Water Protectors and Land Defenders on the frontlines of environmental struggles make great sacrifices on behalf of all who enjoy drinking water and living on healthy land. Many are independent people choosing to put their lives on the line for us all and are not employed by environmental organizations. Their work and actions are at the leading edge of the social change we so desperately need.

For example, you may have seen the photographs of the recent toxic dump of 70,000 gallons of oil from Enbridge’s Line 6 in the town of Oakland WI that appeared in state and national news reports. These were taken by unpaid Water Protectors traveling from Virginia and Minnesota on their own meager resources to fly a drone over the site to document it.

Over the weekend of January 11-12, 2025 several contingents of Indigenous Water Protectors joined us at the Building Unity conference in Madison. Their participation in the conference was completely transformative as their presence and grounding interventions reminded us of the importance of unity and the power of solidarity. Their participation in Monday's action at the DNR empowered everyone as they demanded the DNR rescind the permits given to Enbridge to construct a new portion of Line 5.

Their steadfast request to be heard went unanswered, but they never waivered, even as an Indigenous grandmother from northern Minnesota was roughly treated, arrested, taken to jail and over charged for violating WI Administrative Code 2.14(2)(p) “Enters Locked Building”. She now has to travel back to Madison for two separate court dates. 

In a series of miscues, we missed the opportunity to collect funds for these tireless defenders during the Building Unity Conference, but we feel a depth of gratitude for all they shared and would like to ensure they know we support and respect them, their efforts and our continued alliance. Something we can do is to financially support them, so we are passing the hat virtually. Please donate to the Pay It Forward fund of the Madison Mutual Aid Network, which was set up in 2022 with a bequest from the estate of Dr. Martina Rippon. Martina was on the frontlines of many struggles, and believed that meeting people’s basic needs is the first step toward justice. All donations will go directly to Water Protectors to help cover costs. 

This experience has shown us that if we are to truly BUILD UNITY, we need financial infrastructure. Not everyone can be on the frontlines. Those who DO take on a huge amount of personal risk. Contributing to this fund enables those of us unable to make those kinds of sacrifices to play a fundamental and necessary role as we all go forward to protect all life in the water and on the earth.