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SPOKANE, Wash.—At its June 27‑30 midyear conference in Spokane, Wash., the National Congress of American Indians adopted a resolution to oppose continued operation of unsafe pipelines that endanger tribal lands and resources, particularly Enbridge's Line 5 under the Straits of Mackinac.

Aaron Payment, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Tribe Chairperson, brought the resolution forward.

"The governor of Michigan recently capitulated on a water diversion from the Great Lakes, allowed the Flint drinking water disaster to happen and is dragging his feet on shutting down Enbridge Line 5 under the Mackinac bridge," said Payment.

The Great Lakes represents over 20 percent of the fresh water in the world. Nearly 64 years ago, Line 5 was installed under the Mackinac Straits, which joins the Great Lakes Michigan and Huron. Studies have shown a rupture in Line 5 under the Straits would be catastrophe that present emergency resources could not prevent. Enbridge's pipelines of a similar age have ruptured and caused extensive environmental and economic damages, such as Enbridge's Line 6 in the Kalamazoo River, which spilled 20,000 barrels at a cost of $1.2 billion.

"I have brought or motioned resolutions to United Tribes of Michigan, Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes and now the National Congress of American Indians for which I serve as an executive officer," said Payment. "It is time for action rather than bureaucratic excuses. Shut down Line 5 now!"