Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories, November 26, 2012 – Twelve actions
are taking place across Canada and internationally on Tuesday November 27
in support of the Unis’tot’en, who grabbed national headlines when they
evicted shale gas pipeline surveyors from their territories in the
Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories, November 26, 2012 – Twelve actions
are taking place across Canada and internationally on Tuesday November 27
in support of the Unis’tot’en, who grabbed national headlines when they
evicted shale gas pipeline surveyors from their territories in the
interior of BC last week. The Unis’tot’en have made it clear that no
proposed pipelines will proceed in Unist’ot’en territories and that
corporations, investors, and governments have no jurisdiction to approve
development on their lands.
For a full list of actions and supporting organizations:
https://unistotencamp.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/press-release/
In Vancouver: Noon at Apache offices, 200 Burrard Street, corner CordovaOn November 20, Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Toghestiy intercepted and
issued an eagle feather to surveyors from the Can-Am Geomatics company,
working for Apache’s proposed shale gas Pacific Trails Pipeline. In
Wet’suwet’en law, an eagle feather is used as a first and only notice of
trespass. The surveyors were ordered to leave the territory and the road
entering into the territory has been closed to all industry activities
until further notice.
Since July of 2010, the Wet’suwet’en have established a camp in the
pathway of the Pacific Trails Pipeline. Likhts’amisyu hereditary chief
Toghestiy states, “Unist’ot’en and Grassroots Wet’suwet’en have
consistently stated that they will not allow such a pipeline to pass
through their territory. The federal and provincial governments, as well
as Indian Act tribal councils or bands, have no right or jurisdiction to
approve development on Unist’ot’en lands. By consulting only with elected
Indian Act tribal councils and bands, the Canadian government breaks its
own laws as outlined in the 1997 Supreme Court of Canada Delgamuukw
decision which recognizes Hereditary adjudication processes.”
Freda Huson, spokeswoman for the Unist’ot’en Clan, states: “Pacific Trails
Pipeline does not have permission to be on our territory. This is unceded
land. Through emails and in meetings, we have repeatedly said NO. Pacific
Trail Pipeline’s proposed route is through two main salmon spawning
channels which provide our staple food supply. We have made the message
clear to Pacific Trails, Enbridge, and all of industry: We will not permit
any pipelines through our territory.”
The Unist’ot’en clan is against all pipelines slated to cross through
their territories. This includes Enbridge Northern Gateway, Pacific
Trails, Coast Gas Link, Kinder Morgan’s northern proposal, and others.
Pacific Trails Pipeline is the most pressing and immediate threat to the
community. Enbridge pipeline would be built side by side to – with
essentially the same right of way as Pacific Trails, thus raising concerns
that the Pacific Trails Pipeline might ‘blaze a trail’ for the Enbridge
project.
Brigette Depape, known as the Rogue Page for standing up in Senate with a
Stop Harper sign, currently in Vancouver, is lending her support to the
Unist’ot’en, “I believe we will stop the reckless agendas of governments
and industry because of strong leadership from communities like the
Unis’tot’en as they take action against irresponsible pipelines.”
According to the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives, much of the
shale gas produced in BC is currently destined for Alberta, where it is
used as fuel in the tar sands. While industry sells fracking as a “green
transition fuel,” Robert Howarth from Cornell University emphasizes that
“Shale gas is worse than conventional gas, and is, in fact, worse than
coal and worse than oil.”
The Council of Canadians, one of Canada’s largest organizations, is
supporting the day of action. Chairperson Maude Barlow has recently
written, “The Enbridge Northern Gateway, Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain and the Pacific Trails Pipelines would put the economic interests of industry
ahead of people and communities. These pipelines would add more tanker
traffic to BC’s pristine coastlines, expand fracking and tar sands
industries, increase climate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and
violate First Nations rights to hunt, trap, and fish on their land and to
make decisions about the future of their traditional territories. We need
to do everything we can to turn the tap off to these pipelines.”
Judy Da Silva of the Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows) Land Defenders states, “The Asubpeeschoseewagong Land Defenders stand with the Unist’ot’en. When we come together to protect the land, we are doing it
for all of our future generations. This government and all of industry
needs to understand that no means no. We will not sacrifice our lands,
cultures, and children for their greed.”
– 30 –
Pacific Trails Pipeline is a $1 billion partnership between Apache Canada,
Encana Corporation, and EOG Resources (Enron Oil and Gas). Royal Bank of
Canada, the largest financier of oil and gas companies operating in the
tar sands and the second largest financier of Enbridge, is also a major
investor in Encana. In fact, David P. O’Brien, Chairman of the Board of
Encana, is also the Chairman of the Board of Royal Bank of Canada. The
463-kilometer pipeline would connect a liquefied natural gas terminal in
Kitimat to Summit Lake near Prince George in northeastern BC, with the aim
of transporting upto 1 million cubic feet of natural gas per day extracted
through hydraulic fracturing of shale gas (fracking), to international
markets through supertankers. The BC government approved the pipeline’s
expanded capacity in April 2012.
Unist’ot’en: Unist’ot’en (C’ihlts’ehkhyu / Big Frog Clan) are a clan of
the Wet’suwet’en nation. The Wet’suwet’en are made up of five clans, with
territories that they are expected to manage for their future generations.
Neither the Unist’ot’en People or the other Grassroots Wet’suwet’en are
associated with the Office of the Wet’suwet’en.
Asubpeeschoseewagong Land Defenders: This week marks the 10 year
anniversary of the Grassy Narrows Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek
blockade in northern Ontario. For the past decade, the community has
maintained a blockade that has held off some of the world's largest paper
corporations from logging their territories.
—
Harsha Walia
https://twitter.com/HarshaWalia
https://www.facebook.com/NoOneIsIllegalNetwork
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Spokesperson for the Unist’ot’en Clan Freda Huson: 18683094388
Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Toghestiy: toghestiy@gmail.com
Harjap Grewal: Council of Canadians: 604-340-2455