been called out by federal courts. For example, in May 2023, U.S. District Judge William Conley held an evidentiary hearing on the Band’s motion to shut down Line 5. Before denying that motion, Judge Conley noted the Band was playing “Russian roulette” by refusing to agree to reasonable maintenance activities. He further stated, “I am begging the Band to just act. Do something. Show me that you are acting in good faith ….” Yet, the Band has done nothing.

The Band also opposes the proposed Line 5 Segment Relocation Project which will reroute a segment of the Line 5 pipeline around the Bad River Reservation, infuse millions of dollars in construction spending into local communities, create over 700 family-supporting union jobs, and keep affordable and reliable energy flowing to refineries and propane facilities supplying millions of consumers in the region.

It is counterproductive to continue this dispute, when we should be working together to both protect the environment on the reservation and keep Line 5 operating safely until the pipeline is moved off the Bad River Reservation.