Bad River train blockade facts for kids
The Bad River train blockade was an event in 1996 on the Bad River Ojibwe Reservation in Ashland County, Wisconsin. Ojibwe activists stopped train shipments of sulfuric acid. This acid was meant for a mine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The blockade brought attention to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It also showed the strength of Indigenous rights in protecting the environment.
Why the Blockade Happened
The Copper Range Mine Company had a copper mine in White Pine, Michigan. This mine employed many people. But in the early 1990s, thousands lost their jobs. This caused economic problems in the area.
In Wisconsin, several Ojibwe groups were fighting against sulfide mining. They had gained new political power from events like the Walleye War.
In 1995, two Bad River tribal members, Lawrence "Butch" Stone and Alan "Buster" Couture, had important dreams. They dreamed an environmental disaster was coming to their reservation. Through traditional ceremonies, they and others formed an activist group called Anishinabe Ogichidaa. They received messages from Native American spirits and ancestors. These messages came a year before the EPA announced that sulfide would be moved by train over the reservation.
In their dreams, Stone and Couture saw a train crash on the Bad River Reservation. A white powder spilled into the river. This powder caused sickness and death for animals, plants, and people. It also destroyed the sacred wild rice fields. These wild rice fields were why the Ojibwe settled in northern Wisconsin. They had followed a prophecy to a place where "food grows on water." This prophecy was fulfilled when they found the wild rice waters.
The Blockade Story
Stone and Couture did not know what the white powder in their dreams was until the EPA's announcement. The Anishinabe Ogichidaa activists decided to carry out the blockade in a way that fit their beliefs. They had prepared for a year with prayers and ceremonies. Before blocking the tracks, they talked with spiritual leaders and tribal elders.
When they arrived at the tracks, they prayed. They then set up a sacred area as guided by their spiritual leaders. This included a sacred fire, singing, and drum sessions on the tracks. They also placed tobacco and eagle feather lances in the four directions. Stone and Couture promised the Great Spirit they would risk their lives to stop the train.
On July 22, 1996, the activists stopped a train heading for the copper mine. The train was carrying tanks of sulfuric acid. This acid was for a new mining method. This method involved injecting acid into the ground to get out any remaining ore. Environmentalists worried the acid would pollute groundwater and nearby Lake Superior.
The EPA allowed this plan without a public hearing or an environmental study. This surprised many, including Walter Bresette. He was a Red Cliff Ojibwe activist. Bresette resigned from his position on an EPA council. He then joined the Anishinabe Ogichidaa group. The name means "Protector of the People" in the Ojibwe language.
For weeks, Ogichidaa members and their supporters camped on the railroad tracks. They held ceremonies and protests. At first, they focused on the condition of the Wisconsin Central Ltd. tracks. They said the tracks were unsafe. The state had allowed trains to use them, but only at very slow speeds.
The railroad company wanted the sheriff to arrest the protesters. But the sheriff's office said it was a federal matter because it was on the reservation and involved Native religious practices. So, they did not act. The protesters also demanded to see reports proving the railroad was safe for dangerous materials.
The United States government tried to help solve the problem. This led to a full investigation of the railroad. After the investigation began, protesters allowed two trains without sulfuric acid to pass. On August 19, the protest formally ended. The Ojibwe allowed all trains without sulfuric acid to continue.
There were two times when the blockade almost became violent. First, a representative from the railroad company tried to use aggressive tactics. The Ashland County Sheriff's Department refused to allow this.
Second, the Sheriff's Department came to the site with many armed officers. They wanted to see what was happening. While the sheriff spoke with protest leaders, Stone told the undersheriff that armed tribal members were in the woods protecting the site. He warned that if the officers tried to remove the protesters by force, he might not be able to prevent gunfire. The Sheriff's Department left without taking action.
After the federal government got involved, it became clear the Ojibwe were worried about the entire mining project. On August 2, 1996, a Justice Department mediator arrived. During talks, Bresette and the Ogichidaa shared their deep concerns about the mining method. They worried about its effect on Lake Superior. They also said the project was illegal. The EPA had approved it without talking to the affected Native tribes. These tribes are sovereign, meaning they have their own rights and should have been involved.
An agreement was reached. The protesters ended the blockade. In return, the EPA would investigate the mining project. In September, the EPA announced a meeting about the project. At first, they seemed to support the mining. The trains then carried the acid through the reservation. The protesters shifted their focus to the mine itself.
However, as the EPA looked closer, they found many problems. On October 14, the mining company stopped its operations. They said the EPA's environmental study would take too long. They also mentioned the uncertain future of the mine. Facing legal challenges over treaty rights, the company withdrew its mining permit application the next spring. The EPA later confirmed the railroads in Wisconsin were safe. But by then, the sulfuric acid shipments had already stopped.
The railroad branch continued to operate sometimes until at least 2011. It was closed in 2012 due to problems with a bridge. As of 2016, the main railroad line serving the branch is also out of service.
