As the feud over Enbridge's Line 5 reroute continues, many say Lake Superior is in grave danger

Daniel Wiggins Jr., a tribal council member and former deputy director of the Bad River Band’s natural resources department, looks down at the Bad River on Elm Hoist bridge on the tribe's land on June 16, 2024. According to Wiggins, Enbridge's Line 5 reroute around the tribe's land is still putting its land, water and ways of life at risk.
Daniel Wiggins Jr., a tribal council member and former deputy director of the Bad River Band’s natural resources department, looks down at the Bad River on Elm Hoist bridge on the tribe's land on June 16, 2024. According to Wiggins, Enbridge's Line 5 reroute around the tribe's land is still putting its land, water and ways of life at risk.
Caitlin Looby / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Daniel Wiggins Jr., a tribal council member and former deputy director of the Bad River Band’s natural resources department, talks about the importance of the Kakagon Sloughs to the Bad River Band.
Daniel Wiggins Jr., a tribal council member and former deputy director of the Bad River Band’s natural resources department, talks about the importance of the Kakagon Sloughs to the Bad River Band.
Caitlin Looby / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Kakagon Sloughs right before sunset on the Kakagon River on June 16, 2024. The sloughs are full of wetlands that are home to the largest natural wild rice bed remaining in the Great Lakes.
The Kakagon Sloughs right before sunset on the Kakagon River on June 16, 2024. The sloughs are full of wetlands that are home to the largest natural wild rice bed remaining in the Great Lakes.
Caitlin Looby / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Kakagon Sloughs right before sunset on the Kakagon River on June 16, 2024. The Sloughs are one of the many places at risk if Enbridge's Line 5 oil pipeline were to rupture or spill.
The Kakagon Sloughs right before sunset on the Kakagon River on June 16, 2024. The Sloughs are one of the many places at risk if Enbridge's Line 5 oil pipeline were to rupture or spill.
Caitlin Looby / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Bad River at Elm Hoist bridge on the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa's reservation near Odanah, Wis., on June 16, 2024.
The Bad River at Elm Hoist bridge on the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa's reservation near Odanah, Wis., on June 16, 2024.
Caitlin Looby / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Daniel Wiggins Jr., a tribal council member and former deputy director of the Bad River Band’s natural resources department, talks about the risks associated with Enbridge's Line 5 reroute. The new 41-mile stretch of pipeline will go south of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewas’s land further inland into Ashland and Iron counties. It will sit further upstream of the Bad River, and cross more than 180 waterways that drain into Lake Superior.
Daniel Wiggins Jr., a tribal council member and former deputy director of the Bad River Band’s natural resources department, talks about the risks associated with Enbridge's Line 5 reroute. The new 41-mile stretch of pipeline will go south of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewas’s land further inland into Ashland and Iron counties. It will sit further upstream of the Bad River, and cross more than 180 waterways that drain into Lake Superior.
Caitlin Looby / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Wild rice, or manoomin, lies on the Kakagon River in the Kakagon Sloughs on June 16, 2024. During this time, the wild rice is at it's most vulnerable stage, called the floating leaf stage where only a single tap root lightly clings to the sediment below. Wild rice is central to Ojibwe people .
Wild rice, or manoomin, lies on the Kakagon River in the Kakagon Sloughs on June 16, 2024. During this time, the wild rice is at it's most vulnerable stage, called the floating leaf stage where only a single tap root lightly clings to the sediment below. Wild rice is central to Ojibwe people .
Caitlin Looby / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Mike Wiggins Jr., former chairman of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, drives his boat near the mouth of the Bad River where it meets Lake Superior on June 16, 2024.
Mike Wiggins Jr., former chairman of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, drives his boat near the mouth of the Bad River where it meets Lake Superior on June 16, 2024.
Caitlin Looby / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Bad River just before it flows into Lake Superior at dusk on June 16, 2024.
The Bad River just before it flows into Lake Superior at dusk on June 16, 2024.
Caitlin Looby / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel