(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, B.C. - March 23, 2010) The UBCIC Chiefs Council met last week in Vancouver, B.C. and one item of discussion was the proposed Enbridge Pipeline Project. UBCIC Resolution 2010-11, Enbridge Pipeline Project, was presented, discussed and ratified.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs stated “The UBCIC is opposed to the Enbridge Pipeline Project and stands with the many First Nations who are standing as a unified block in their opposition to this proposed Tar Sands pipeline.”
This morning, the Coastal First Nations, who are an alliance of First Nations on B.C.’s North and Central Coast and Haida Gwaii, announced that they will not allow pipelines and oil tankers carrying Alberta’s Tar Sands Oil in British Columbia.
This week, Grand Chief Phillip is in Williams Lake supporting the Tsilhqot’in’s defense of Teztan Biny at the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency public hearings into the proposed Taseko Mines Ltd.’s plans to build a gold-copper mine on the territory of the Tsilhqot’in Nation.
“Water is the issue. Indigenous Peoples are defending their territory and the health of their communities throughout British Columbia. The short-term economic gain promised by government and industry proponents of mega-projects like the Enbridge Pipeline, Taseko Mines’ Prosperity Mine and Kemess North are being opposed by First Nations who are thinking of the long-term impact on their territories and on their communities,” said Grand Chief Phillip.
Grand Chief Phillip concluded “It is abundantly clear, B.C. First Nations will not put their territories and waters at risk caused by the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and crude oil tanker traffic. As Indigenous Peoples, we know first-hand when third party interests are granted access to the resources of our territories, government and the courts protect those industry interests at great cost to our Aboriginal Title and Rights and of the environmental values that many British Columbians share with First Nations.”
– 30 –
Media inquires:
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Union of BC Indian Chiefs
Phone: (250) 490-5314
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UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS
CHIEFS COUNCIL
MARCH 17TH - 18TH, 2010
VANCOUVER, B.C.
Resolution no. 2010-11
RE: Enbridge Pipeline Project
WHEREAS Enbridge proposes to build two parallel 1,170 kilometre pipelines through Alberta and British Columbia to export crude oil and other oil products;
WHEREAS these pipelines would involve over 1000 stream and river crossings and result in 525,000 barrels of crude oil/day, 193,000 barrels of condensate/day, and 225 tankers a year travelling through the territories of nations along the pipeline and tanker routes;
WHEREAS the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline Project will ship oil products by tankers in our coastal waters;
WHEREAS First Nations have practiced uncontested, supreme and absolute jurisdiction over our territories, our resources and our lives with the right to manage our territories including our lands and waters;
WHEREAS First Nations laws and customs define our responsibilities to protect our lands and waters;
WHEREAS BC First Nations will not put their territories and waters at risk caused by the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and crude oil tanker traffic;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCIC Chiefs Council oppose the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline Project.
Moved: Chief Donna Gallinger, Nicomen Indian Band
Seconded: Chief Wayne Christian, Splats’in First Nation
Disposition: Carried
Abstention: Chief Fabian Alexis, Okanagan Indian Band
Date: March 18th, 2010
PDF COPY AT:
http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/files/PDF/UBCICPress_SupportEnbridgeOpposition_032310.pdf
The UBCIC is a NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs stated “The UBCIC is opposed to the Enbridge Pipeline Project and stands with the many First Nations who are standing as a unified block in their opposition to this proposed Tar Sands pipeline.”
This morning, the Coastal First Nations, who are an alliance of First Nations on B.C.’s North and Central Coast and Haida Gwaii, announced that they will not allow pipelines and oil tankers carrying Alberta’s Tar Sands Oil in British Columbia.
This week, Grand Chief Phillip is in Williams Lake supporting the Tsilhqot’in’s defense of Teztan Biny at the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency public hearings into the proposed Taseko Mines Ltd.’s plans to build a gold-copper mine on the territory of the Tsilhqot’in Nation.
“Water is the issue. Indigenous Peoples are defending their territory and the health of their communities throughout British Columbia. The short-term economic gain promised by government and industry proponents of mega-projects like the Enbridge Pipeline, Taseko Mines’ Prosperity Mine and Kemess North are being opposed by First Nations who are thinking of the long-term impact on their territories and on their communities,” said Grand Chief Phillip.
Grand Chief Phillip concluded “It is abundantly clear, B.C. First Nations will not put their territories and waters at risk caused by the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and crude oil tanker traffic. As Indigenous Peoples, we know first-hand when third party interests are granted access to the resources of our territories, government and the courts protect those industry interests at great cost to our Aboriginal Title and Rights and of the environmental values that many British Columbians share with First Nations.”
– 30 –
Media inquires:
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Union of BC Indian Chiefs
Phone: (250) 490-5314
=====================
UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS
CHIEFS COUNCIL
MARCH 17TH - 18TH, 2010
VANCOUVER, B.C.
Resolution no. 2010-11
RE: Enbridge Pipeline Project
WHEREAS Enbridge proposes to build two parallel 1,170 kilometre pipelines through Alberta and British Columbia to export crude oil and other oil products;
WHEREAS these pipelines would involve over 1000 stream and river crossings and result in 525,000 barrels of crude oil/day, 193,000 barrels of condensate/day, and 225 tankers a year travelling through the territories of nations along the pipeline and tanker routes;
WHEREAS the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline Project will ship oil products by tankers in our coastal waters;
WHEREAS First Nations have practiced uncontested, supreme and absolute jurisdiction over our territories, our resources and our lives with the right to manage our territories including our lands and waters;
WHEREAS First Nations laws and customs define our responsibilities to protect our lands and waters;
WHEREAS BC First Nations will not put their territories and waters at risk caused by the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and crude oil tanker traffic;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCIC Chiefs Council oppose the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline Project.
Moved: Chief Donna Gallinger, Nicomen Indian Band
Seconded: Chief Wayne Christian, Splats’in First Nation
Disposition: Carried
Abstention: Chief Fabian Alexis, Okanagan Indian Band
Date: March 18th, 2010
PDF COPY AT:
http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/files/PDF/UBCICPress_SupportEnbridgeOpposition_032310.pdf
The UBCIC is a NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
