News and Updates

Tribal Court of Appeals Upholds White Earth Nation’s Jurisdiction to Regulate High-Capacity Pumps and Wells

On July 28, 2026, the White Earth Band of Ojibwe Tribal Court of Appeals issued an Opinion and Order in White Earth Division of Natural Resources (WEDNR) v. David Vipond, Appeal No. AP2025-00003, Tribal Court Case No. GC 2023-00001. The Court of … [Read More...]

Michigan Supreme Court Vacates Line 5 Tunnel Authorization

In a landmark decision issued July 31, 2026, the Michigan Supreme Court vacated the Michigan Public Service Commission’s authorization of Enbridge’s proposal to route its Line 5 pipeline through a tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac. A coalition … [Read More...]

Federal Appeals Court Holds that Enbridge Is Trespassing on Bad River Reservation

On July 30, 2026, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held that Enbridge, a Canadian pipeline company, is trespassing on land belonging to the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians and confirmed that the … [Read More...]

Federal Courts Reject Challenges to White Earth Water Protection Ordinance

The White Earth Reservation Groundwater and Surface Water Protection Ordinance requires all new high-capacity pumps and wells on the Reservation to be permitted by the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. The White Earth Reservation … [Read More...]