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A Collection of Stories from the Movement to Stop Line 3

Available through Haymarket Books!

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Even the River Starts Small is a collection of stories from the movement to stop construction of the Line 3 pipeline through northern Minnesota. It features anonymous writing, art, and photos spanning nearly a decade, and includes reflections on many of the diverse experiences that made up this grassroots resistance. 


Line 3 is a tar sands oil pipeline that threatens communities, land, and water along its route, as well as the future of our climate. In 2021, despite fierce resistance, Enbridge completed construction of Line 3. Anishinaabe water protectors led the fight, asserting their sovereignty to oppose construction of this extractive project through their lands. For the better part of a decade thousands of people in Minnesota and around turtle island submitted public comments and testimony about the risks of Line 3, organized mass marches and rallies, protested the banks and funders of the pipeline, coordinated sustained direct action and ceremonial protest along the pipeline route to halt construction, and so much more.

The Line 3 Storytelling Anthology team received more than a thousand submissions to this collection. We weren't able to capture every story or perspective, and we know that this project cannot speak for or record the entirety of the movement, but we are honored to uplift some of the stories people chose to share with us about their time resisting this extractive project.



“I felt the full range of emotions (grief, joy, annoyance, exasperation, fondness). The collection really offered a way to look back on the full complexity of the movement.”

ANONYMOUS READER

“This collection sets the bar high for what collaborative frontline literature can be.” 

MARK TILSEN
It Ain't Over Until We're Smoking Cigars On The Drill Pad

“This is one of the most wonderful books I have ever known, and I will treasure it for the rest of my life.” 

ANONYMOUS READER

“A stunning assemblage of voices and visions, Even the River Starts Small perfectly mirrors the sacred beauty of this self-organized struggle against resource extraction: it takes an ecosystem to defend life. This volume, overflowing with the art of remembrance and resistance, makes crystal clear—tenderly, lovingly, as a gift—that it takes innumerable “molecules” to make up the waters of other possible worlds.”

CINDY BARUKH MILSTEIN
Try Anarchism for Life


This book is dedicated to the people who gave their time and energy to the 
movement to stop Line 3, and to anyone dreaming of a liberated world. 

Thank you for trusting us with your stories, photos, and artwork. 
We are so grateful that so many people wanted to be involved in this project. 


The book was first released in April of 2023 and distributed for free as a gift to people who had participated in the resistance. Now that the book is available for traditional sale, we’ve worked with Haymarket to keep the price as low as possible. All profits will be spent on printing and distributing further copies of the collection. If you want to read the book and are not able to afford the listed price please reach out to us.
line3anthology@gmail.com


@line3anthology