Former national chief of AFN, Phil Fontaine, heckled off stage

Former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations,
Phil Fontaine, was heckled off a stage at the University of Winnipeg Jan. 22. He was scheduled to lecture on First Nations issues, but protesters booed him for taking a job with TransCanada Pipeline in December. TransCanada Pipeline proposes building the Energy East project, a 4,500-kilometre pipeline that will carry 1.1-million barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta and Saskatchewan to refineries in Eastern Canada. It also owns the line that exploded in Southeast Manitoba near Otterburne Jan. 25. The protesters held anti-oil sand signs and beat drums as Fontaine tried to deliver his speech, but organizers ended up cancelling the event. “How dare you, Phil!” said one protested, reported the Winnipeg Free Press. “How dare you sell us out to work for the enemy that’s destroying this earth?” In response, Fontaine said though he works for the pipeline company, he is not satisfied with all that the industry does and said he has expressed as much to TransCanada Pipeline. University officials say the event will be rescheduled.
    Current National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Shawn Atleo, said he stands with all First Nations in rejecting the Site C Dam proposal on the Peace River in northeast British Columbia. First Nations in Treaty 8 have experienced the damaging and adverse effects from development, they have told the joint review panel holding hearings into the project, and the Site C Dam proposal will further harm their lands, waters and territories, including their traditional fishing grounds. “First Nations along the Peace River are demonstrating leadership, standing up for their rights and fulfilling their responsibilities to their traditional territories,” said Atleo. “There are real and serious concerns about the effects of this project on the people and their traditional territories. Government and industry must respect the inherent Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, including their right to a say on any developments that could affect their lands, their lives or their people. The AFN stands with First Nations in Treaty 8 and the Peace Athabasca and Mackenzie watersheds.” West Moberly First Nations Chief Roland Willson informed the panel about the concerns around potential impacts from several development projects that are already leaching pollutants into the rivers. His submission referenced 17 rivers that have been polluted by mercury, methyl mercury, selenium and other contaminants from resource development activities.