The Navel: A Study

In a picturesque setting filled with towering oak trees, a movement of resistance against the Line 3 pipeline has been unfolding. The identity of the person who released Shop Atmos Volume 06: Beyond remains unknown, but the message is clear: a call for humanity to choose a path away from extractive comforts and towards community with all living beings.

The oak trees, ancient witnesses to the Dakota and Anishinaabe before, during, and after colonization, have borne witness to the resistance actions. They have tasted water change and ingested pesticide runoff and chemical byproducts from factories, a result of Enbridge's pipeline construction. Yet, they stand tall, their branches reaching towards the sky, a symbol of resilience in the face of adversity.

The resistance actions have been multifaceted, involving prayer ceremonies, marches, scouts walking through forests and wetlands, and drones buzzing through the skies. The humans singing during these actions are singing about the water, the basic truth that life cannot exist without it. A lone water protector kneels at the edge of the Mississippi headwaters, near one of the 30 chemical spills during the Line 3 build, laying tobacco down in the earth and water as a gesture of respect and reverence.

The machines working at a frantic pace, ripping through the forest 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, have been met with resistance. Hundreds of water protectors have overtaken a major Enbridge pump station, their actions a testament to their commitment to the cause. Uniformed and armed humans have arrived at the resistance site, threatening to use "less lethal" force, but the water protectors continue their songs, forming a tight knot of unity and determination.

The pipeline construction has grown quiet as Line 3 reaches completion, but the resistance is far from over. Tara Houska, a land defender, has been at the forefront of the resistance, working tirelessly to protect the Earth. The actions to protect the Earth have been inspired by the Giniw Collective, an Indigenous women-led effort, demonstrating the power of community and unity in the face of adversity.

Enbridge's piercing of a water aquifer, causing millions of gallons to spill, is a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked pipeline construction. A historic drought, decimating rivers, and the continued pumping out of puddles and drilling pipelines under riverbeds by Enbridge, only serve to intensify the urgency of the resistance.

The resistance actions are not just about reconnecting with the future and reconciling with the past, but also about creating a sustainable future for all living beings. It is a call for humanity to choose a path that respects and protects the Earth, our most precious resource, and the life it sustains. As the oak trees continue to stand tall, they serve as a reminder of the resilience and determination required to face adversity and protect our planet.