First Nation elder urges others to reject Northern Gateway

As public hearings began Tuesday into Enbridge Inc.’s Northern Gateway project, First Nations groups came together to speak against the building of the twin pipelines.

The federal review of the Enbridge project is meant to determine if the B.C.-to-Alberta pipelines are environmentally sound, has economic merit and are in Canada’s public interest.

Ken Hall, an elder with the Haisla Nation, spoke eloquently about his family’s total dependence on seafood when he was growing up. Yet, over time, Mr. Hall has seen fish and wildlife stocks depleted to the extent that he now concerned for his people’s future.

Mr. Hall fears the worse should anything go wrong with Enbridge’s proposed pipelines.

“One spill from them will wipe out everything,” he cautioned. “We’ll have no more. And it’s not going to be us who are damaged. It will be our grandchildren.”

The public hearings into the proposed $5.5-billion pipeline is expected to run 18 months and feature of thousands of people.

The heated public debate is focused on the risks and rewards of the 1,172-kilometre pipeline and associated tanker traffic on the B.C. coast. An eastbound pipeline would carry imported natural gas condensate to Alberta, which is used to thin heavier petroleum products.

The small community of Kitimat would be the terminus of the pipelines where super tankers will be loaded with oil destined for Asia, opening up new markets for bitumen from Alberta’s oil sands.

An oil spill in Douglas Channel or the Kitimat River would have profound effects on the community of 9,200, effecting the town’s water supply, salmon and marine environment.

Mr. Hall also spoke about his community’s eight-year fight against a logging company in Kitlope, B.C.

“It’s going to be terrible — terrifying — if everything disappears on us in this community.”
Clifford Smith, another elder with the Haisla Nation, echoed Mr. Hall’s words as he acknowledged the many First Nations bands who plan to attend the hearings.

“Let’s take that strength and stand together and say no to Enbridge,” he said.