Bad River Documentary Showing
A free public film screening of “Bad River, A Story of Defiance” will be shown on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The showing will be at Central Michigan University in Anspach Hall, room 161 starting 6:30 p.m.
“People should attend to learn more about how members of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewas are not just battling to save their culture, but to save Lake Superior,” said David Kinney, professor of sociology.
Bad River Reservation Chippewa tribe is located in Northern Wisconsin. They have been fighting to keep Lake Superior clean from any oil spills while also fighting to keep the cooperation off Native territory.
The film follows the legal battle between a Canadian corporation, Enbridge Energy Inc. and the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa tribe.
In 2013, the right-to-way contract giving Enbridge Energy Inc. the ability to operate over a segment of the 645-mile Line 5 pipeline that fall across 12 miles of the Bad River Reservation expired.
Despite the contract expiring, Enbridge Energy Inc. still continued to operate the segment of the pipe, called Line 5, that falls on the Bad River Reservation.
Line 5 pipeline is 70-years-old and in poor condition with the looming threat of rupturing. With the Bad River system flowing into Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake on earth, it raises concern for the overall wellbeing of Lake Superior in the future. Line 5 pipeline is used for transporting oil, if the pipe bursts it could pollute the Great Lakes.
“Stories about the extraordinary lengths that corporations go to protect their profits are being met with extraordinary efforts by those who wish to protect the land and water for future generations,” Kinney said.
The documentary was written and directed by Mary Mazzio. Grant Hill, who played for the Detroit Pistons and was also a producer for the film.
This event is being put on by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences with support from Indivisible Central Michigan and The Welcome Table.
“Bad River is a powerful David vs. Goliath battle that will educate and move the audience,” Kinney said.
