May 27, 2013
CSTC Unity on Pipelines
Dakelh Territory, Prince George, British Columbia. Canada. It’s time that Premier Christy Clark meet with the CSTC Chiefs to discuss natural gas pipeline proposals impacting CSTC member First Nations territories. The CSTC First Nations are unified and adamant that these natural gas pipeline projects will have a challenges ahead without our free, prior and informed consent.
Tribal Chief Terry Teegee stated, “We have been meeting with our leaders, and are unified in our approach to understand the cumulative impacts from all these proposed natural gas pipelines.” Teegee continued, “We’ve also been meeting with the natural gas pipeline companies. Some have been better than others, but all must provide sufficient time and resources for our people to review these projects.”
“We are not against development, however we need to have sufficient time to conduct our studies and inform our membership,” said Chief Fred Sam of the Nak'azdli First Nation, which could be impacted by several natural gas pipelines being proposed, and the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline. The natural gas pipelines include: Pacific Trails Pipelines (Chevron/Apache), Coastal GasLink Pipeline (TransCanada), Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project (TransCanada), and Northern Gas Transmission Project (Spectra).
Dolly Abraham, Chief of Takla Lake First Nation and CSTC Vice-Tribal Chief warned: “The media is misleading everyone suggesting that Enbridge Northern Gateway has a chance of being built under Christy Clark’s leadership. We have already done an assessment and have found that it is not worth the risk.” Chief Dolly added, “We are united. We have had a lot of broken promises from the Crown and industry, and we must be meaningfully consulted and accommodated.”
Chief Martin Louie of the Nadleh Whut'en First Nation said, “We have recently met with Doug Eyford, Special Envoy to Prime Minister Harper. We let him know our collective views on the energy corridors for oil and natural gas pipeline infrastructure. The federal government has a lot of work to do with our Nations to ensure that there is equitable revenue sharing and shared decision-making on these major projects.”
“We are being pressured by various projects, including natural gas pipelines. Deals are being made on the coast and upstream in northeast BC. We are in the middle and will require new precedents and processes if these projects are to be viable”, said Chief Reg Louis of the Stellat'en First Nation. He further stated, “We are very interested in hearing from the new BC government on their views on how BC will change its policies on revenue sharing, and shared decision-making with our First Nations.”
“Tl’azt’en Nation stands with our brothers and sisters to the north, south, east, and west on a unified front. Industry and the Crown must engage our First Nations prior to any permits being issued.” He added, “We don’t want to be forced into an either or scenario. Our land and waterways are under threat, and we must have cumulative impact assessments completed in order to understand how these projects will impact future generations.”
Chief Stanley Thomas of the Saik’uz First Nation said, “The Crown has been negligent and absent in meaningful discussions with our people. The land question has not been resolved in our territories.” He added, “Christy Clark must improve the BC government’s approach in dealing with our people.”
Tribal Chief Teegee concluded, “It’s premature for the Crown and natural gas pipeline companies to think that all these projects will happen without our consent or meaningful involvement. Our First Nations have decision-making authority. We will not be pushed aside, nor will our decision-making authority be fettered by divide-and-conquer tactics. Our people and leaders are united.”
Some of the current natural gas pipeline proposals include:
• TransCanada – Coastal GasLink Project, runs near existing png pipeline ($4B)
• TransCanada – Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project, runs north of Takla Lake ($5B)
• Apache/Chevron – Pacific Trails Pipeline, similar route as Coastal GasLink Project ($1.5B)
• Spectra Energy – runs north of Takla Lake, similar route as Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project ($8B)
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Media contacts: Tribal Chief Terry Teegee: Office (250) 562-6279. Cell: (250) 640-3256
Dakelh Territory, Prince George, British Columbia. Canada. It’s time that Premier Christy Clark meet with the CSTC Chiefs to discuss natural gas pipeline proposals impacting CSTC member First Nations territories. The CSTC First Nations are unified and adamant that these natural gas pipeline projects will have a challenges ahead without our free, prior and informed consent.