Whitney Gravelle is the president and chairwoman of the Bay Mills Indian Community. David Arroyo is the chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Jamie Stuck is the chairperson of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of The Potawatomi.
The Biden-Harris administration has been incredibly vocal in its commitments to rebuilding the federal government’s fractured relationship with Indigenous communities since before taking office. During his campaign, Biden committed to “restoring tribal lands, addressing climate change, and safeguarding natural and cultural resources.” And the White House has underscored that its recently unveiled American Jobs Plan is about much more than just fixing bridges and roads: it’s an opportunity to make America’s transportation and energy sectors cleaner and more resilient nationwide, while rectifying the harm done to Indigenous communities as a result of our reliance on fossil fuels.
Now, the administration’s bold commitments are being tested as Canadian officials pressure the White House to support Line 5, an aging oil pipeline that is operating illegally in the Great Lakes, the sourc... Read more