Pipeline protesters say community protocols ignored

Members of the Gitxan First Nation, disappointed in their band’s cooperation in an oil pipeline deal, have been protesting outside the community treaty office in Hazelton since Dec. 5.

Protesters are demanding reform of the Gitxan Treaty Society constitution to include meaningful community consultation on such initiatives. Further they say they are saddened that the society members have spoken on behalf of the community and its hereditary chiefs in agreeing to accept shares in Enbridge’s controversial Gateway Pipeline Agreement.

The agreement, announced by hereditary chief Elmer Derrick in Vancouver on Dec. 2, gives the Gitxan First Nation an ownership stake in the $5.5 billion project, which will see the pipeline run through the nation’s traditional territory.

Those who signed on to the agreement say it is a safe and lucrative plan for the Gitxan people.

“Over time, we have established a relationship of trust with Enbridge, we have examined and assessed this project, and we believe it can be built and operated safely,” Chief Derrick said in a statement after delivering the partnership agreement announcement on behalf of the Gitxan hereditary chiefs.

“We believe that the construction of this pipeline is of vital importance to the future of Canadian energy security and prosperity,” he added.

But while members of the Gitxan Treaty Society approve of the deal, others in the community are appalled at the decision.

“It’s destruction, to put it bluntly,” said protester, Dan Yunkwas. “It’s total devastation of our land.”

Protestors say the agreement came as a surprise, claiming that decisions were reached without community involvement. They have called for the resignations of those involved in deal negotiations.

But in a recent interview, Gordon Sebastian, a negotiator with the Gitxsan Treaty Society, is noted as stating the agreement should not come as a surprise, considering that the Dec. 2 decision merely furthers a 2009 accord signed in Prince George and approved by Gitxsan hereditary chiefs.

Melanie Smoke, a Gitxan protestor and opponent of the Northern Gateway deal, alleges that chiefs signed the 2009 accord after they were told the document was to further talks on the project, and not to take deliberate steps toward the deal.

Smoke said hereditary chief, Billy Blackwater, signed the 2009 accord, but Blackwater would not confirm or deny it, saying he could not discuss the issue as the band is in the process of litigation with the treaty society.

He did say a court hearing is scheduled for January 2012.
The Gitxan First Nation members are not the only group opposing the Enbridge deal. It has been reported that some 61 First Nations with territories in and around the proposed pipeline region plan to block the project.

To date the groups have signed a declaration titled “Save the Fraser Gathering of Nations,” which states simply that they “will not allow the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines, or similar tar sands projects, to cross our lands, territories and watersheds, or the ocean migration routes of the Fraser River salmon.”

Protestors fear that if the pipeline is built the damaging environmental impacts on their territory will be irreversible.

“If this goes through it is going to destroy the natural beauty of B.C.,” Yunkwas predicts.

He estimates that around 700 waterways, creeks and streams will be affected.

But in a statement on its Web site, Enbridge maintains that they have collaborated with First Nations communities and have taken strides to secure safe methods in creating the pipeline project.

“Northern Gateway is working cooperatively with Aboriginal communities to ensure that they have the opportunity to meaningfully benefit from the project over the long term,” the statement reads.

Further, Enbridge claims that in June 2011, Northern Gateway filed an update to its regulatory application to the National Energy Board that detailed extensive consultations with more than 40 Aboriginal groups in B.C. and Alberta.

“Aboriginal groups have continued to provide important feedback, which has informed and tailored Northern Gateway’s response to interests and concerns raised during consultation,” Enbridge states.

Moreover, Enbridge claims that during their preliminary research a Northern Gateway’s Strategic Watercrossing Assessment Team, SWAT for short, was tasked with finding the best, safest and most environmentally responsible methods for crossing the inland waterways of the proposed pipeline route.

According to Enbridge the team was made up of engineers, fisheries and pipeline construction specialists, as well as local Aboriginal experts with traditional knowledge of the areas studied.

But while Enbridge maintains that it is following proper protocol regarding environmental assessments, protestors say that traditional Gitxan cultural protocol was completely ignored when the treaty society agreed to the partnership without community consultation or cooperation.

“It’s crazy what’s going on right now,” Smoke said of the agreement.

“In our traditional system, [decisions] have to go to our clan chiefs,” she said. “Any important business must be taken back to the house clans and discussed.

“And when the houses of each clan makes a decision, all the clans meet and all the chiefs speak and are heard and then the decision is made,” she said. “If it can not be agreed on, it is agreed to be left alone or revisited at another time,” Smoke explained.

“No business, celebrations, etc. is to be done when there is a death among our people...another traditional law that was broken,” Smoke added, explaining that at the time the agreement was announced the community was gathering for a memorial and settlement feast of one of its honored matriarchs.

“That’s the Gitxan way and they haven’t been open to the Gitxan way,” agreed Yunkwas.

“[But] I’m not angry,” said Smoke. “I am disappointed in these people who were brought up traditionally and know our laws and ways and culture.”

“I do care for many people in that office,” continued Smoke. “What we are doing down there is not personal,” she stressed. “We are trying to get to the truth. We did not agree to this agreement with Enbridge or any pipelines.”

To date the group says it has collected nearly 1,500 signatures on a petition opposing the pipeline plan.
But for now, Smoke, Yunkwas and two-dozen community members remain camped outside the treaty society office. They say the First Nation community and the non-Native community have shown support in their cause through providing them with food, sharing discussions around the camp’s sacred fire and even singing them Christmas Carols to boost moral.

“We even plan to cook a turkey over the fire for Christmas,” said community member Dan Marshall.

The group vows that it will remain at the camp and will continue to occupy the doors of the society until opposition voices are heard and requests for consultation and business reform are addressed.

“We’ll be here as long as it takes,” said Yunkwas.

“We’re here for the long haul,” agreed Smoke.