Tamarack Sulfide Copper Mine Meeting – Blaine, MN (August 14, 2026)
A public meeting on the proposed Tamarack sulfide copper mine was held in Blaine, Minnesota. Upon entering, attendees were greeted by eight tables staffed by mining company representatives, positioned next to a tray of lemon-and-cucumber water, cookies, and baked goods. The testimonies, however, were powerful and sobering. A miner from the Iron Range spoke about how cleanup from mining operations conducted fifty years ago is still incomplete, even though that era was considered when they “did it right.” Representatives from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe tribal administration testified that the proposed mine sits within two miles of their Minnomem (sp?) ricing beds, presenting an existential threat to the tribe’s land, water, and long-term survivability. Environmental advocates spoke about the track record of mining companies, noting that promises of responsible mining consistently fall short when measured against the devastation of contaminated water, spills, and Superfund sites left unattended for generations.
Northern Arapaho Chairman Opposes Bridger Pipeline (August 18, 2026)
Chairman Keenan Groesbeck of the Northern Arapaho Business Council issued a public statement of opposition to the Bridger Pipeline and expressed support for the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes. The proposed crude oil pipeline crosses the Canadian border into Montana and Wyoming, traversing treaty lands and the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. The Northern Arapaho stand in solidarity with the Fort Peck Tribes in their opposition, and it is a welcome display of intertribal unity.
Red Stone Movement Meeting Pipestone, MN (August 18, 2026)
The Brave Heart Society, Indigenous Protector Movement, Indigenous Environmental Network, NDN Collective, Minnesota Environmental Affairs Council, the Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and others gathered in Pipestone, Minnesota for the Red Stone Movement meeting. The day began with prayers and ceremony at the Sundance grounds. The united message from the group was clear: the survey process for the proposed Magellan pipeline was not conducted correctly, remains incomplete, inadequate, and unacceptable. The movement is calling on regulators to deny the pipeline permit.
Minnesota PUC Pipestone Comment Period Accepted Until September 11, 2026
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission initial public comment period regarding the Magellan pipeline closed on August 21.
However, reply and final comments will be accepted until September 11. To leave a comment, email the PUC at consumer.puc@state.mn.us, referencing Docket 23-109.
Tribal leaders, Elders, and grassroots defenders are urging even more protectors and the public to comment in OPPOSITION to the Magellan/OneOK pipeline options proposed. The first permit was rescinded when it appeared the opposition was fierce, when 25,000 in opposition flowed in from across the country. Oceti Sakowin Native people and supporters expect that number will be exceeded with this extended deadline. These numbers reflect the sacred nature of the Sacred Site of the Pipestone Quarry, held in reverence and practice by thousands for centuries.
Online: https://mn.gov/puc/consumers/public-comments
Email: consumer.puc@state.mn.us – Reference Docket 23-109
U.S. Mail:
Governor Walz Signs BWCA Mining Ban Executive Order (August 18, 2026)
Governor Tim Walz signed an executive order banning copper-nickel mining in the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed. The ban preserves vast areas of some of the most pristine and widely used wilderness in Minnesota. Anyone who has canoed, camped, or walked through the Boundary Waters knows it is a life-changing and life-affirming experience that provides a spiritual connection to the natural world. The order effectively canceled the Twin Metals proposed mining project near Ely, Minnesota, and the Bois Forte Reservation.
Trump Administration Opens 62,000 Acres of Superior National Forest (August 19, 2026)
In what appears to be direct retaliation for Governor Walz’s mining ban, the Trump administration opened 62,000 acres of the Superior National Forest to potential mining and development. It is unclear how planned out this move was, but the timing suggests it was a response to the governor’s efforts to protect the area.
NDN Collective and Indigenous Protector Movement Panel – Minneapolis (August 20, 2026)
A panel hosted by Rachel Thunder of the Indigenous Protector Movement was held at the Minneapolis American Indian Center. Panelists included Nick Tilsen and Gabrielle Strong of NDN Collective, along with spiritual leader Fred Desjarlait. They spoke about the importance of protecting Pipestone, the duty to protect water, and the history of Indigenous people fighting pipelines. They discussed the importance of culture, the Indigenous way of life, and spirituality that was banned for nearly a century. The sacred pipe is a connection to the Creator and creation, and a path forward for healing from colonization and genocide, giving strength to continue fighting for a larger future and protecting Mother Earth.
Line 5 Pipeline Rupture Saxon, WI (August 25, 2026)
In a shocking event, a semi-truck rolled into a valve at a Line 5 construction site along the reroute near Bad River, Wisconsin, causing a rupture and a cloud of smoke. The incident is a dramatic reminder that all pipelines leak, and it is notable that this happened during construction of the project itself. Officials initially reported it as a natural gas leak and said there was nothing to be alarmed about, adding that Enbridge was working with local first responders to contain the site. However, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has ordered Enbridge to shut down Line 5 until there is an honest assessment of the accident and what changes will be made to ensure community safety along the route. Click here for drone footage of Line 5 gas leak.
Border Wall Construction Begins on Tohono O’odham Land (August 25, 2026)
There are three resistance camps on Tohono O’odham lands fighting the construction of the border wall. Armed, masked men alleging to be federal agents are now escorting construction workers onto the reservation, violating tribal sovereignty and inherent rights. The O’odham are gathering in ceremony and resistance.
For the latest updates here: instagram.com/tadai_mei and here: instagram.com/rally.forthevalley.
Senate Candidate James Byrd Opposes Bridger Pipeline (August 26, 2026)
U.S. Senate candidate James Byrd issued an official statement opposing the proposed 647-mile Bridger Pipeline Expansion. In a formal memorandum to Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes Leader Lance Fourstar, Byrd pledged his firm solidarity with tribal leadership across Montana and Wyoming. Byrd is calling on federal regulators to deny right-of-way approvals and mandate a full Environmental Impact Statement, warning that the project violates sovereign treaty rights and threatens vital clean water infrastructure. Byrd stated that infrastructure projects of this magnitude must respect sovereign treaty rights, protect water systems, and adhere to federal consultation mandates, and that proceeding without full tribal consent poses grave economic and environmental risks. His statement cites the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, the McGirt v. Oklahoma precedent, threats to the Assiniboine Rural Water Supply System, which serves 25,000 residents, and risks to the Yellowstone, Powder, and Missouri rivers. He also calls on the BLM and Army Corps of Engineers to comply with Executive Order 13175 and not bypass mandatory consultation.
Mato Tipila Rare Earth Mine Public Comment Period Closed on August 28, 2026
The public comment period for the proposed Mato Tipila rare earth mine near the Bear Lodge Mountains in Wyoming’s Black Hills region closes August 28. The area is important to local communities, sacred to Indigenous peoples, and provides water that is the lifeblood for ranchers and residents downstream. Rare Element Resources has been exploring in the area since at least 2004, and the project was revived after being put on hold in 2016. The company plans to process minerals at a plant in Upton, Wyoming, which would require transporting ore by heavy trucks over 40 miles. Mining waste would include radioactive thorium and uranium, raising serious health and environmental concerns.
