As tribal leaders deeply embedded in communities throughout Louisiana, we bear witness to the mounting concerns surrounding the expanding CO2 sequestration projects across our state. Our treasured homeland, which includes precious national forests, state parks, and vital aquifers, faces unprecedented threats from carbon sequestration initiatives. These projects, with implementation scheduled to commence in 2025, are contingent upon lawmakers purposely overlooking potential fallout – fallout that will create deep, widespread, and longstanding detrimental effects on our beloved natural resources.Why Carbon Storage Is a Bad Idea https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2023/09/06/carbon-storage-bad-idea/

Louisiana has emerged as the central hub for carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, with well sites proliferating throughout the state. One example is the Vernon Parish site (https://www.capturepointllc.com/about which illustrates the scale and scope of these operations. However, this is not an isolated project – similar well sites are being established across Louisiana, making our state the primary portal for launching this technology nationwide and globally.

This crisis extends far beyond Louisiana's borders. As this CCS model spreads globally, it affects tribal communities worldwide. Louisiana serves as the testing ground and launching platform for a technology that will impact Indigenous peoples across the globe.

This isn't just about preserving our own communities; it's about guaranteeing the sanctity and health of the Earth for all mankind. While carbon sequestration is promoted as a method of mitigating global warming effects, the potential harm outweighs the benefits. Interference with underground drinking water, potential enhancement of acid rain, and unintended leakage causing surface contamination are all legitimate risks associated with carbon sequestration (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2020). These impacts would devastate our communities both environmentally and socially.

There should not be a testing ground for a process fraught with such risks. Our land, our water, and our people deserve protection. We therefore call upon the State of Louisiana to reconsider and terminate the CO2 projects in Vernon Parish and all similar projects set to move forward statewide.

Louisiana is not a wasteland for dumping industrial waste on our people and communities. We call upon all tribal leaders within the state to stand with us and ensure Mother Earth and all her gifts of resources are protected.

Please stand with us as Tribal Nations and sign our petition. Help us safeguard our lands, water, and communities for future generations. Sign to stop the CO2 projects throughout Louisiana.

For concerns or to join our efforts in spreading awareness across our entire state and beyond, please reach out to https://unitedinternationalindigenousnations.org

Please watch this video to see the scope of how expansive this CO2 sequestration project truly is: https://youtu.be/xmyb1_NNsnQ    and if you have not done so..... Please go see this map to see the Grand Scale of the projects globally.  https://www.catf.us/ccsmapus/ 

We walk in sacred relationship with the Great Spirit who works miracles beyond our understanding. The Creator breathes life into all things and shows us the path of balance and healing.

When we gather as one people, when we stand together with strong hearts and united voices, the ancestors walk with us. Our Creator guides our steps, and Mother Earth holds us in her embrace. She whispers to us through the wind in the trees, through the flowing waters, and through the sacred ground beneath our feet.

Our voices, when lifted together in harmony, carry the power of seven generations before us and the hope of seven generations yet to come. The Creator hears our prayers, and Mother Earth feels our reverence. Together, we are not alone – we are part of the great web of life, connected to all our relations.

In this unity, guided by the wisdom of our Creator and nurtured by Mother Earth's love, our voices will rise like the eagle's cry, strong and clear, reaching across the lands. The Great Spirit works through us when we stand as one people, honoring the sacred trust we hold as protectors of this Earth.

Mitákuye Oyás'iŋ – we are all related.