Watch First Daughter and the Black Snake

First Daughter and the Black Snake is a powerful documentary film from 2017 starring Winona LaDuke, an Ojibwe activist and author who fought for social justice and Indigenous rights. Directed by Keri Pickett, the film follows LaDuke's journey to stop an oil pipeline from being built in her community and the resistance she faced from corporations, politicians, and law enforcement.

The film begins with a scene from Standing Rock, where LaDuke and other water protectors are protesting the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. She explains how the pipeline would endanger the water supply of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and violate tribal sovereignty. The film then shifts to LaDuke's home in Minnesota, where she is fighting a similar battle against another pipeline, known as the Line 3.

The Line 3 pipeline is proposed by the Canadian energy company Enbridge and would replace an existing pipeline that was built in the 1960s. The project has been called the largest oil pipeline expansion in North America and would transport nearly one million barrels of tar sands oil per day from Alberta to Wisconsin. The pipeline would cross over 200 bodies of water, including the headwaters of the Mississippi River and Lake Superior, and would violate Indigenous treaty rights.

LaDuke is a founder of the Indigenous-led organization Honor the Earth, which works to protect sacred wild rice lakes, forests, and other natural resources in Minnesota and beyond. The organization has been fighting the Line 3 pipeline for several years, holding rallies and demonstrations, conducting research, and building alliances with other groups that oppose the pipeline.

The film features interviews with LaDuke, her family members, members of the White Earth Nation, and other activists who are fighting the pipeline. It also highlights the impact that oil extraction and transportation have on the environment and Indigenous communities, including the rise in cancer rates, the destruction of sacred sites, and the forced displacement of people.

One of the most powerful scenes in the film is when LaDuke and other water protectors visit the site of an oil spill near Bemidji, Minnesota. The spill occurred in 1979, when a pipeline owned by the same company that is proposing Line 3 ruptured and spilled 1.7 million gallons of crude oil into the Prairie River. The river was a source of drinking water for the White Earth Nation and other communities, and the spill had devastating environmental and health consequences.

LaDuke reflects on the fact that the same company that caused the spill is now proposing another pipeline that would put even more communities and water sources at risk. She notes that Enbridge has a history of pipeline spills and other environmental violations, and that Indigenous people have been disproportionately affected by these disasters.

Throughout the film, LaDuke and other activists face numerous challenges as they try to stop the pipeline. They are harassed and intimidated by law enforcement, who use militarized tactics to suppress protests and protect the interests of the oil industry. They also face opposition from politicians, who are often beholden to corporate donors and ignore the concerns of Indigenous people and environmentalists.

Despite these obstacles, the film shows how LaDuke and others are able to make progress in their fight against the pipeline. They hold rallies, organize caravans, and conduct direct actions to draw attention to the pipeline and build public awareness. They also work with legal experts to challenge the pipeline's permits and demand that the government conduct a full environmental review.

Ultimately, the film is a powerful testament to the resilience and courage of Indigenous people and the importance of protecting the earth's natural resources. It highlights the ongoing struggles of Indigenous communities in the face of corporate greed and government indifference, and shows how ordinary people can come together to make a difference. First Daughter and the Black Snake is a must-see documentary for anyone who cares about justice, the environment, and the future of our planet.

First Daughter and the Black Snake is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.8.