Dakelh Territory, Prince George, British Columbia. Canada. The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council is in full support of the report released today by several non-governmental organizations titled: Pipeline and Tanker Trouble – The Impact to British Columbia’s Communities, Rivers and Pacific Coastline from Tar Sands Oil Transport. This report adds to the growing evidence that the Enbridge pipeline is not worth the risk. Prepared by the Natural Resource Defence Council, Living Oceans Society, and the Pembina Institute, this latest report is also endorsed by several organizations including the Headwaters Initiative, ForestEthics, West Coast Environmental Law, Sierra Club BC, Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Pacific Wild, Friends of Wild Salmon, Dogwood Initiative and Douglas Channel Watch.
Tribal Chief Luggi said, “This latest report does more than just outline evidence showing that the Enbridge pipeline should be rejected. It offers several recommendations for government and pipeline safety regulators.” Chief Luggi noted, “We’ll be discussing these with our First Nations leaders and members. Our people have said from day one that the Enbridge Gateway project is not worth the risk and will not be allowed to cross our unceded territories.”
Vice Tribal Chief Terry Teegee stated, “First Nations view the proposed Enbridge Gateway project with our eyes, mind and hearts wide open. We see that the source of this project is based on the perceived global demand of crude oil. It involves the largest industrial project in human history through the extraction of oil from the tar sands. The proposed Enbridge pipeline could cross over 700 waterways on 1,000 km+ of mostly unceded First Nations lands. The resulting super tanker traffic will threaten pristine waterways and the livelihoods of all beings.” All of these activities are contributing to global climate change and global leaders, especially Canada, are waffling in their commitments to curb their emissions. Leaders are in South Africa this week discussing the latest climate change protocol at the UN Conference of the Parties 17 (COP 17) on climate change. Canadians should be concerned that the federal government is considering walking away from the table in Durban and not live up to the Kyoto Protocol. “All of this is connected back to the Alberta tar sands, which is the source of most of Canada’s emissions increasing global climate change,” noted Vice Tribal Chief Teegee. The UN also noted today that the past decade has been the hottest on record.
“It’s a shame on Canadians, and a violation of human rights if the Enbridge project is allowed to proceed,” said Tribal Chief Luggi. He also stated, “First Nations are always the first to be impacted and tend to feel the impacts for generations as we attempt to live and survive through these types of projects.” Vice Tribal Chief Teegee said, “We’ve witnessed what has happened when companies like Enbridge do business with First Nations. The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) have filed suit against Shell Canada over unmet agreements to their lands and resources from Shell’s tar sands projects. We stand united with ACFN and other First Nations that are saying ‘enough is enough’.”
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For more information please contact:
Tribal Chief David Luggi: Office (250) 562-6279 e.222. Cell: (250) 640-6622
Vice Tribal Chief Terry Teegee: Office (250) 562-6279 e.223. Cell: (250) 640-3256
News Release (PDF Version)