The Lax Kw’alaams First Nation is seeking aboriginal title to Lelu Island and Flora Bank in order to force changes to the Pacific NorthWest LNG proposal, casting further doubt on the $36-billion LNG export project.
Lax Kw’alaams leader Gary Reece said in an interview Friday that while the First Nation is open to development, they want Lelu Island near Prince Rupert to be off-limits. They will go to court next week to claim the land, he said.
Once a claim is established, the First Nation said, governments would be obligated to seek its consent for development.