Preserving Our Sacred Path

The Great Trading Path, also called the Occaneechi Path, runs through North Carolina’s Piedmont hills, serving as a vital route for trade, culture, and remembrance. Recognized on the 2025 World Monuments Watch, it highlights the urgent need to preserve our shared heritage.

VISIT THE TRADING PATH'S WATCH LIST PAGE

Remnants of the Occaneechi Path are sacred to the community, but nearby development like Bu-cee’s gas station threatens its preservation and access. Limited acknowledgment and marginalization deepen these issues.

CHECK OUT OUR TRADING PATH BLOG POST

The Indigenous community urges Mebane to engage in genuine land-use discussions, respecting our history and protecting the culturally significant Occaneechi Path.

SIGN OUR PETITION

Buc-ee's Burden

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Timeline

Timeline

December 2023 Mebane Planning Board, tasked with advising the city on development projects, votes against the Buc-ee’s proposal. Over a thousand community members write to the Mebane City Council asking them to block the project.


January 2024 Mebane City Council votes unanimously to approve the Buc-ee’s gas station, dismissing widespread opposition to the project and alarming data by health and environmental justice experts.

Our Stance

Environmental Damage

Environmental Damage

Environmental Damage

Just 200 vehicles emit pollutants harming health. Buc-ee’s attracts 25,000 daily visitors, risking air quality. Located near schools and neighborhoods, it exacerbates air pollution. Additionally, storing vast amounts of petroleum underground threatens water sources and our environment, risking soil and water contamination and endangering cultural sites.

Protecting Heritage

Environmental Damage

Environmental Damage

The historic Occaneechi Trading Path, vital for Native American culture and connections, faces threats from Buc-ee’s development in Mebane. This path was essential for cultural exchange, connecting villages, hunting sites, and burial grounds, fostering shared heritage and traditions.

Fair Work for All

End Fossil Dependence

End Fossil Dependence

Buc-ee’s employment practices have faced legal and public criticism, with low worker ratings reflecting poor conditions. Its presence diverts shoppers from local businesses, impacting community fabric and cultural heritage sites like the Occaneechi Path.

End Fossil Dependence

End Fossil Dependence

End Fossil Dependence

Relying on fossil fuels is risky and unsustainable. Transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar and wind is safer, cheaper, and crucial to tackling climate change. Buc-ee’s promotion of gas stations hampers this shift, impacting our economy and environment.

Public Views on Buc-ee's

Check out this mashup of powerful statements addressing cultural heritage preservation against Buc-ee's during the Mebane City Council meeting in Jan 2024. After more than 9 hours of discussion, the Council voted unanimously to approve the project, which also acknowledged the significance of the Occaneechi Path.